Gordon Shedden: “It’s great to be racing at the front”

Gordon Shedden was pleased to be back racing at the front of the British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill today after claiming second place in a fraught Qualifying Race.

The three-time champion – who plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the Scottish venue – enjoyed his strongest Saturday of the season in his MB Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport.

Setting the second fastest time in qualifying, the home hero then went on to hold off a charging Dan Rowbottom throughout the 20-lap Race To Pole to secure a front row start for Sunday’s opener encounter.

“It would have been nice to challenge Adam [Morgan] but we just didn’t have enough in the tank,” said Shedden. “Ultimately we risked a bit in qualifying and that slightly hampered us over the longer distance in the race.

“We were really good through the middle sector which is encouraging, so we’ll do our homework ahead of tomorrow. I was praying for the rain to properly fall but it sadly never came; had it done I reckon we might have had a shot.

“Overall though the car feels good and strong, especially considering we missed a lot of free practice. It’s great to be racing at the front and we’ll give it all we’ve got tomorrow.”