Continuing the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship’s intrateam head-to-head battles, today we’re looking at the performance of Halfords Racing with Cataclean duo Gordon Shedden and Dan Rowbottom over the first nine rounds of the campaign.

Three-time champion Shedden’s BTCC comeback made headlines following a three-year break from the series, while Jack Sears Trophy contender Rowbottom also made a return after a year away during 2020.

Thruxton threw a mixed back of results at the squad, with Shedden qualifying in the top ten while his teammate settled for 16th spot. The best result for both drivers during the weekend was two fourths, Rowbottom in race two, improving on seventh in race one, and the #52 driver in race three after a retirement and 18th-place finish.

After initially bagging pole position at Snetterton, Shedden was dealt a blow as a technical infringement disqualified him from the result and saw him start the opening race from the back of the grid. Recovering throughout the day, the Scot went on the take a podium in race three, while his team-mate put in a trio of points-finishes in Norfolk.

The championship’s final outing before the summer break proved to be Rowbottom’s best so far, as the 32-year-old secured his first-ever BTCC pole position with Shedden lining up second on the grid.

Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit rewarded the team with a double podium during the initial encounter, while Rowbottom followed up third place with fourth and 11th in Kent.

After his early podium, contact with a rival in race two saw Shedden drop down the order to 21st at the flag, while a recovery drive in the final race ended the Scot’s day just outside the points once again with 16th.

Looking at the head to head results at this point in the campaign, it's clear that the battle between the pair is incredibly close; it's advantage Rowbottom in qualifying, overall race results and points scored, but Shedden's pair of podiums gives him the edge in that category.

As the Worcester-based squad heads to Oulton Park aiming for more success, the team will be buoyed by previous successes at the Chesire circuit, where Shedden took his maiden outright BTCC win and Rowbottom bagged his first-ever points in the series...