Gordon Shedden is a headline act at Members’ Meeting
Behind all of the action both on and off track at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, is a competition that incorporates the efforts of every single person in attendance at the event.
The Goodwood House Cup is a tradition that began when the Members’ Meetings returned to the regular Motor Circuit schedule in 2014, and sees the four Houses: Methuen, Aubigny, Darnley and Torbolton, compete against each other for points, bidding to earn the House Shield. Each House is led by a Team Captain, four great racing drivers who are the regular faces of the Members’ Meeting.
Gordon Shedden, Captain of Methuen, is one of the greatest British Touring Car Championship drivers of all time, whose career has spanned more than 20 years. A three-time Champion, he claimed the title in 2012, 2015 and 2016, and remains a leading figure on the grid, where he is set to compete with Toyota in 2025.
His career began in the Ford Fiesta Championship back in 1999, where he raced for the Tim Norton Motor Services Ltd. Racing Team and won the title in 2000 with nine victories. That success was followed up by an initial appearance in the BTCC with GR Motorsport, where he achieved immediate success in the Production class, winning and finishing second in two races at Knockhill.
A full-time entry for the 2002 season was planned with the GR team as part of a new collaboration with Alfa Romeo, but the drive fell through before the start of the season, and Shedden was forced to wait for his chance to join the BTCC grid.
He filled his time racing successfully in both the Seat Cupra Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup from 2003-2005, before finally his opportunity came in 2006 to drive for Team Dynamics, then branded as Team Halfords, the reigning Teams’ Champions.
At the wheel of the Honda Integra Type-R he scored his first outright victory in the BTCC at Oulton Park, following that up a round later with another win at Thruxton. Three podiums including two wins at Donington saw him climb up the Drivers’ standings, and Shedden eventually finished his first full season fourth in the Championship.
He remained with Team Dynamics until the end of the 2022 season, sticking with the outfit as it became a Honda works team in 2010, a revelation that would lift Shedden into Championship contention.
Team Dynamics had suffered a gentle decline through 2008 and 2009, but in 2010, Shedden and his team-mate Matt Neal were back on form and embroiled in a straight fight with Jason Plato for the Championship. Despite enjoying his most successful season to date, Shedden was only able to manage third in the standings. He would go one better again in 2011, but it was 2012 when he finally reached the pinnacle.
Driving the new Honda Civic, Shedden was on a mission, and despite a slow start with a retirement and a disqualification at Brands Hatch, he went on an astonishing run of consistency, including six wins in nine races, to build a significant advantage in the Drivers’ Championship. He maintained that speed throughout the rest of the season to see of the challenge of Neal and claim his first BTCC title.
That first Championship infused Shedden with a new confidence that saw him lauded as one of the fastest drivers in the history of British touring cars. It was once again a slow start to the 2013 season that cost Shedden a second consecutive title, but a remarkable run of 18 podiums including five wins brought him within seven points of the Championship.
He put that right two years later though, with another relentlessly consistent season to clinch his second British Touring Car Championship by four points, and completing his triad of titles in 2016 by an even smaller margin of two points. That win ensured Shedden would join a list of just nine drivers who have won three or more BTCC titles.
Such a successful career is worthy of celebration, and his announcement as one of Goodwood’s four House Captains in 2023, replacing fellow BTCC legend Anthony Reid, was thoroughly deserved. He’ll stand alongside Dario Franchitti, Tom Kristensen and Andy Priaulx as the four headline drivers at the 82nd Members’ Meeting.
Ahead of the 81st Members’ Meeting, Shedden said: “Methuen has won the Shield more times than any other House so that’s a big act to follow. But it’s also fun because the Members’ Meeting is such a great event and it’s good to get involved as a Captain alongside the racing.”
Methuen were beaten to the House Shield by Torbolton in 2024, but Shedden did still race to third place in the Gordon Spice Trophy at the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro. He’ll be hoping to lead his House back to glory in 2025.
Shedden will be in action once again at the 82nd Members’ Meeting,which gets underway on 12th and 13th April. Tickets are now available for Members and Fellows of the GRRC.
If you’re not already a Member or Fellow and you’d like to enjoy all the racing, demos, and other exciting content at the Members’ Meeting, you’ll need to join the GRRC. Click here for more information or to join the club.
82MM
Members' Meeting
Gordon Shedden
82nd Members' Meeting
Event Coverage
House Captains
Methuen
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