Shedden secures first victory since BTCC return in race one

Three-time British Touring Car champion Gordon Shedden has secured his first victory since returning to the series this season after dominating the opening race of the day at Donington Park.

Having already secured his first pole position of the year in Saturday's qualifying session, the Team Dynamics driver led every lap to take an impressive lights-to-flag victory ahead of form man Dan Lloyd in second.

Shedden's rhythm was disturbed during the early stages of the race after a heavy shunt, which involved the BMW 3 Series of Adam Morgan, brought out the safety car on lap three.

But Shedden successfully retained his position when the race restarted on lap 7, although the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra of Lloyd never fell too far behind the leading Honda Civic Type-R.

Shedden eventually crossed the line just over a second ahead of Lloyd to take his 49th career BTCC victory, while the latter of the two secured a third podium finish from the last four races.

Lloyd's Power Maxed Racing team mate Jason Plato had looked poised to at least join him on the podium after the two-time champion started race one from third on the grid.

However, Plato suffered a slow opening lap and fell behind the Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla of Rory Butcher and BTC Racing Honda of Senna Proctor by Coppice corner.

Plato fell back a position further to title challenger Colin Turkington on lap 12, but managed to hold off championship leader Ash Sutton for sixth.

Laser Tools Racing's Sutton did set the fastest lap of the race, despite carrying full success ballast, but could never quite close enough to make the killer move on his former Subaru team mate Plato.

BTC Racing's Josh Cook followed the pair home in eighth ahead of Chris Smiley and Ollie Jackson in ninth and tenth.