Fellow drivers praise Gordon Shedden on capturing third BTCC crown

Gordon Shedden has received high praise from several drivers up and down the paddock following his sublime Brands Hatch GP performance which saw him capture a third Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title.

Joining an elite club of drivers to have scaled the BTCC summit on three occasions, the Halfords Yuasa Racing also became the first man since Fabrizio Giovanardi to win back-to-back titles.

In what turned out to be a dramatic final day of the season, Shedden hunted down points leader Sam Tordoff, overturning an 11-point deficit to just two heading into the final race of the day.

As the lights went out for round 30, Shedden hounded the back of Tordoff before making a move at Clearways. Adam Morgan would then slip by Tordoff therefore ensure the title remained with the Scotsman for the third time in five seasons.

Whilst the trophy celebrations began, many drivers heaped praise and congratulations for the defending champion on what some described was a momentous season not only for the Honda driver but also the championship as a whole.

Mat Jackson, who missed out on the overall crown, said: “It is obviously gutting for us to walk away from here without the championship but it was always going to be tough. Gordon has been a class act throughout the year and has shown on countless occasions that he is a deserving champion.”

Independent Drivers’ champion Andrew Jordan echoed what his team-mate said: “Huge congratulations to Gordon, obviously I would have loved to have been up there and lifting the trophy but it just wasn’t to be. Some of the driving and overatakes that he has pulled off this year have been world class and he is just that – a world class driver. I’ll be after him next year!”

Tordoff’s West Surrey Racing team-mate Jack Goff shared his pride in what the Yorkshireman has achieved but was also commendable about the never-give-up attitude that has made Shedden a triple-champion.

“It is gutting for Sam, he did everything he could and has handled himself brilliantly,” said Goff. “Gordon is the best driver on the grid though and today has proved that. Some of his drives over the past two seasons have been out of this world.”

Aron Smith also heaped praised on Shedden: “You can never count him out and you had to think that he was going to be right in the mix when he needed to pull the result out of the bag. Three titles in this modern era of the BTCC is something quite special.”