DOUBLE CHAMP CLELAND'S WARNING TO SCOTTISH HOME HERO SHEDDEN
John Cleland has warned fellow Scot Gordon Shedden not to
get carried away by the emotion of racing at Knockhill on
Sunday 3 September if he wants to deliver results in front
of his home Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crowds.
In his debut BTCC season, 27-year-old Shedden has been a
revelation – he currently lies fifth in the standings
having driven to victory four times in his Team Halfords Honda
Integra.
The Dunfermline driver has also been an instructor at Knockhill
and on BTCC race day will be cheered on by guests of personal
sponsor Clydesdale Bank that has become the race-day sponsor
of the event.
But former double BTCC champion Cleland says there is no
guarantee of success on home ground and it is important that
Shedden does not let the pressure get to him. Indeed, Cleland’s
own illustrious 12-year BTCC career netted him only one win
at Knockhill.
Cleland told BTCC.net: "Gordon’s done a very good
job this year. I think he’s got the best car by a long
way, but I’ve seen other drivers in the past be given
the best car and not deliver. It’s still down to you.
"However, the fact is that this is going to be his home
event and there will be all the Knockhill people, his family
and the sponsors and that means there will be an immense amount
of pressure.
"If he can race forgetting the pressure I think he’ll
be fine. But he mustn’t get carried away with the fact
he’s at Knockhill and maybe, because he’s on the
front row of the grid, all of a sudden have the mad notion
he’s got to drive like a nutter because he’s in
front of his home crowd."
From what Cleland has seen so far, though, he believes Shedden
could be on course to give the Knockhill spectators a home
victory to celebrate.
Cleland added: "He’s made a few silly mistakes,
but he’s still learning and is clearly a talented little
driver and with the Honda he’s got a car capable of
allowing him to show what he can do.
"I think he’ll do well at Knockhill and he’ll
be disappointed if he doesn’t win at least one of the
races. He also knows Knockhill inside out – OK, at this
level the top drivers learn the track within five or ten laps,
but he’ll know exactly where it’s slippery and
what lines to take if it rains and there’s always a
high chance of that at Knockhill.
"The other thing at Knockhill is you can hear the crowds
cheering from inside the car and when you see them willing
you on at the side of the track it always finds you that extra
tenth of a second. Who knows, maybe he can win all three races.
Imagine if he did that – Clydesdale would think he’s
a real hero and sponsor him for the next ten years!"
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