Gordon Shedden signalled his intentions ahead of his British Touring Car Championship title tilt by topping the times at the traditional BTCC Official Launch at Silverstone on Thursday (22 April).
Shedden, three-time champion, returns to the series after three years away and was the quickest driver on track during the afternoon running posting the fastest lap time of the day in the closing moments clocking 57.108s which is more than two tenths quicker than the current qualifying lap record around the National Circuit.
Two potential title challengers followed along in tandem throughout the running in Power Maxed Racing‘s Jason Plato and Team BMW‘s Colin Turkington who finished 5th and 6th respectively in the final order ahead of reigning champion, Ashley Sutton of Laser Tools Racing.
It was the surprise of Jack Goff who finished second overall with the Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct driver acclimatising well to the new CUPRA Leon with Glynn Geddie the next of the runners for the Tony Gilham ran squad in 16th but the former stood out recording the second-best lap time of the afternoon.
Michael Crees had to settle for third place after setting the pace early on ahead of Tom Ingram who like Goff is also in a new car for this year in the Hyundai i30 N Fastback for Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com.
Following Plato, Turkington and Sutton, Adam Morgan who has moved to rear-wheel drive and the BMW 330i M Sport finished eighth in an impressive showing.
With returnee Daniel Lloyd (Power Maxed Racing) and Dan Rowbottom (Halfords Racing with Cataclean) finishing in the top ten. Overall, all top 26 driver were separated by just 0.759s meaning a close season awaits when the action gets underway at Thruxton between 8/9 May.
2021 British Touring Car Championship – Official Pre-Season Test – Silverstone
1 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean 57.108s
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct +0.194s
3 Michael CREES (GBR) BTC Racing +0.199s
4 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com +0.274s
5 Jason PLATO (GBR) Power Maxed Car Care Racing +0.377s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.423s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.490s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +0.501s
9 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Power Maxed Car Care Racing +0.516s
10 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +0.520s
11 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.545s
12 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +0.550s
13 Chris SMILEY (GBR) Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com +0.554s
14 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.578s
15 Andy NEATE (GBR) Racing with Wera & Photon Group +0.592s
16 Glynn GEDDIE (GBR) Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct +0.597s
17 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing UK +0.598s
18 Jake HILL (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +0.618s
19 Jade EDWARDS (GBR) PHSC with BTC Racing +0.639s
20 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team BMW +0.649s
21 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Racing with Wera & Photon Group +0.655s
22 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.684s
23 Sam SMELT (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing UK +0.686s
24 Jack BUTEL (GBR) EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com +0.718s
25 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +0.731s
26 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.759s
27 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with iQuoto Online Trading +1.097s
28 Árón TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) Team HARD. with HUB Financial Solutions +1.174s
29 Rick PARFITT (GBR) EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com +1.253s
