Gordon Shedden wins final race, Andrew Jordan is champion
Eurotech Racing’s Andrew Jordan is the 2013 BTCC champion, with a ninth place in the final race at Brands Hatch enough to secure his maiden crown.
Honda Racing Team’s Gordon Shedden, an outside bet to retain his title before the race, took the chequered flag ahead of an inspired Jack Goff, in the Tony Gilham Racing Vauxhall Insignia.
But after charging through from 24th on the grid, and setting fastest lap along the way, it was the Honda Civic driver who took the title by seven points from Shedden.
It completes a championship double for Jordan, who also retains the independents’ crown which he secured at this venue last season. Consistency as well as speed was the key to his success, as he finished in the points in 29 of the 30 races.
A brave fight by the irrepressible Jason Plato ended when he slipped back to 10th in his Triple Eight MG, leaving him third in the standings, 17 points behind Jordan.
The battle for the title didn’t overshadow a wonderful drive by Goff, who pressured Shedden throughout, but just failed to make a move stick. He dropped back slightly at the end, to take the line just in front of Motorbase Performance’s Mat Jackson.
West Surrey Racing’s Colin Turkington had a strong run to fourth from 12th on the grid, ahead of Jackson’s team-mate Aron Smith, with Dave Newsham, Adam Morgan and Rob Collard finishing ahead of Jordan and Plato in the top 10.
Lea Wood took the final win of the year in the Jack Sears Trophy, finishing 22nd overall in his last outing in the JWT Performance Vauxhall Vectra.
The celebrations can now start for Jordan, who was in tears on the slowing down lap as he spoke to his team on the radio. TouringCarTimes extends its congratulations to Andrew and the team.
