Dynamics Honda BTCC team close to hiring Gordon Shedden replacement

Three-time BTCC champion Shedden left the team this week and has yet to reveal his plans.

He has been linked to a drive in the new TCR-based World Touring Car Cup, with the TCR International title-winning WRT Volkswagen team with which he took a pole and second-place finish on a one-off outing in Dubai last November.

Neal said Dynamics "should have things wrapped up" with replacing Shedden "within the next few days" but admitted it was a tough choice and the team needed a driver who could win from the outset.

"We did consider creating another Gordon by bringing a driver up through the British Touring Car Championship and educating them, but also we got our backsides kicked in the BTCC manufacturers/constructors and BTCC teams championships last year," Neal told Autosport.

"We need to consider that we need to have someone who can 'plug-in-and-play', if you like.

"We need success. It will be hard to replace Gordon, but we have options."

Neal, also a three-time champion, says the team has a big workload on its hands in 2018 as it develops the new-shape Civic Type R, which is being developed at Dynamics' workshops but has suffered delays.

"We had some things that we wanted to do technically on the new car, but they have been outlawed," explained Neal.

"That has set us back about a month in terms of developing the car. We have lots of work ahead of us."

Team Dynamics will join a host of other BTCC teams testing in Spain at the beginning of February.