Morgan stars at Brands Hatch with victory on tip-top debut weekend by Marc Orme and Rob Allender

Bridgends' Alex Morgan, produced a star performance during round two of the Renault UK Clio Cup at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on Sunday, 31st March, to win only his second ever ‘tin-top’ race – earning him the ‘Driver of the Event’ accolade. Alex, a WRDA member, last competed in the Euro Formula Renault Championship with fellow Welshman, Richard 'Steelly' Singleton in 2008, scoring several points finish against giant grids of 40+ racers, with a highlight of a 3rd place finish in Estoril. He then put his racing on hold to complete his Degree course.  Having his first run in a tin-top in the BTCC support race Alex impressed on his debut outing earlier in the day, finishing fourth in the season-opening race. However in race 2 he beat round one winner James Colburn off the line at the start and never looked back, despite immense pressure throughout. Initially leading Colburn, Josh Files and multiple champion Paul Rivett, after a brief early Safety Car period – required to retrieve the stranded car of the unfortunate Ronnie Klos – Morgan settled into a good rhythm and never looked unduly under threat in his Team Pyro-run 2.0-litre Clio. Colburn had to work hard to keep his Westbourne Motorsport-run Clio in second ahead of Rivett at the re-start and it wasn’t long before the series veteran pounced, slicing past his younger rival along Cooper Straight after Colburn had lost momentum when sliding slightly wide at Graham Hill Bend. As the race unfolded, Rivett piled on the on Morgan but the series newcomer didn’t crack and claimed a memorable, and very popular, victory. “I couldn’t have asked for much more on my debut”, said a delighted Morgan, “Having not done a practice start, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get away cleanly in the races, but I was lucky enough to get away really well. After getting the lead into the first bend, I just plucked away, treated it like qualifying, and kept pushing and pushing. “Rivett did fill my mirrors every lap, that did make it quite difficult, but luckily I didn’t put a foot wrong to give him a chance to get past. I definitely couldn’t have predicted this before the weekend, I knew in testing we’d been quick but I just had to keep working at it and it turned out brilliantly.”

Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings: 1st James Colburn, 57pts; 2nd Alex Morgan, 54pts; 3rd Paul Rivett, 48pts

The next races in the Renault UK Clio Cup take place over the weekend 20th/21st April at Donington Park in Leicestershire.

Renault UK Clio Cup is sponsored by www.buyoils.co.uk with support from ELF, NGK Spark Plugs, WP Racing & official tyres by Dunlop.

Photos ourtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography; more available at www.jakobebrey.com/renault

Official website: www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/cliocup

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