BTCC Oulton Park – Shedden rolls back years with vintage lights to flag win

Gordon Shedden rolled back the years and proved he still has the quality which made him a triple champion, by taking a lights to flag win in race three at Oulton Park.

He had to hold off a resurgent Jake Hill, as well as the NAPA Ford duo of Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom, to take his first win since Croft in 2022.

It was a wet to dry race, with every car starting on wets. However the dry lines were soon appearing in a race affected by two safety car periods, and a lot of attrition.

Shedden got away from the line well, with Proctor, who started second, swallowed up by Josh Cook, Jake Hill and Dan Rowbottom. The trio squabbling for second allowing Shedden to get away in his Toyota.

On lap two Cook was out of the battle for second as he locked up going into Lodge corner, entering the gravel trap. He soon retired with an issue with his Honda.

The first of two safety car periods came when Max Hall went off at Lodge and beached his Cupra Leon in the gravel. The stewards deeming it to be parked in a dangerous place.

The restart came on lap ten, but only lasted a lap as Tom Chilton and Mikey Doble came together at Hislops. The latter parking his car in the barrier and the second safety car period began. Both cars retiring.

On lap 14 came the restart, with Hill hounding down Shedden. However on lap 17 Hill went wide into Cascades, letting through a host of cars, and his battle for the win over.

Shedden held firm to take his 53rd BTCC win, and show he still has the ability to fight at the front. A definite highlight of Toyota’s season so far.

Sutton came second to strengthen his championship lead, with Rowbottom third. Title protagonist Tom Ingram came home fourth with Senna Proctor fifth. Dan Cammish and Hill were sixth and seventh with James Dorlin eighth. Charles Rainford came from the very back of the grid to finish ninth, with Sam Osborne tenth.

Aiden Moffat was 11th with Dexter Patterson, who gambled on pitting for soft tyres, finished 12th. Finn Leslie finished 13th with points on his first race weekend at just 17 years old. Dan Lloyd and Daryl DeLeon rounded off the points, with no fewer than seven retirements and two drivers (Aron Taylor-Smith and Nick Halstead), failing to make the start.

Related posts:

BTCC Snetterton – Rowbottom wins race two, Ingram retirement hinders title charge BTCC Snetterton – Doble takes memorable first BTCC win BTCC Thruxton – Sutton storms to third win of season BTCC Thruxton – Rowbottom wins frantic final Thruxton thriller