Gordon Shedden admits it ‘feels really good’ to be at the front of the field, after qualifying his Audi RS3 in a season-best third for the opening FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) race at Zandvoort.
The Scot had previously only managed a best of eighth in WTCR qualifying, but at Zandvoort the three-time BTCC champion showed his pace and qualified just 0.157 seconds from pole and as the best of the Audi drivers.
“What a difference a week makes,” said Shedden. “To qualify third, our best position so far this year… it feels really good.
“With the work we’ve done with the car, and the recent changes, mean we can actually fight which is what we want to do, so it’s great.”
Despite not quite having the pace for pole Shedden was pleased with his lap, which saw him pip Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay by 0.150 seconds.
“It was a scrappy session; the second run wasn’t good but the third one was really good. It’s just so close and when I saw the time pop up on the dashboard I thought it was a good time but obviously not quite good enough for pole.
“But it’s much faster than we’ve been so far so I’m very happy.”