0-60 second interview: I'm never scared on the track.

SCOTS race ace Gordon Shedden drives like a man possessed out on the track.

The Dunfermline-born racer is hoping for glory in this year's Seat Cupra Championships. But his first road trip was actually a 120-mile journey to buy an ice cream.What was your first car? A 1.3-litre Austin Metro on an F-reg. The insurance was more than the car itself. It was black, so it was dead cool. I got it when I was 17, straight after I passed my test and drove from Dunfermline to Oban for an ice cream just because I could. It was seven years old when I got it. At that time, I would have taken anything on the road with four wheels and an engine. It was all about freedom.

Were you tempted to thrash it? For me the Metro was fine because I'm nice and safe out on the roads. I was racing karts at the time. I could do everything I wanted on a race circuit and that's the place to do it. What do you drive now? I run about in a two-litre Seat Ibiza but my personal car is a ABT version of the Audi TT. It's more than 300bhp, has better brakes, a racing suspension and body kit. It's subtle but you notice close up. It's an awesome car.

How is the season going? It's been an entertaining start. Everyone decided to try and get rid of me in the first event at Brands Hatch. It shows how much of a threat they think I am. I've just got to try and stay out of trouble and keep scoring.

What is on your car stereo at the moment? I like a lot of old stuff like the Jam but a lot of the time it's just the radio.

Would you replace a puncture or call for help? I'd definitely replace it. If someone was to talk me through a gearbox rebuild I'd probably do it by the side of the road. My diagnosis of what is wrong is pretty good but in racing I've a team of people behind me who know what to do if something goes wrong. What's your scariest moment on the road? I was driving down to Croft in 1998 to work when I fell asleep at the wheel. I was 18 years old and I thought I'd save some money by driving down first thing in the morning rather than the night before. I woke up after I hit a stone wall and found myself in a field. It was fairly scary when I realised the damage I'd done. I was unhurt but there was quite a bit of damage to the car which was on loan. How about on the track? I have never had a scary moment on the track. You have moments where you think 'That was close' or 'I got away with that' but that's part and parcel of it.

What most annoys you about other drivers? Everybody expects to pass their test at 17 but some people need to accept they can't drive. People say speed kills but to a greater extent it's incompetence that kills. Some people don't know what is going on about them.

What is your dream car? A new DB9. It's a cracking looking little thing. You could drive it dead sensibly or drive it like a lunatic if you wanted.

What are your plans for the future? If I win the Seat Championships I get a Touring Car drive with Seat plus use of a flat in Monaco next year, so it's a prize worth trying to win. I finished runner-up last year so there is only one place I can finish this year and I'm trying everything to be there.

Gordon Shedden is sponsored by Stewart Milne Group, Town and County Seat and Tracker Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Check his progress at www.gordonshedden.com

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Driving Seat: Shedden on the circuit