Racing: Grass divots force Gordon Shedden out in Fife

The 33-year-old from Dalgety Bay finished third in the opening two races of the triple-header behind the BMWs of Rob Collard and Tom  Onslow-Cole.

But having established a five-point lead in the title race ahead of his Honda Racing team-mate, Matt Neal, it all went wrong in yesterday’s final race.

Having started seventh on the reverse grid at the 1.3-mile Fife circuit, Shedden was forced on to the grass to avoid a collision in front of him.

As he rejoined the track, it was clear the ventilation ducts on the front of his car were blocked by grass divots. As the temperature of his car’s engine soared, he was forced to retire.

“Frustrating,” a clearly disappointed Shedden, bidding to become the first Scot to win the BTCC title since Galashiels’ John Cleland in 1995, said.

“I don’t know what I have to do to open a healthy lead in the championship. Two weeks ago I lost points after finishing third at Snetterton because of a technical issue: now this.”

To rub salt into the wound, Neal finished third in the day’s final race behind the Vauxhall of winner Newsham and Jeff Smith’s Honda.

The result re-established the ten-point lead Neal had over Shedden as they entered the weekend.

Two other Scots tasted success. Kirkcaldy 25-year-old Rory Butcher powered his Celtic Speed car to second in the Porsche Carrera Cup, and Charlie Robertson, the 15-year-old from Aberfoyle, won both races in the Ginetta Junior Championship to lead four points in the title race.