Seb Morris won the 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Winter
Series with Michelin during a dramatic finale at Rockingham on Saturday,
10th November, to secure an outstanding third car racing title in as many
years – and his first single-seater crown in his first season in single
seaters.
Morris totally dominanted the first of two races from Pole, scoring the
extra points for Fastest Lap as well and then did what he needed to in the
final round with a fourth place finish giving him the coveted title.
(Actually 3rd as
Matthew
Brabham was not eligible to score points)
“I’m delighted to have secured a championship in my first year of
single-seater racing. The entire Fortec team has worked together the whole
weekend to tfruimph against some seriously talented opposition.”
Overnight rain left the Rockingham track surface extremely slippery but Seb
mastered the conditions to bag pole position for both the days races.
Making a good start to race one, Morris fended off a two-pronged attack
through Turn One of the Rockingham Oval to establish himself in the lead –
one he wouldn’t relinquish despite twice seeing his lead disappear due to
Safety Car periods.
Not putting a wheel wrong, Seb controlled the race and was never
realistically threatened on his way to a near-six second winning margin. He
also posted the fastest lap of 1m31.625 seconds (76.22mph) to claim two
vital bonus points, which would ultimately prove decisive in the outcome of
the title.
With the track continually drying throughout the day, albeit at a slow rate,
tyre choice became a factor for the fourth and final round of the Winter
Series. With the other front-runners opting for treaded rubber, Seb and the
Fortec team decided to cover that fact by running with the same tyres.
His initial launch from pole was good but the car bogged down momentarily,
dropping the Ginetta Ambassador to fourth on the run to Deene Hairpin but he
quickly regained third at Chapman Curve which he knew would be good enough
to claim his first single-seater championship.
By the ninth tour Matthew Brabham, who gambled on slick tyres, had carved
his way through the field on the drying track and caught the leaders. Seb,
realising Brabham wasn’t eligible to score points, let him through, as he
explained: “In the latter stages of the race I simply knew I had to maintain
position, conserve my tyres and drive with the championship, not the race
result, in mind.
Seb carries the WRDA with him into the winners circle
“It’s the perfect way to end my first year in single-seaters and I just want
to thank all the guys at Fortec for their hard work all year, in the main
championship and the Winter Series. I also want to say a big thank you to my
driver coach Matt Shawyer, manager Andy Meyrick and, of course, mum and dad
and Ginetta Cars for their support.”
Check out a great photo gallery on Sebs Facebook page
www.facebook.com/sebmorrisracing
2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Winter Series with Michelin
1st Seb Morris 113 points 2nd Jack Aitken 112 points Matt Mason 3rd 104
points
Photos Jakob Ebrey Photography
