8) Gordon Shedden
Ever the fighter, Shedden showed the Scottish fire in his belly to keep Honda right in contention during 2014, as the works squad made the bold switch to a Civic Tourer that brought 1994 Volvo Estate nostalgia through the BTCC paddock.
The bulkier machine was quickly a front-runner thanks in particular to Shedden in 2014, the Scot missing out just in race two of the season at Brands Hatch before reaching the top step in dramatic style, Shedden mugging victory at the final corner of race three at Donington from under the nose of eventual champion, Colin Turkington.
A never-say-never attitude was clearly shown by the 2012 BTCC champion both inside and outside of the car this season, and a second win at Thruxton was most impressive as he out-raced the circuit’s biggest fan, Andrew Jordan, the second of three wins in 2014 as he finished no lower than seventh in a race until Knockhill.
The third however came in the final race of the year at a sodden Brands Hatch in October over five months later, Honda themselves enduring a more troublesome second half of the season particularly down the power-friendly straights of Snetterton and Silverstone.
The fighting spirit at Croft kept Shedden in the hunt, although a selection of Knockhill incidents involving Rob Austin and Andrew Jordan, plus a critical non-finish at Rockingham ultimately ended the Scot’s chances of a second title early.
Third in the championship was the outcome after three wins, 10 podiums and only five occasions outside the top 10 in 2014, as the team ponder their options potentially with a new machine in 2015.
