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Gordon Shedden to replace Rob Huff for Dubai season finale

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Three-time British Touring Car champion Gordon Shedden will join Team WRT for the season finale of the TCR International Series, supporting Jean-Karl Vernay’s championship bid in their second Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.

The 48-time race winner in the BTCC will get his first real taste of international racing after a call-up by the Belgian squad, racing the #73 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, as regular driver, Rob Huff, is unavailable after the TCR series rescheduled their finale, which now clashes with the WTCC race at Macau the same weekend.

Shedden’s role will be to support Vernay at the Dubai Autodrome, with the Frenchman going into the final round with a 21-point lead in the standings over M1RA Honda driver Attila Tassi

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Shedden to TouringCarTimes. “It’s been a while since I’ve raced internationally in touring cars, not since Macau quite a while back.

“It’ll be a great experience to race the Volkswagen in TCR, and I’ll be doing my best to help Leopard Racing and Jean-Karl win the championship in Dubai. Thanks to the team and also to Rob for the opportunity.”

Rob Huff won his final TCR race two weeks’ ago at Zhejiang, and was instrumental in finding his replacement when it became clear he was going to be unable to complete his programme with WRT.

“It’s a real shame not to be able to see it through, but when it turned out I wasn’t going to be able to do the last round, I suggested Flash, as he’d be the perfect replacement for me here at Leopard Racing,” said Huff to TouringCarTimes.

“He’s not only quick, but he’s a team player; you can see that in the way he and Matt Neal work together at Team Dynamics in the BTCC. I’m sure he’ll fit in well at the team, get the best out of the Golf, and that JK will come out of it with the title.”