Fifth Victory Of Season For Morris At Ultra-Fast Thruxton

Seb gets 2 wheels airborne in the Thruxton chicane on his way to collect another winners trophy

WRDA member Seb Morris recorded his fifth race victory of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship
season at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire this afternoon, Sunday, 1st May, to maintain a very substantial cushion at the top of the driver standings with  64 points following rounds five and six of the campaign.

The 15-year-old, from Marford near Wrexham, was unsurprisingly in a position to fight for the wins in both races this weekend at the daunting 2.35-mile track and although just missing out on victory during Saturdays encounter, Seb hit back brilliantly on Sunday to return to winning ways.

Having emerged victorious from five of the first six races, and enjoying an unbroken run of podium finishes so far in 2011, the Liberty Properties Plc and Legat Owen-supported driver now goes into a lengthy five week break ahead of his homeevent at Oulton Park in Cheshire in confident mood.

"Winning is always the aim and I try my best to do that each time we go out, he commented, I made a mistake at the last chicane on Saturday and that cost me the win but I learnt from that and didn't make the same mistake twice. I think I learnt more with the second place finish yesterday than I have all year
so far. In a way it was almost good to have that as it makes you realise you're not going to win every race. Thruxton is a circuit that requires a lot of confidence in the car and I had that today, it's been a good weekend.

Coming into the Thruxton event with a 52-point lead in the championship, unbeaten in the first four races, Seb knew he had a major target on his back but as ever the young GCSE student  who studies at The King's School, Chester,  was more than prepared for the challenge.

Quickest during Saturday morning 15-minute free practice session, the Hillspeed driver wasn't able to grab pole position for rounds five and six during the all-important qualifying session but he did still secure a front-row start for each encounter.

Saturday's race boiled down to a fantastic grandstand finish between Seb and pole-sitter George Gamble but before the conclusion, there was some outstanding racing between the pair and some sensational overtaking from Seb.

Running second to Gamble off the start, the Welsh teenager piled on the pressure immediately and into the flat-out Church Corner ,  regarded as the most fearsome in the UK,  Seb sliced up the inside to take the lead with a remarkable pass.

Into lap two the Safety Car took to the track, to facilitate the recovery of Niall Murray's stricken car, but at the re-start on lap five Seb got away well to keep Gamble at bay. Posting the fastest lap of the race on the fifth tour, 1m31.087 seconds (93.11mph), everything looked good but at the end of lap six Seb
unfortunately ran wide on the exit of the chicane and came within inches of the barriers.

Somehow able to maintain the lead, despite losing a lot of momentum, the battle between the two leaders raged all the way to the chequered flag on lap 12. The decisive moment came at the chicane again on the final tour “ a slight moment for Seb giving Gamble a chance to run alongside him to the line and at the finish
just 0.036 seconds separated the pair, in Gamble's favour.

For round six, Seb hit back brilliantly and at no point did he look like repeating the unfortunate error which cost him success in the opener. Running in second place close behind his rival over the course of the first six laps, at the complex on the seventh tour he made his move with a great pass.

Challenged hard during the remaining two and a half laps, Seb knew what he had to do and carried fantastic speed through the fastest corners and also defended the line well into the complex and chicane each time. Winning by just 0.4 seconds, he also posted the fastest lap, and new lap record  of 1m30.969 seconds (93.23mph).

Next up for Seb is a visit to his home track, Oulton Park in Cheshire, for rounds seven and eight of the Ginetta Junior Championship on 4th/5th June.

Provisional 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship Driver Standings (after Rd6):
1st Seb Morris, 211pts

Photos by  Jakob Ebrey Photography

More information available at http://www.sebmorris.com

Seb Morris is sponsored by Liberty Properties Plc and Legat Owen