Dynamics open to Shedden return

Thu 18th March 2010 Gordon Shedden could make a surprise return to Team Dynamics for the 2010 season after joining the Honda squad for testing at Oulton Park.

By Matt Salisbury

Gordon Shedden could be in line for a surprise return to Team Dynamics for the 2010 BTCC season after joining the team for its most recent pre-season test at Oulton Park.

Shedden spent three full seasons with the team from 2006-2008, taking ten wins in the process, but found himself without a drive following the opening round of the 2009 campaign when he was replaced in the Dynamics line-up by James Thompson.

For 2010 however, a return to the former champions could be on the cards after Shedden joined the team for the test at Oulton, where the Honda Civic ran in a new livery for the first time.

Insisting that two cars would be on the entry list at the Brands Hatch Media Day next week, team boss Steve Neal stated that Shedden 'would do a very good job' in the car – admitting that 'there is every possibility' when pushed on whether the Scot could make a return.

Any possible deal with Shedden – or anyone else for that matter - has been made more likely by Johnny Herbert agreeing a deal to race in the Italian Superstars series, with Neal revealing it was unlikely that the ex-F1 man would be back in the BTCC unless a third car could be run for selected races.

A return for Thompson is also unlikely on financial grounds – although Neal stated that, with the season only weeks away, he believed some teams were now faced with the prospect of starting the campaign without drivers having the full budget in place.

"Had I been given a first choice with a full works deal, then it would have been Matt and Thommo in the car," he said. "That is to take nothing away from Gordon, but superstars like Thommo and Giovanardi are without a drive. They would drive a car with pleasure but there is no money – and that's the situation we are in today.

"I think teams are taking on drivers with less than full budgets and hoping that sponsors will sign on – I think there is a bit of that going on at the moment. I don’t think some of the new lads coming in fully appreciate the costs it involves and I don’t think you can do it on a shoestring – it's too risky. I’m a bit concerned about some of those guys and whether they have the money to do it really."

Despite the addition of Honda Racing stickers to the Civic at Oulton Park, Neal also insisted that his team’s entry into the 2010 season will not be as a factory Honda team.

"This isn't a works or manufacturer team for sure," he said. "They are our cars that we have paid for and done the development work on and our contribution has been very substantial. We are still finalising the main sponsorship on the car and while we are grateful to Honda for making a contribution towards it, it’s no greater contribution than they have made in previous years.

"Honda are supporting us to a degree in combination with a programme of entertainment we introduced together with them last year – the Question of Motorsport we did at dealerships. It's been very popular and I think it's the only way to get 300 people into a dealership at the moment! It's a good show and they want to exploit that. There are various divisions within the Honda UK organisation who have made contributions towards this effort of ours."