PERSHORE team Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden became the first driver in eight years to win back-to-back Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship titles.

Shedden entered the final meeting at Brands Hatch trailing championship leader Sam Tordoff by 11 points.

By out-qualifying his chief rival and finishing ahead of the Yorkshireman in all three races, the defending champion dramatically turned the tables in his Honda Civic Type R.

From seventh on the starting grid, Shedden carved his way through to finish fifth in race one before pulling off opportunistic passes as he battled to his ninth podium of the season in race two.

Beginning the finale from fifth and needing to beat Tordoff, two places ahead of him on the grid, the Scot produced one of the drives of his career to grab third place and snare the title by just two points.

Team-mate Matt Neal converted 11th on the grid into seventh in the opener but, after posting the fastest lap in race two, the three-time champion’s engine temporarily cut out.

As Neal attempted to rejoin, contact with another car sent him into a spin and into the barriers. Suffering from mild concussion, he was ruled out of the all-important finale.

It relegated him to sixth in the drivers’ standings, 33 points adrift of Shedden, with Honda and Halfords Yuasa Racing placing second in the manufacturers’ and teams’ tables respectively.

Handy Motorsport’s Evesham driver Rob Austin secured a front-row starting slot and then secured second place in the opening race before finishing 14th in the finale.

Shedden said: “It’s unbelievable, an incredible feeling. I’ve actually been really relaxed all weekend but, even going into race three, I thought it was going to be very difficult and it was.

“It was a shame Matt couldn’t join in, it would have been good to have him up there pushing for the title too because we’ve both had really strong pace.

“The Civic Type R was mint throughout, as it has been all season, and once again I really stuck my neck on the line and made some bold, heart-in-the-mouth moves that were on the edge more often than not.

“After Croft in June, it looked like we were down-and-out in the title battle but we stuck to our guns, kept plugging away and gave it absolutely everything to claw our way back.

“It just goes to show every single point really does count in this championship.

“Winning the BTCC title for the first time felt phenomenal, last year was a real rollercoaster ride and this year it was just a huge release of emotion.”

Neal said: “Huge congratulations to Flash on his third BTCC crown. He’s driven fantastically all season and it’s a pleasure to welcome him to the three titles club. I guess now it’ll be a straight fight to see who can get to four first!

“I got knocked around pretty badly and, because I had mild concussion, the decision was taken not to start race three, which clearly wasn’t the way I wanted to end my championship challenge.”