![Gordon Shedden, Halfords Racing with Cataclean [Team Dynamics], Honda Civic Type-R FK8 NGTC](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DSC_6846.jpg "Photo: PSP Images")
Gordon Shedden called the Team Dynamics front-row lockout ‘absolutely fantastic’ after he qualified in second for the opening British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch, just 0.005 seconds from team-mate Daniel Rowbottom.
Shedden made a late improvement in the final minutes of qualifying to put his Honda Civic in second for race one on Sunday, narrowly missing out on pole.
For the three-time champion it gives him another chance to get firmly into the title fight – after he had a pole taken away from him last time out at Snetterton for a technical infringement that saw him playing catchup from the back of the grid in the last three races.
With Rowbottom claiming his first-ever pole, Shedden was pleased for the team to be able to put both of their cars at the front of the grid.
“It’s a front-row lockout so absolutely fantastic, really,” said Shedden. “A bit of a frantic session around here, it always is, with cars in and out of the pits and all sorts of different strategies and things, but we couldn’t really ask for much better – a front row lockout and all to play for tomorrow.”
Shedden added that the congested nature of the short Brands Hatch Indy circuit had made it difficult to find the space for a genuinely clear flying lap in the half-hour session.
“It’s very difficult because you can’t pick your moments. You think you’ve got a nice gap and then you come down the straight and you’re watching into the pitlane and you see three cars exiting the pitlane and you know you’re just going to come across them at Turn 1.
“But that’s the nature of Brands Indy – everyone’s got the same toy set to play with and sometimes you just fall into the traffic in the right places and sometimes you don’t.
“To be honest, it’s a great result, lots to build on and I look forward to tomorrow.
“It’s going to be great to start from the front again. The outside of row one is a really nice place to be for me and we’ve got to try and score some big points tomorrow.”