Gordon Shedden said that Halfords Yuasa Racing have much more pace in their Honda Civic Type-R to bring after he and Matt Neal locked out row two of the grid for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season opener at Brands Hatch.
The reigning champion qualified third on the grid, 0.160s adrift of fellow Honda driver Jeff Smith in a qualifying session interrupted by downpours at the Kent circuit.
Shedden said that the changeable weather conditions meant the Halfords duo did not show their best hand in the driest conditions, putting them in a good position for Sunday’s action.
“[Smith] got it right at the right time”, Shedden told The Checkered Flag afterwards on Smith’s effort. “You just had to be in the right place.
“I know that there’s a lot more in our car, but there wasn’t a better lap time at the time it mattered. It’s all ifs, buts and maybes.
“It’s a good grid though and we’re third and fourth. In a session like that though, you look at it as a learning experience and move on.”
Shedden himself survived a lurid moment during the 30-minute qualifying session, spinning at Clearways after the first of two red flag interruptions.
“There wasn’t as much grip as I thought there was”, he said on the sideways moment. “It was quite lively.
“That was just a case of cold rear tyres and asking too much of them when the conditions were bad. I thought it would have looked spectacular and Matt [Neal] did it as well towards the end of the session.”
Looking to begin his bid for a third consecutive BTCC title in style, the Scot has consistency on his mind when looking ahead to Sunday’s races.
“All we want is good solid points. Anything can change.
“I think race pace will be okay. We can race with it from there and as the day goes on it will change with the ballast and conditions.”
