Shedden praises Honda breakthrough

The 29-year-old Scotsman knocked Matt Neal's Vauxhall off the top spot in the final minute of the wet/dry session to take the sixth pole of his career and mark a major improvement in qualifying form over the season-opener at Brands Hatch.

"We had to work hard after Brands Hatch to get more of what I wanted from the car, and it seems that we've made a major breakthrough," he told autosport.com. "The car has just felt excellent all weekend, really hooked up, so let's hope it continues tomorrow.

"From my point of view the car is good, consistent too - I did two or three laps that would have put me on pole position, so that's great. It all looks good."

Despite his two tenths of a second margin over fellow front-row qualifier Matt Neal and even larger gaps to the factory SEATs in fourth and fifth, Shedden is wary of the threat posed by the trio in the first of three races tomorrow.

"I'm obviously in the best position, but that first corner is a long way away - further away than pretty much any other track in the UK," he added. "The SEAT diesels are going to have a big chance to use their power to make up ground to the hairpin. The BMWs too, so we could have 10 cars abreast even at the first corner.

"I've never won here, but I have a good chance with pole and no weight. Matt is really close though, Adam Jones is going well in the Leon, and the diesels will play a part tomorrow, too. I just have to get my head down and make a break for freedom."

Shedden dedicated his pole position to his friend, former BTCC racer David Leslie, who was killed in a plane crash two weeks ago along with three-time class champion Richard Lloyd and three others.