Gordon Shedden wins from pole at Donington Park

Gordon Shedden took a commanding victory from pole position in the first race of the day at Donington Park, holding off a late challenge from Andrew Jordan.

The Honda Racing Team driver finished just under half a second ahead of his Eurotech Racing stable-mate Jordan, with an all-Honda Civic podium completed by Shedden’s team-mate Matt Neal.

Jason Plato finished fourth in his Triple Eight MG after challenging Neal throughout, while the impressive Adam Morgan was fifth in his Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis. Morgan also set fastest lap.

Plato’s team-mate Sam Tordoff was sixth ahead of Dynojet’s Frank Wrathall, who dropped back from his front-row start, ahead of Colin Turkington, Dave Newsham and Jeff Smith.

Shedden led away from the start, with Jordan passing Wrathall at Redgate to move up to second. Neal followed him past later in the lap, and Plato passed the Toyota at Redgate on lap two.

The order at the front remained the same throughout, with all the main battles playing out behind. Tom Onslow-Cole’s Volkswagen CC was involved in a spectacular scrap with Rob Collard’s West Surrey Racing BMW 125i for 13th, with the former coming out on top.

Jordan’s team-mate Smith also fought back from a poor start, to rise from 14th to 10th in his Honda Civic.

On lap nine, Tordoff passed Wrathall at Redgate but was immediately re-passed at the Old Hairpin, with Morgan taking advantage to pass both. Tordoff eventually got past Wrathall on lap 14.

Jordan closed on Shedden over the closing laps, but was unable to get close enough to attempt a pass.

James Kaye continued his domination of the Jack Sears Trophy so far this weekend, taking 19th overall in his AmD Tuning Volkswagen Golf. Motorbase Performance’s Liam Griffin was second in class in his Ford Focus, ahead of newcomer Joe Girling, in the Finesse Racing Chevrolet Cruze.

The second race of the day takes place at 14:27 BST.