Gordon Shedden counting the positives after tough Hungary visit

Gordon Shedden leaves Hungary empty handed, as the circuit’s characteristics favours Audi’s rivals 

Gordon Shedden had a taxing second weekend in the FIA World Touring Car Cup at the Hungaroring, with the circuit not favouring the long wheelbase Audi RS 3 LMS, with all six drivers struggling to be in the points all weekend.

Shedden’s best result came in the final race of the weekend with 12th, making significant ground after having qualified 21st on the grid in the Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team Audi.

The team struggled all through Saturday with a braking issue which was a hangover from the last race in Morocco. Shedden and his Belgian team made good progress on Sunday, with the Scotsman again able to make his way forward on the grid, crossing the line 15th in Race 2.

Gordon Shedden said:

“It’s been a difficult weekend, and we’ve just not been able to optimise the car here. I can take some solace in the fact that we’re not the only ones. It’s a bit of case of putting this one down to experience and moving on to the next one.

“The Nürburgring should suit our car much better, and we’re also due a change in the compensation weight which should see us now run at least 60kg lighter, which should put us right back in the mix.

“The Audi doesn’t seem to be too suited to the first two circuits on the calendar, but it’s been strong at the next few circuits in other TCR categories, so hopefully we’ll have some better results coming up.”

Saturday qualifying result

1 - Norbert Michelisz - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 1:52.644
2 - Esteban Guerrieri - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 0.256
3 - Thed Bjork - Yvan Muller Racing - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 0.419
4 - Gabriele Tarquini - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 0.444
5 - Benjamin Lessennes - Boutsen Ginion Racing - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 0.508
25 - Gordon Shedden - Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team - Audi RS 3 LMS - 2.679

Saturday race result

1 - Yann Ehrlacher - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 12 Laps
2 - Esteban Guerrieri - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 0.692
3 - Norbert Michelisz - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 5.942
4 - Yvan Muller - Yvan Muller Racing - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 7.92
5 - Rob Huff - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR - 9.117
18 - Gordon Shedden - Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team - Audi RS 3 LMS - 33.978

Sunday qualifying result

1 - Norbert Michelisz - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 1:52.365
2 - Gabriele Tarquini - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 0.442
3 - Esteban Guerrieri - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 0.658
4 - Yann Ehrlacher - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 1.001
5 - Benjamin Lessennes - Boutsen Ginion Racing - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - No time
19 - Gordon Shedden - Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team - Audi RS 3 LMS - 1.830

Sunday reversed grid race result

1 - Rob Huff - Sébastien Loeb Racing - Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR - 12 laps
2 - Daniel Nagy - M1RA - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 0.562
3 - Yvan Muller - Yvan Muller Racing - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 2.2
4 - Gabriele Tarquini - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 2.659
5 - Esteban Guerrieri - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 3.050
15 - Gordon Shedden - Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team - Audi RS 3 LMS - 25.916

Sunday final race result

1 - Gabriele Tarquini - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 17 laps
2 - Norbert Michelisz - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 0.354
3 - Yvan Muller - Yvan Muller Racing - Hyundai i30 N TCR - 3.691
4 - Yann Ehrlacher - Münnich Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 4.092
5 - Benjamin Lessennes - Boutsen Ginion Racing - Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR - 7.675
12 - Gordon Shedden - Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team - Audi RS 3 LMS - 22.769

Write up and image provided by Gordon Shedden