Gordon Shedden relishing new WTCR challenge with Audi
Three-time BTCC drivers’ champion is looking forward to his new challenge in 2018, leaving the Honda programme in the UK after an eight-year consecutive stint with the Team Dynamics-run team, and joining Team WRT as an Audi Sport factory driver in the new World Touring Car Cup.
Shedden’s first taste of TCR machinery came at the season finale of the TCR International Series in Dubai last year, where he scored pole position on his debut in the Team WRT Volkswagen Golf, finishing on the podium in his first race and helping to support team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay’s successful bid for the title.
Shedden will again pair with Vernay, this time for the full season, as the team switch to now running two Audi RS 3 LMSs, as the team makes the move to the new FIA sanctioned series for 2018, run by Eurosport Events, promoter of the outgoing World Touring Car Championship.
The Scotsman is looking forward to his new programme, though admits it’ll be a bit of a culture shock after racing in the BTCC for 12 years.
“The BTCC paddock is a bit like a second home, so it’ll be interesting to learn how the WTCR paddock works,” said Shedden to TouringCarTimes. “The thought of being in Marrakech on the 7th-8th April rather than the two degrees of Brands Hatch is certainly different.
“I’m glad though I’m racing that weekend and not sat at home, as I think it’d be strange to see “my car” racing in BTCC; so at least I’ll have enough to keep myself occupied that weekend.”
Now joining Audi, racing with the Belgian-operated WRT team for 2018, Shedden is excited to be joining a marque with a such a strong motorsport history.
“Audi have a great history in touring cars,” he said. “I remember watching (Frank) Biela in the A4 Quattro blasting around Knockhill, and they have a huge GT programme which is very exciting as well.”
“I had a couple of conversations with a few other manufacturers, but it wasn’t the right thing to leave BTCC for, and before the Autosport Show at the beginning of January, I’d had a little bit of communication with Audi but nothing serious, then it suddenly snowballed during the show. Just a few days after, I was in Germany on the Tuesday of the following week and we prepared an deal.”
While announcements for the new season continue to roll in, the WTCR field has already been confirmed to include a host of former champions, such as Gabriele Tarquini, Rob Huff, Yvan Muller and Thed Björk; independent stars and proven race-winners, as well as drivers making their way up from the various TCR national series in addition to the successful TCR International Series, which will see a 26-car strong entry for the full season of the new World Cup.
“It’s going to be a fight to the end,” said Shedden. “As a racing driver, we all want to race against everybody possible and on a level playground, and that’s the attraction of it.
“It’s a good time to do it because of the change of rules; it’s not like dropping into TC1, as where unless you’re in a handful of cars, you’re not going to be able to win.
“It’s going to be an awesome show as you’re going to have some epic battles all the way through the field; you’ve got some great teams, drivers, and the manufacturers are into it as well. It’s great for touring car racing in general, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
