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British Touring Car Championship
Snetterton - Race 3 Report - 4/8/13

By MJP Media | 4 August 2013

Gordon Shedden wins the final race of the day from Snetterton. Mat Jackson and Aron Smith secure more podium finishes for Airwaves Racing with 2nd and 3rd places in an action-packed race.

Gordon Shedden on the podium with Aron Smith and Mat Jackson
Gordon Shedden on the podium with Aron Smith and Mat Jackson

Following the reverse grid draw after race 2, the final BTCC race of the day from Snetterton saw the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis of Dave Newsham in pole position alongside the Honda Yuasa Racing Civic of reigning champion Gordon Shedden. Behind, Colin Turkington and Adam Morgan started on row 2 with Mat Jackson and Aron Smith on row 3. Jason Plato started from row 12 after his MG6 suffered a fuel pump failure in the second race.

From 3rd on the grid, Colin Turkington got a fantastic start in the eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport and led the field into the first corner. Dave Newsham meanwhile didn't get such a good start and lost several places before a tangle with Matt Neal sent both their cars off the track. Neal re-joined the race down in 22nd place but for Newsham, the race was over. In a separate incident, Jason Plato spun off the track and collided heavily with the barriers, causing his MG6 to roll over. The safety car was deployed whist the debris from the two incidents was cleared.

Gordon Shedden in his Honda Yuasa Racing Honda Civic
Gordon Shedden in his Honda Yuasa Racing Honda Civic

When racing resumed there were more incidents as Ollie Jackson's Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis and Will Bratt's Audi A4 spun off the track. At the front it was an intense 3-way battle for the lead with Colin Turkington ahead of Gordon Shedden and Mat Jackson. Shedden almost passed Turkington on lap 7 however Turkington held on to the position. Shedden had another stab at Turkington on lap 8, tapping the rear of his car which sent it sliding off the track and causing Turkington to loose several places. Shedden was now in the lead ahead of Mat Jackson and Aron Smith.

With nobody in from of him, Gordon Shedden started to pull away as an exciting battle for 3rd place was developing between Aron Smith and Adam Morgan in the Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis. Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek Racing Honda Civic was now closing in on Smith/Morgan fight whilst himself being caught by Sam Tordoff in the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6. On lap 13, Tordoff passed Jordan to take 5th place then set about chasing Adam Morgan for 4th.

Aron Smith - another 3rd place finish at Snetterton
Aron Smith - another 3rd place finish at Snetterton

After an action-packed race, the victory went to Gordon Shedden with Mat Jackson 2nd and Aron Smith 3rd. Adam Morgan finished 4th ahead of Sam Tordoff in 5th and Colin Turkington in 6th. Lea Wood won his 3rd Jack Sears Cup of the day for S2000 specification cars. Race officials may want to review the move on Colin Turkington by Gordon Shedden which gave him the lead.

Leaving Snetterton, Matt Neal still heads the Drivers' Championship however his lead over Andrew Jordan is now just 9 points. Gordon Shedden remains 3rd in the standings with Colin Turkington 4th and Jason Plato 5th. The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now heads to Scotland for the annual visit to the Knockhill circuit near Dunfermline on August 24th and 25th.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

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