Lewis Williamson relishing Knockhill challenge, as Gordon Shedden targets victory

THE British Touring Car Championship may be the headline-grabbing spectacle for the 20,000 spectators at Knockhill this weekend but, for one 20-year-old Scot, his first race on the 1.3-mile Fife circuit could help catapult him to Formula 1.

Golspie in Sutherland isn't a place you normally associate with world-class racing drivers but Lewis Williamson has been there eight years since moving with his family from Dundee.

Now, having progressed through the karting ranks and pocketed numerous titles, the Highlander has his eyes set on winning the highly-competitive Formula Renault Championship. Such is the significance of FRenault that it helped ease F1 world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton - both drove for the same Manor Motorsport team that Williamson currently leads - as well as fellow Scot Paul di Resta, into the sport's highest echelon.

With just three meetings and six races remaining, Williamson is just 11 points behind championship leader, Hungarian Tama's Pa'l Kiss and the Scot is hoping home advantage will boost his title hopes; despite never having raced at Knockhill before. "I know, it's strange," Williamson laughed, "but though it's my 'home' circuit, I've never actually raced at Knockhill before. I actually came down earlier this week and spent a few hours learning it, so I should be ok."

In his rookie season in FRenault last year, having made the not insignificant leap from karts, the Scot finished on the podium. So far this year he has three wins, four pole positions and numerous podium finishes to his name. What's made the difference? "I've always been fast," he stated matter-of-factly, "but I found I was spending all my time away from the track thinking about racing. The result was I was mentally tired when race weekend came round.

"Now, in addition to a strenuous fitness regime, I manage my mind better. I only start thinking about the race weekend from about Thursday afternoon. But I also don't let other, non-racing thoughts cloud my mind at the weekend. My approach now is just far more professional."

Such clarity of thought is one of the facets which makes Williamson one to watch not just for the future, but for the present as well. A current British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Rising Star, Williamson spends more time in the car during the week than he does at the weekend.

"I've a daily 100-mile round-trip to and from work," the apprentice fabrication engineer at Ross-shire Engineering's Muir of Ord plant explained. "That's 500 miles a week, then my dad and I will generally drive south to the race circuits in England at the weekend."

Fifer Gordon Shedden, meanwhile, will be hoping to close the gap on BTCC leader Jason Plato's Chevrolet. Shedden currently lies fourth in the championship, just ten points behind his Team Honda team-mate Matt Neal in third, and 33 behind Plato."I've got to go for wins this weekend and make sure I get a good points haul to close the gap on Jason," the 31-year-old said. "It's three years since I won here, so I think I'm overdue a win. Fingers crossed it will be this weekend."