Whole new challenge in 2016 for champion Gordon Shedden

Reigning BTCC champion Gordon Shedden is expecting a huge challenge from up and down the pitlane for his title defence in 2016, as he bids to gets to grips with a much-changed Honda Civic Type-R.

The double champion was present for two days of winter testing at Thruxton this week, with his car sporting a striking camouflage livery and a distinctively different sound, thanks to an upgrade to the latest version of the Type-R engine.

After last week’s trip to Parcmotor Castellolí in Spain, the brace of days at the high-speed Hampshire track were a further chance for Shedden to understand the new power unit and the new TOCA parts.

Asked what had changed on the car over the winter, Shedden told TouringCarTimes: “Lots, is the long and short of it. The car’s got the new RML control parts on it, which have taken a bit of figuring out. There are some little things a lot of teams will have to get their heads around, us included.

“We’ve got a new engine as well – we’re running the latest Type-R engine which is different, and makes the car sound totally different. It sounds like a Spitfire from the outside! It’s cool, new technology but it’s taking a lot of working out.

“As we stand just now, I think the ’15 car is better, but only because it was at the end of its five-year lifespan. We’re not a million miles away where we are now.

“It does feel very different with the new kit, and I think it will favour people who need stability in the rear end. Those kind of drivers will gel with it straight away. We’ve got to work out what will be best for us over the course of a whole season.”

Shedden said he believed the new parts would either tighten the grid up yet further, or cause a greater field spread from front to back.

“You can bet your bottom dollar that somebody will get the drop on it, and come out of the blocks on fire. Just hopefully it’s our cars,” he said.

In terms of his rivals as he chases a third crown, he added: “Everyone! Every year we see more and more people come into the mix, and I think we’ll see lots and lots of people win races. It remains to be seen how many can get it to the end for a championship charge.

“Up and down the pitlane the strength is incredible.

“There are a lot of unknown quantities – ours is an unknown quantity at the minute. We set the bar really high last year, with first and third and winning the manufacturers. We’ve got to somehow try and emulate that again, because everyone will have it in for us!”

The last week also marked the first return to competitive driving for Shedden since his dramatic title win at Brands Hatch in October, where he pipped Team BMR’s Jason Plato to the crown.

“As ever, the first two or three laps your eyes are on stalks when you remember how quick it is again, but then you’re just thinking about the new bits,” he said.

“In one way it feels like a long time since Brands, but then you jump back in the car and it feels like you’ve never been out of it. It’s a nice feeling.”

Shedden was on sole driving duty for the team at Thruxton in both the cold and wet conditions this week, with Matt Neal sitting out the test.

“Matt’s buggered off skiing, so he’s probably in accident and emergency by now – that’s delegation! He looked at the weather forecast and headed off to the slopes,” joked Shedden.