Three-time British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden will replace Rob Huff at Leopard Racing for the season finale of the TCR International Series, making his début in TCR machinery.

Huff is unable to compete in the rearranged season finale due to clashing commitments in the World Touring Car Championship, which is racing in Macau on the same weekend of November 18 and 19.

That meant that the Leopard Racing team had to look elsewhere for a team-mate to support lead driver Jean-Karl Vernay’s title bid. The Frenchman currently leads the drivers’ standings by 21 points with just two races left to run in Dubai.

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The WRT-run team have previously also run Dutchman Jaap van Lagen, at Monza in May before Huff was first signed, and again in a third car at Oschersleben, alongside Vernay and Huff.

Shedden has never previously raced in a TCR car, and will make his first appearance at the deep end when he tackles the Dubai Autodrome in support of Vernay’s title bid in the Middle East.

The Scot will become the third BTCC champion to take on the TCR International Series, after 1994 title winner Gabriele Tarquini and 1997 / 2000 champion Alain Menu, joining fellow Brits and former BTCC racers James Nash and Dan Lloyd on the starting grid.

“I’m excited to join Leopard Racing and WRT where I will use all my experience to help Jean-Karl secure the Championship,” said Shedden. “The TCR International Series looks really competitive but I am looking forward to the challenge!”

The season finale in Dubai takes place on the 18 and 19 November.