Donington Park BTCC: Gordon Shedden claims first victory of 2013
Gordon Shedden got his British Touring Car title defence under way with victory in the first race at Donington Park
Shedden had a torrid time at the Brands Hatch season opener, but the works Honda driver had no success ballast heading into Donington and duly qualified on pole.
Although not making the best start, Shedden held on to his advantage and led every lap, withstanding late-race pressure from the Eurotech Civic of Andrew Jordan, which was carrying 36kg of ballast.
Like Jordan, Matt Neal was able to jump front-row starter Frank Wrathall (Dynojet Toyota Avensis) out of Redgate on the opening lap, but he was unable to stay with the leading Civics.
Jason Plato's works MG, which started fifth, dived by Wrathall into Redgate on lap two and gradually closed on Neal.
Plato put his arch rival under pressure, but could not prevent a Honda 1-2-3.
Behind, Wrathall fell back into a fight between Sam Tordoff's MG and the Ciceley Racing Toyota of Adam Morgan.
Tordoff made it by Wrathall, only for them to both run wide at the Old Hairpin and allow Morgan to jump to fifth.
Tordoff repassed Wrathall but could not unseat the impressive Morgan from fifth.
Colin Turkington was eighth in the first of the WSR BMWs, ahead of Dave Newsham (Speedworks Toyota) and Jeff Smith's Eurotech Civic, which recovered from a poor first lap to complete the top 10.
Both Motorbase Ford Focuses started on the soft tyre, and Aron Smith overcame team-mate Mat Jackson to be the first softs-shod runner home in 11th.
James Kaye's AmD VW Golf led the S2000 class for the Jack Sears Trophy throughout, holding off the occasional threat from Liam Griffin's Motorbase Focus.
Race 1 - 16 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Gordon Shedden Honda 19m04.814s
2. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda + 0.426s
3. Matt Neal Honda + 5.177s
4. Jason Plato MG + 6.535s
5. Adam Morgan Ciceley Toyota + 8.759s
6. Sam Tordoff MG + 9.200s
7. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota + 10.247s
8. Colin Turkington WSR BMW + 11.079s
9. Dave Newsham Speedworks Toyota + 13.020s
10. Jeff Smith Eurotech Honda + 20.187s
11. Aron Smith Motorbase Ford + 20.957s
12. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford + 22.486s
13. Tom Onslow-Cole HARD VW + 24.205s
14. Rob Austin Austin Audi + 27.799s
15. Rob Collard WSR BMW + 28.175s
16. Ollie Jackson Speedworks Toyota + 29.699s
17. Nick Foster WSR BMW + 36.211s
18. Jack Goff HARD Vauxhall + 36.579s
19. James Kaye AmD VW* + 36.985s
20. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford* + 37.900s
21. Joe Girling Finesse Chevrolet* + 45.665s
22. James Cole HARD Vauxhall + 46.862s
23. David Nye Welch Ford* + 47.098s
24. Lea Wood Wood Vauxhall* + 47.920s
25. Will Bratt Austin Audi + 58.161s
26. Warren Scott BMR SEAT* + 1m04.888s
Retirements:
Daniel Welch Welch Proton 11 laps
* S2000
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