Gordon Shedden leads Honda 1-2 in race three at Thruxton

Gordon Shedden took victory in a wet race three at Thruxton ahead of Matt Neal, making it a Honda Yuasa Racing 1-2.

Aron Smith, Dave Newsham, Ollie Jackson and Chris James gambled on a combination of wet and slick tyres for the third race given the uncertainty around weather conditions. However it was a gamble that wouldn’t pay off as the rain started to fall on the opening lap of the race, which meant all four cars had to pit for full wets during the race.

Pole sitter Tony Gilham led the field into the first corner with second placed Smith slipping back as a result of the tyre choice. After two laps the Honda Yuasa Racing Civics of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal had moved into second and third respectively, ahead of the Toyota Avensis of Frank Wrathall. Two laps later the Honda pair followed each other past Tony Gilham to take first and second.

From there Shedden and Neal began to build margin, while Frank Wrathall began to put pressure on Gilham for third. It was a position that Wrathall was promoted to after Gilham locked up at The Complex and made contact with the tyre barriers as a result. Gilham was able to rejoin, limping back to the pits in his Honda Civic to retire from the race.

Matt Neal moved into the lead with Gordon Shedden taking it back only a lap later, a move that would give Neal a bonus point for leading the race. Behind them Wrathall was forced to defend from Jason Plato, who challenged him until the final corner of the race. The Toyota driver was able to hold him off to take the final step on the podium.

Lea Wood and Rob Collard made contact on the final lap, though both were able to rejoin to cross the line in seventh and eighth respectively, pulling off track after taking the chequered flag. After running in the top ten, Adam Morgan’s Toyota Avensis did not make it to the line after running out of fuel.

The next round of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship will be held at Oulton Park on June 9-10.