Gordon Shedden (Photo Credit: btcc.net)
Five men will begin this weekend's British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) finale still with a mathematical chance of taking the title.
In the immediate build-up to the race weekend The Checkered Flag look back at the journey the five drivers have made through 2011 to arrive at Silverstone chasing the championship.
One year on from Brands Hatch, where Gordon Shedden was also in contention for the title before driveshaft problems on race day rules him out of contention, the Scotsman is again part of the BTCC's title battle.
Though he has fewer wins than both Plato – who he is tied on points with – and Honda Racing Team teammate Matt Neal – Shedden has arguably been more consistent in order to keep his championship challenge on track.
That said his season has not been without troubles. Even before the first points had been scored Shedden started at a disadvantage, missing the first qualifying session of the year at Brands Hatch after a practice crash at Paddock Hill Bend.
Though he recovered to claim a podium in the final race that opening weekend his slow start to the year continued at Donington Park, where he picked up just five points after a race one exclusion for a technical infringement and damage from a race three crash.
From that point on however Shedden has only really moved up the points standings. A double podium at Thruxton was followed by another at Oulton Park, which could easily have been three podiums and two wins if not of Neal's over zealous attempt at passing at Lodge on the final lap that forced Shedden to limp through the gravel to reach the checkered flag.
Shedden first led the points after his race two win at Snetterton, though he lost it to Mat Jackson just a race later, a race that included Shedden's precise removal of a flapping front wing on a foam block. The manoeuvre saved him four points. How important could they be on Sunday afternoon?
Shedden once more led the championship after his home event at Knockhill, but was pegged back to level points with Neal after Rockingham, falling five points further back after Brands Hatch earlier this month.
Gordon Shedden 2011 Results:
Points: 220
Poles: 2
Wins: 5 (Thruxton R1; Oulton R1; Snetterton R2; Knochill R2; Rockingham R2)
Podiums: 11 (Brands Indy R2; Thruxton R1, 2; Oulton R1, 3; Snetterton R1, 2; Knockhill R1, 2; Rockingham R2; Brands GP R3)
