Gordon Shedden admits weather aided pole bid

Gordon Shedden admitted that the wet weather that hit Rockingham had played a key in securing a second pole of the BTCC season ahead of the eight round of the campaign.

Heavy showers, coupled with thunder and lightning, led to a somewhat chaotic session at the Northamptonshire circuit, with the conditions getting so bad at one stage that officials were left with no option but to bring out the red flag.

Despite standing water on large parts of the circuit, Shedden was able to master the conditions to put his Honda Civic Type-R on top of the pile with a best lap three tenths of a second clear of the Ford Focus of Mat Jackson.

“I’m really pleased with that,” he said. “I don’t think we’d have had a chance of pole in the dry, but the wet conditions were a great leveller. The balance of the car was good throughout, both before the red flag and afterwards, and while I knew the track would get quicker, I think we had a little in reserve.

“However, there is only one point available today for pole position and it’s race day that really matters. I think it will be dry tomorrow although I’d much rather it remained wet.”

Shedden will now hope to make up points on championship leader Sam Tordoff after the BMW man endured a session to forget, with a misfire leaving him down in 28th spot on the grid for the opening race of the weekend.

“There is a chance for us to take points off the BMWs with them being towards the back of the grid,” he said, “but at the same time, we’ve seen them come through the field before and I’m sure we’ll see them tomorrow.”