Gordon Shedden wins final BTCC race at Snetterton

Credit: BTCC

Ash Sutton was awarded a five second penalty after race two, but managed to retain his victory. Following that, he drew number seven, meaning the Toyota of Gordon Shedden would start race three on pole. Behind him, came the Plato Racing Mercedes of Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan, followed by Napa Racing UK’s Dan Cammish and Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton and Ricky Collard. Sutton completed the top seven, with Tom Ingram starting last.

Shedden made a good start, maintaining the lead ahead of Rowbottom and Morgan. The top three pulled away as Cammish, Chilton, Collard and Sutton battled behind. Collard was then awarded a ten second penalty for a false start, after he was passed by Sutton for sixth.

Both WSR BMW’s of Daryl DeLeon and Charles Rainford began to battle as they both looked to overtake the Hyundai of Collard. Morgan then passed his Plato Racing teammate for second place, looking to catch Shedden for the race lead. By the end of lap two, Ingram had climbed up into the top ten, pressuring the Restart Racing Hyundai of Chris Smiley.

Shedden continued to lead heading into lap four, however, the queue behind him was beginning to grow as Ingram moved past Smiley for ninth place. Sutton then passed his NAPA teammate, Dan Cammish, for fourth. It wouldn't be long till he then got passed Rowbottom for the final podium position, as they started lap five.

Credit: BTCC

Ingram continued to progress as he barged his way past DeLeon. Behind the top three, the battles continued as Chilton moved to fifth ahead of Rainford, with Rowbottom falling down the top ten. Shedden meanwhile, continued to lead as the race approached the half way mark. Ingram made his way into sixth, overtaking the BMW of Rainford.

Onto lap seven, Sutton climbed up into second, down the inside of Morgan at turn two. He eventually caught and passed Shedden for the race lead on lap eight, copying the move he made for second place. Shedden however, retook the lead half way through the same lap.

The following lap Sutton attempted a daring move into turn one, but Shedden fought back to maintain the race lead. Heading into the final laps Ingram began his assault on the podium positions, applying extensive pressure on Morgan for third place.

Credit: BTCC

The Team VERTU driver pulled off an excellent move at the end of the back straight to move past Morgan and onto the podium, pushing to catch Sutton and Shedden for the race lead.

Battles continued on the final two laps as DeLeon moved past Rainford, both pushing to pass Morgan. This left a final lap showdown between Shedden, Sutton and Ingram for the final race win of the day.

Sutton and Ingram went side by side in turn one on the final lap, with Sutton remaining in second, but this allowed Shedden to pull away. That would be the final battle between the top three, despite Ingram attempting a move in the final few corners. Therefore, Shedden would win race three at Snetterton, making it two wins across the last two weeks for the Toyota team. Sutton and Ingram would complete the podium.

Then came DeLeon, Smiley, Rainford and Morgan. Chilton, Cammish and Rowbottom completed the top ten. Mikey Doble finished 11th, followed by Árón Taylor-Smith, Sam Osborne, Aiden Moffat and Josh Cook completing the points.

The running order was completed by Nicolas Hamilton, Dexter Patterson, James Dorlin, Max Buxton, Lewis Selby and Collard.