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Ultra-quick Blancpain Endurance Cup racer Seb Morris is determined to conclude his maiden season in the world’s biggest GT3 championship on a major high at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain this weekend, 29th/30th September, as he strives for his maiden Pro-Am class victory in the 2018 finale.
Morris, the 2017 British GT Champion, has delivered some outstanding performances throughout his debut year in Blancpain with Team Parker Racing and a genuine bid for the Pro-Am title in his rookie season in the category has only been derailed by misfortune out of his control.
Without retirement from round two at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit and then the horrifying accident in July’s Total 24 Hours of Spa for friend and manager Andy Meyrick, Chester driver Morris would almost certainly be going into this coming weekend in Spain challenging for the title.
As a result of the incident in which Meyrick was lucklessly caught-up, and from which he has thankfully recovered, Morris and regular team-mates Derek Pierce and Rob Smith go into the fifth and final round of the season with a brand new Bentley Continental GT3.
Following a successful initial shakedown of the sparkling new car last week, 22-year-old BRDC Superstar and MSA Team UK driver Morris is relishing the prospect of being back in Blancpain action two months since the previous round and is looking forward to his return to Barcelona.
“We did a bit of a shakedown last Wednesday with the new car which went really well”, said the Welsh racer, “It feels great, ready to go, and we’re all determined to push as hard as we can. I think we should be eyeing a class win, we were on the way there at Spa until the dramas so we know we have what it takes.
“I’m looking forward to being back in Barcelona, I know the track well from Formula Renault and GP3 in the past and I have tested GT3 there before in a McLaren. The characteristics of the track suit the Bentley, it’s a fast and flowing circuit, so we’re all feeling confident. It’s been a very strong first year in Blancpain, hopefully we can push for our first win and end the season on a high.”
Arriving in Blancpain at the start of the year with an already glowing CV, the former single-seater racer starred alongside Pierce and Smith on his Blancpain bow with second position in Pro-Am at Monza in Italy. This came after lapping an incredible fourth fastest overall in qualifying against some of the world’s top professional ‘works’ drivers.
Following the disappointing retirement from round two at Silverstone, sump damage ruling the car out of action just 30 minutes into the three-hour contest, in round three at Paul Ricard in France the squad hit back superbly with another second place finish in Pro-Am. Only an issue with the fuel rig in one of the pit-stops prevented a possible victory challenge.
Now, all attention turns to the fifth and final round of the Blancpain Endurance Cup with Morris’ first track time at the Circuit de Catalunya coming during free practice at 08.00 (UK time) on Saturday, 29th September, before pre-qualifying takes place at 15.45 (UK time).
On Sunday, 30th September, final qualifying will begin the day’s action at 08.00 (UK time) with the fifth and final round of the season beginning at 14.00 (UK time). Live streaming will be carried online HERE.
Watch LIVE on SKY EUROSPORT Ch. 410 – 15:30 – 17:15
2018 Blancpain Endurance Cup ‘Pro-Am’ Driver Standings
8th Seb Morris/Rob Smith/Derek Pierce, 42pts
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