Photo: PSP Images

Gordon Shedden bounces back from engine issues to score first pole since 2013

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Two-time champion Gordon Shedden took a surprise pole position for Honda for the sixth round of the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton. The pole is both his and Honda’s first pole position since Donington Park in 2013, and was doubly unexpected after an unwelcome engine problem in the morning.

In the 30-minute qualifying session, the Scotsman’s first lap time was deleted due to a track limits violation, but on his second lap, he was even faster, smashing Colin Turkington’s pole record from last year with a time of 1:55.627. This time was good enough to keep him on top of the time sheets until the very end, with last year’s pole-sitter Turkington his closest contender, 15-thousandths behind.

“I was counting back and thinking I didn’t have a pole last year, or one in the tourer (in 2014). It just shows really, as normally we’re carrying a lot of ballast,” said Shedden to TouringCarTimes.

Shedden had a difficult start to the day with an engine problem in the first practice session. The team changed the engine for second practice, but he would miss half the session, effectively using the remaining time around the 2.97 mile circuit as a shakedown run.

“It all just hooked up. I haven’t seen the speed traps but I’m guessing we’re still pretty slow in them, so we’re only making the time up in the corners,” he said. “We haven’t even had a great amount of time with the problems this morning to actually dial in it, so maybe the way it comes off the truck is the best way.”

The reigning champion will start from pole position ahead of the Team BMR Subaru of Colin Turkington, with Adam Morgan third in the Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class, both of which he reckons will be major threats on race day.

“It’s going to be tricky, but I’ve got the best chance starting from pole and with just 15kg of weight…Colin will be quick off the line with their rear-wheel drive, but I don’t think they’re fast in a straight line either, so then there’s a chance Morgan could drive past us both up the back straight, but we’ll give it a go. All I can do is hang it out and see, and if it’s good enough it’s good enough, and if it’s not it won’t be through lack of trying.”