Sun shines on Shedden at Thruxton

The sun was shining again at Thruxton on Sunday and there was an eventful first race to get the action underway. Eventful unless your name is Gordon Shedden, that is. The Team Halfords driver started from pole position and took a seemingly simple lights-to-flag victory – his second win in the BTCC.

Shedden’s task was made somewhat easier as fellow front-row sitter Colin Turkington failed to get away from the line. Shedden drove maturely to head unchallenged to the chequered flag.

Shedden said, “It’s mega. It was great to win at Oulton and it’s great to win again here. It’s really good to get a Halfords one-two as well. For Matt to be up there is mega.”

“I think Colin had problems at the start and that just left me with a bit of a clearer run to the first corner. It was just a question of managing the tyres, not taking any risks and bringing it home. I’m delighted.”

“I’m surprised people got punctures in race one, because obviously for races two and three, the ambient temperature will be much higher. We’re just trying to make sure we end up with four round ones that get us to the end of the race.”

Behind the Scot, Tom Chilton was second from the start, ahead of Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Gavin Smith. In the early stages of the race, Chilton looked as though he had the pace to stay with Shedden, but the Astra quickly dropped back into the clutches of Neal and Plato.

Slightly further back in the pack, Rob Collard was defending from Fabrizio Giovanardi and Darren Turner. Giovanardi got alongside Collard exiting the chicane, which opened the door for Turner and Dave Pinkney to find a way past the Team RAC MG ZS. Giovanardi dropped down the order later on the same lap as he ran across the chicane. He later retired with damaged suspension as a result.

After eventually getting going in last position, Colin Turkington made rapid progress up through the field, getting into the top ten inside five laps.

Back at the front, Shedden continued to lead, but the battle was quickly becoming the fight for second. Matt Neal closed on Tom Chilton, and with the Integra seemingly kinder on its tyres, it was not long before the reigning champion found a way past. Plato followed suit, leaving Chilton down in fifth, but the SEAT driver’s luck was out, as he picked up a puncture on lap 14, which forced him to retire.

Plato’s teammate, Darren Turner, put in a strong performance in his first BTCC race, picking up places consistently. On the final lap, Turner was able to edge out Chilton’s Astra Sport Hatch to claim the third and final podium position.

At the chequered flag, Gordon Shedden was almost seven seconds ahead of teammate Matt Neal. Turner finished third, with Chilton fourth and Rob Collard fifth. Gavin Smith was sixth, with James Kaye, Colin Turkington, Jason Hughes and Fiona Leggate rounding out the top ten.

Adam Jones and Martyn Bell finished 10th and 11th respectively and the rear-wheel drive pair enjoyed a race-long battle that ensured there was action throughout the pack.