Shedden takes points lead

Gordon Shedden: Took a double win at Rockingham

Honda driver Gordon Shedden won two of the three British Touring Car Championship races at Rockingham on Sunday to take the championship lead from team-mate Matt Neal.

Shedden picked up victories in races two and three after KX Momentum Racing's Jason Plato had converted his pole position into victory in the first race.

Scotland's Shedden also finished third in the opening race as he racked up a healthy points haul from his Rockingham weekend.

He now leads the way in the standings on 336 points, three ahead of team-mate Neal who twice finished second to Shedden after opening with a sixth in race one.

Shedden's first win of the day came in very wet conditions as the heavens opened over the Northamptonshire track, and he expressed his joy at getting the job done in such tricky circumstances.

Relief

"That's a big relief. It's mine and the team's first win for what seems like ages," he told the BTCC's official website.

"Even better we've done it in real style and of course it's a massive result in terms of the championship."

Shedden takes his slender lead over reigning champion Neal into the penultimate round at Silverstone on October 7 before the season concludes at Brands Hatch on October 21.

Despite the impressive pace of the Hondas in the wet today, Plato still harbours realistic title aspirations as he trails Shedden by just 32 points with 134 up for grabs at the last six races.

Plato, who took third behind the Hondas in both race two and three, said: "The Hondas just have that something extra in the wet so I was really encouraged we could take it to them a bit more in that third race.

"I had one chance at passing Matt but he's a brave lad and covered it well."