MORRIS LEADS F4 CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER THREE PODIUMS AT SILVERSTONE

by Marc Orme & Robert Allender Photos Jakob Ebrey Photography

  WRDA member Seb Morris made an outstanding start to the BRDC Formula 4 Championship season at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend, 27th/28th April, to take three podium finishes and take the early championship lead in the prestigious new single-seater category.   However an initial setback, when the Hillspeed transporter had a tyre blow-out, which caused the team to miss last weeks pre-season test session, turned into a major headache in the pre-race test on Friday with the team about 1.5 seconds off the pace! With expectations running high after Sebs’ sensational start to last season, 7th place on the grid after Saturdays qualifying was perhaps disappointing. However his race-pace was better than his practice, and Seb and the Hillspeed team turned their fortunes around dramatically on Saturday and Sunday with three sensational race performances, even leading race 2 for a while! Sebs’ fight back started in race 1, rising from 7^th on the grid, to finish in 3^rd place. After an excellent start to run 5^th, Seb then overtook his Hillspeed team-mate Struan Moore on lap two for fourth place. He was starting to close the gap to the top three leaders, but on lap five the two leaders tangled which promoted Seb to 3^rd and despite heavy pressure in the closing laps, he held on for the podium.

Morrris then carried the fighting sprint on to Sundays’ two races. Beginning Sunday morning’s second round from sixth position – the starting order decided from the result of race one with the exception of the top eight being ‘reversed’ – Seb made a sensational launch to rocket into second before pressuring for the lead. Setting the early pace, Seb piled on the pressure to Jack Barlow and produced a fantastic move at Village on lap three to move into the lead. However there was little to choose between the two of them and late in the race, Seb was edged back to second again as Barlow retook the lead! “I drove the best I could two but there were several factors which didn’t enable me to win it”, Seb explained, “There was a big headwind down Hangar Straight, so every lap I was creating a huge hole in the air for Jack to catch back up. The tyres went off near the end but the main thing was my mirrors dropped down, so I couldn’t defend like I wanted as I wasn’t sure where he was!”
 

In the final race of the day, Seb lined-up third on the grid and took second place into Maggotts before trying to hunt down pole-sitter Jake Dalton. With the leader on newer Yokohama tyres though, Seb’s task was a pretty impossible one, so he instead put his focus on taking a very comfortable second place and fastest lap, and with it, the series lead.

“It’s been a great weekend, especially after being a second and a half off the pace on Friday It was a mountain to climb but we did it, we’ve got three podiums from the first weekend and scored big points which is great. We’re the only ones to have been on the podium in every race and that sort of consistency is what you need to challenge for a championship. We missed out on a win, which is a shame, but from the positions we started in, seventh, sixth and then third, I’m really happy with the results we’ve taken away and it’s fantastic to end the first F4 weekend leading the championship.”

Adding to the glamuor there was a sprinkling of FI stars presenting the trophies. For race 1 it was former F1 Star, 1992 World Sportscar Champion & Le Man winner, Derek Warwick, and giving the silverware for the final race was current F1 driver & 9 times Grand Prix winner Mark Webber.
   
Rounds four, five and six of the 2013 BRDC Formula 4 Championship will take place three weeks from now, on 18th/19th May, at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent where the category will support the spectacular DTM touring car championship.
 
2013 BRDC Formula 4 Championship Standings (after Rd3): 1st Seb Morris, 70pts. 2nd Jake Dalton 68pts 3rd Matt Bell 64pts

4th Jack Barlow 60 pts 5th Charlie Robertson 48 pts
 
  

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Website: www.sebmorris.com
Twitter: @sebmorris31
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sebmorrisracing
 

The 185 bhp Cosworth Duratec-powered MSV F4-013 chassis, engine, gearbox and shock absorers are all sealed. Chassis adjustments are limited too; with ride heights, tracking, cambers and castor, free within specified limits. Anti-Roll bars and wings are adjustable and there a choice of 3 spring rates. There will be three 20 Minutes races per event. The grid for race 1 will be decided by on 20 minutes Qualifing session, and grid for races 2 & 3 will be decided by the finishing order or race 1. In race 2 the first 8 places will be switched and the grid for the third race in order of fastest laps from race 1 or 2. Points will be scored from 30 for a win to 1 for 20th. The two worst results from races at events entered will be dropped from final championship points.

The championship winner will get £25,000 in cash and an F3 test with Carlin + the £5,000 Who Zooms’ Award, sponsored by Yoozoom for the driver who gains the most grid places during the 2013 season. The leading six drivers at the mid season point will also be rewarded with a special tour of the renowned McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Aslo the winner may be selected as a McLaren Autosport BRDC finalist

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