Photo: PSP Images

Gordon Shedden wins mad Donington Park finale, but could face exclusion

Team Dynamics Gordon Shedden has won the final race of the day at Donington Park, which eventually took place an hour later than scheduled following a lengthy red flag stoppage, but could be excluded due to a ride height test failure.

The race had been red flagged after a number of cars went off on the opening lap, with a rain deluge hitting the circuit minutes before the start.

BTC’s Dave Newsham had lost his lead to Matt Neal’s Team Dynamics Honda, but the three-time champion then spun out at McLean’s, handing the Chevrolet driver back the lead.

A number of cars also went off at the exit of the Old Hairpin, including BMW’s Rob Collard, Eurotech’s Jeff Smith, Power Maxed’s Tom Chilton, Ciceley’s Adam Morgan and Team Parker Racing’s Stephen Jelley.

The race was immediately red flagged and restarted in the original grid order, but Matt Neal was unable to take the second start after his Civic hadn’t returned to the grid under its own power.

At the restart, Newsham kept the lead ahead of BMW’s Colin Turkington, but it was the Honda of Gordon Shedden who was surging through the field, passing Josh Cook’s Team Parker Racing Ford at Redgate on lap three, before passing Turkington’s 125i at the end of the lap.

The Scotsman then closed down Newsham, taking the lead from the BTC Racing driver on lap five, again at Redgate.

Ash Sutton was again on the move in the Subaru, passing Josh Cook for fourth on lap three, while Turkington overtook Newsham for second at Coppice on lap eight, but was unable to close the gap to Shedden’s Honda.

Sutton caught Newsham, but was unable to pass the Chevrolet until lap 15 at Coppice, but the BTC Racing driver snatched the spot back at the start of the final lap, and a three-car battle ensued, with the pair now caught by Ciceley Racing’s Adam Morgan. As Newsham and Sutton fought together, Morgan made a move at the chicane and grabbed third, with Sutton fourth, and Newsham demoted to fifth at the line.

Shedden took the win and grabbed the lead of the standings, but there was still drama after the race, with Shedden’s car failing the ride height test, which would usually mean immediately exclusion.

Team Dynamics immediately filed a protest that the test failed due to damage sustained to the car in the dramatic race, with Shedden claiming the winner’s trophy subject to further investigation from the technical delegate.