SEB Morris has made a sensational debut in single-seater racing.
The King’s School pupil, driving in the Protyre Formula Renault Championship at Snetterton, recorded three pole positions, one fastest race lap and a maiden race victory.
It all added up to a sensational weekend for Morris, who has made the step up from racing sportscars after winning last year’s Ginetta Junior title.
The 16-year-old from Marford said: “With all the hard work we’ve put in and all the preparation we’ve done, I really wanted to take my first win this weekend. To have actually done it is fantastic.”
In qualifying, the Fortec Motorsports driver was untouchable. In the first 15-minute period, setting the grid for round one, he took his maiden category pole position by 0.8 seconds.
He then replicated that standard in the second 15-minute session, bagging pole position for rounds two and three by 0.9 and 0.7 seconds respectively.
Making a perfect start to the damp first race on Saturday afternoon, Morris opened up a significant 1.5 second lead. But at the start of lap two, he ran wide at Riches Corner. Slipping to sixth place, he subsequently lost more ground but he battled back from the lower order into a strong sixth-place finish.
His first race win came in Sunday morning’s second round race, a lights-to-flag success in changeable conditions which included a series of fastest laps.
Morris then claimed fifth spot in the weekend’s third and final race, securing a superb second in the overall championship standings.
“I’m disappointed we weren’t on the podium in all three races, as we should have been,” said Morris. “But it’s still been a great start to my single-seater career.
“It’s been a fantastic first weekend and Fortec put together a great car.”
Seb now has to wait until May 19/20 for rounds four and five of the championship at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire.
