GORDON Shedden is a man who has conquered the British Touring Car Championship, but when it comes to Mount Panorama it is a different story – he has unfinished business.
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Shedden took on the famous 6.213 kilometre circuit earlier this year as part of the Bathurst 12 Hour field and while he showed his class in qualifying, he ended Sunday with a DNF next to his name.
The Lotus Exige which had looked a good chance to claim Class C honours for Shedden and his team-mates Pete Storey and Ben Gower had a huge incident at The Chase in the second hour of racing.
While it was able to return to the track, it did not last until the chequered flag.
Shedden’s Bathurst 12 Hour debut came to an end after seven hours, seven minutes and 51.4 seconds.
It also underlined the statement he had made on the Saturday after clocking an impressive qualifying lap time of two minutes, 20.9 seconds.
“The thing with a 12 hour race is it’s all about getting to the end,” Shedden said after being the second quickest Class C car on track.
“You just want the car to stay in one piece for the first 11 hours and then it’s all about the last 30 minutes.”
The disappointment of that campaign has lured Shedden back for another shot at Bathurst 12 Hour glory next year. He will once again drive for Motionsport, but this time in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
“We certainly have unfinished business at Bathurst after last year,” Shedden said.
“The Aston will be a fantastic car to have round the mountain and it will be great to be at the sharp end.
“It’s an iconic circuit, an iconic race.”
Given the change in cars, the 2012 British Touring Car Champion will contest Class A in next February’s event. Still, Motion-sport team principal Simon Phillips is confident the team’s third shot at the endurance event can be a successful one.
“We wanted to move up to class A for this year and fight with the big boys in GT3,” he said.
“It’s going to be so tough at the front, but the Aston is the weapon of choice and we’ve got some circuit knowledge. I can’t wait.”
Entries for the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour, which will run from February 6-8, close on December 11.