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With 53 wins and 139 podiums to his name, Gordon Shedden is one of the BTCC’s greatest home-grown talents. We find out where it all began.
Since 1958, the BTCC — or British Saloon Car Championship, as it was then known — has enjoyed great popularity for several reasons. There’s a diverse array of cars, constant bumper-to-bumper action and, of course, fiercely competitive drivers who make it all possible.
Few can claim to have reached Gordon Shedden’s heights, though. As one of the most successful drivers of the modern era, he holds the most wins of any racer on the current BTCC grid. But how did he reach the top of his game?
Fresh from his latest victory at Oulton Park, we caught up with him to find out more about the man beneath the helmet. From his first set of wheels to his favourite moments in the hot seat, here’s everything you didn’t know about ‘Flash’.
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A: “Everyone expects me to say Knockhill as that’s where I spend all my days, and it is an incredible place. Just look at the number of people who have come through the gates, you know, Scottish drivers and riders, who have all made it in racing. It’s certainly played a huge part in Scottish motoring history.
So yeah, Knockhill is one of them. But, if we’re going a little further afield, I’d probably go to the other side of the world to Australia. The track is called Bathurst and it’s a little like Knockhill on steroids. You have to go three hours inland from Sydney and it’s in the Blue Mountains. It’s got some massive undulation, is super fast, super committed, and it’s just one of those tracks you could never go and design today from scratch. It is kind of there from grandfather rights, and rightly so.”
A: “All three of my drives to win the British Touring Car Championship were unbelievably special in very different ways, so it’s hard to choose. They were all in totally different circumstances. That said, you always hope the next big moment is going to be the most memorable”.
A: “Yes, the skills are absolutely transferable. You’ve got to take the speed out of it for road driving, of course, but both are all about control and planning. Generally, people fall off on the road because they’re not paying attention or planning far enough ahead, and that’s exactly what you don’t want to do in a racing car. We’re always thinking miles ahead about the next corner and how to find the best way around.
I often joke that if somebody put a sat nav or stereo in a race car and told us to start tuning or programming it, there’s no way we could maintain enough concentration to stay on the circuit. So yeah, I think getting rid of distractions on the road would leave people in a much better place.”
A: “I’m not sure I have one favourite era. Everyone waxes lyrical about different eras of touring car, but they’ve all got their strengths. Whether that’s Jim Clark winning in the ‘60s, the Sierra RS500 years, the massive horsepower and limited grip of the ‘80s, the super touring ‘90s, or even the current generation. They’re all good for different reasons.
But one thing’s for sure: it’s always spectacular and packed with action. That’s why the BTCC has been so popular for so many years.”
A: “Whether you’ve got 100 horsepower or 1000, tyres are everything. They’re the only thing attaching you to the road, in every form of motorsport. So all we drivers talk about is how to work and look after them better.
As a technology, they’re incredible. The stress they’re under during a race is immense and, from our point of view, it’s all about making sure they go the distance. It’s pointless having the fastest car on the track if the tyres are toast after five laps. Working out how to not overstress them, is one key to winning races.”
A: “They’ve evolved massively in a very short window. That’s really apparent when we race at Goodwood on cross plys and there is absolutely no grip whatsoever — you sometimes wonder if there’s even a tyre on the car, or if you’re just running straight on the wheel! Each decade since the ‘60s saw a huge transformation, though. The modern cars are much safer because of their far stickier rubber, and this technology filters down to road cars, too.”
A: “It's always the aim, wherever we go! It’s my first year with Toyota and this team, and it always takes a bit of time to get sorted out. I’m not saying it’s like-for-like by any means, but you’ve only got to look at Formula One and how Lewis Hamilton is struggling a little bit at Ferrari, to understand. That’s not because anyone is doing anything wrong, it just takes a while to adapt to the new setting and optimise each individual thing.
But going to Knockhill always gives me an extra spring in my step. The Scottish crowds are incredible and they’re so close to the action. The place is going to be absolutely jumping this August, so a victory is the goal for sure. It’s what we’re working day and night for.”
Can Gordon take the title at Knockhill? Only time will tell. In the meantime, though, if you’re hungry for more Shedden action, head over to
DriverReviews.com for his latest new car reviews.
We love to hear from our customers. Connect with us today and let’s start a conversation.