5 – Gordon Shedden
Maybe the number one plate provided the bad luck that finally desserted him in 2012, but the now former champion Gordon Shedden had to be content with the runner-up spot in 2013…by just seven points.
The Scot’s speed was once again never in doubt during the year of his title defence, but his season was blunted by an early phase littered with inconsistency – five non-finishes including a fire at his home event of Knockhill ultimately swaying against him.
Starting with mechanical issues in Brands Hatch limiting him to a second place in race three as the highlight, a pole position and win at Donington briefly re-ignited his challenge. However, a newfound tiff developed between himself and Jason Plato during the third event of the season at Thruxton, a race one collision as the battled for the lead on lap one firing Shedden’s Civic into the barriers.
The Honda man turned his year around and fought back from then on however, 18 podiums by the end of the season giving him the chance to worry Andrew Jordan all the way until the chequered flag at the final round, his well-driven defence from Jack Goff netting him second in the championship with a fifth win of the year.
Among those, his most impressive performance undoubtably came at Silverstone, a fine race three win the outcome from what had been a weekend initially full of struggle after a difficult qualifying session for the Honda driver.
In the end, Shedden summed up his season to TCF, saying: “I’ve only finished seven points behind, and those non-finishes have been the difference unfortunately for me.”
