Morgan Consolidates Championship Position

After a six week break, the Renault UK Clio Cup resumed racing action this weekend at Snetterton in Norfolk, with Bridgend driver Alex Morgan heading into the weekend third in the championship. After a hard fought weekend, he was able to consolidate his third place position in the championship with two strong points scoring race results. Rounds 11 and 12 of the championship took place at the Norfolk circuit and Morgan was confident heading into the rounds as he scored his maiden single-seater win at Snetterton in the BARC Formula Renault on his debut. The Team Pyro driver got his weekend underway with Saturday qualifying, where he secured a second row starting slot for both races from fourth position. In Saturday’s 10-lap race, Morgan initially held fourth, putting pressure on Ant Whorton-Eales, who had jumped up to third at the start. On lap three whilst battling for third place, Alex was jostled back behind Josh Cook and Mike Bushell. As the race progressed, the battle for third became a four car battle. On the penultimate lap, Bushell and Whorton-Eales clashed which enabled Cook and Morgan to move up to third and fourth respectively. Morgan went in pursuit of the final podium slot, but eventually crossed the line just 0.6s behind Cook to finish in fourth. In Sunday's 10 lap race, Morgan slipped back from his fourth place starting position to sixth on the opening lap after a bad start. From thereon, the race proved a processional affair and, despite closing in on Cook on several occasions throughout the race, Morgan had to settle for a sixth place finish. Morgan commented:

It was good to get some more solid points and I was close to stealing a podium in the first race. After a difficult race weekend at Croft I needed to bounce back and, despite having a slightly frustrating second race, I've retained third in the championship and extended the gap to fourth slightly. Unfortunately Files and Rivett had a better weekend than me and so I need to get back on the podium for the last four races to keep my championship hopes alive.

Morgan retains third in the championship after Snetterton and now has 255 points. Current leader Josh Files is on 299 points with Paul Rivett in second on 286 points. There are four more races in the 2013 championship, to be held over two weekends. Rounds 13 and 14, held over the penultimate weekend will take place at Rockingham on 13-15 September.