Gordon Shedden wins again in Thruxton British Touring Car race three
Gordon Shedden took his second British Touring Car victory of the weekend in the third race at Thruxton on Sunday afternoon
The Honda driver started the reversed-grid encounter from ninth, but was fourth at the end of lap one, behind polesitter Tony Gilham (S2000 Honda), team-mate Matt Neal and Frank Wrathall's Toyota Avensis.
When Wrathall forced his way by Neal at Cobb, Shedden was able to slip by his fellow Honda driver. He then passed Wrathall on the run to Church and closed on Gilham.
Neal soon found a way back by Wrathall and joined Shedden in pressuring Gilham, who was driving the Honda that Shedden used to win at Thruxton last season.
When Gilham ran wide into the complex, both works NGTC Civics were able to attack to move into first and second. They then drew away from the pack, Shedden even allowing Neal through at one point to gain the extra point for leading a lap, before the previous order was restored.
Further back, Gilham lost his chance of a podium when he crashed at Campbell under pressure from Wrathall. The Toyota then came under threat from Jason Plato's works MG6, but a fine rearguard action allowed Wrathall to hold on to third.
Some way behind the top four came Eurotech's Andrew Jordan, making it three NGTC Civics in the top five, while Mat Jackson (Motorbase Ford Focus) survived several knocks on the opening tour to come home sixth.
There was a dramatic finish to the fight for seventh. Rob Collard's WSR BMW, struggling as its tyres went off, was caught by Lea Wood's Vauxhall Vectra. Wood attacked into the chicane, but got sideways and hit the BMW, sending both off.
The two hobbled cars recovered and just made it across the line before ninth-placed Jeff Smith overtook them.
Results - 16 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Gordon Shedden Dynamics Honda 22m42.574s
2. Matt Neal Dynamics Honda + 0.719s
3. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota + 8.102s
4. Jason Plato Triple 8 MG + 9.647s
5. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda + 13.264s
6. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford + 25.112s
7. Rob Collard WSR BMW + 41.980s
8. Lea Wood Wood Vauxhall + 44.687s
9. Jeff Smith Eurotech Honda + 45.249s
10. Tom Onslow-Cole WSR BMW + 50.975s
11. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford + 53.379s
12. Nick Foster WSR BMW + 54.136s
13. Rob Austin Austin Audi + 1m08.744s
14. Aron Smith Motorbase Ford + 1 lap
15. Ollie Jackson AmD Volkswagen + 1 lap
16. Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota + 1 lap
17. Chris James ES Vauxhall + 1 lap
18. Dave Newsham ES Vauxhall + 2 laps
Retirements:
Adam Morgan Speedworks Toyota 15 laps
Andy Neate Triple 8 MG 6 laps
Tony Gilham Gilham Honda 5 laps
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