Power steering issues hamper Gordon Shedden’s qualifying performance

Championship leader Gordon Shedden struggled with power steering in qualifying at Snetterton, resulting in the Honda Racing Team driver only managing to set the 16th fastest time.

Carrying the full 75kg of success ballast throughout the day, Shedden was able to go seventh quickest in FP1, just three tenths off team-mate Matt Neal, who was only 0.089 behind the fastest car of Andy Priaulx.

However, power steering issues began to take their toll in FP2, dropping Shedden to 12th before only managing to take 16th place when it came to qualifying.

“It’s such a long track that even Popeye ain’t getting it round here without any power steering,” said Shedden. “I gave it a go but it wasn’t good enough, unfortunately. It started a bit in FP2 and we thought we found something that was a potential anomaly. It was nigh on undriveable in that session, but there’s not a magic fix. We tried to make the best out of it, in some circuits it may have worked but not around here.”

Race day will now be a damage limitation exercise for the championship leader, who will be weighing up his options to find the best way to work his way up the field in race one to provide the best chance in the remaining to encounters.

“I think for race two and three if we can get up there we’ll be in the hunt, but we’ve got to get back on a level playing field,” continued Shedden. “It’s frustrating that it’s nothing to do with Honda, nothing to do with Dynamics. It’s just frustrating that these niggles have reared their head and given us a tough quali session.”