Murray claims maiden victory!
Niall Murray came to Brands Hatch on the back of a superb run at Rockingham some two weeks earlier. Murray, fast becoming a regular visitor on the podium was keen to climb that final step to take his first victory.
Qualifying brought mixed fortunes, struggling at the beginning and then a red flag splitting the session left Niall with a lot to do as the session resumed. Getting quickly back up to speed, Niall was dealt a cruel blow having his fastest lap deleted, which would have put him on the front row of the grid. Eventually Niall would have to settle for tenth on the grid for race one.
A good start for Murray allowed him to make up a number of places to complete lap one in fifth. While challenging Tom Howard for fourth, the lead pair of George Gamble and Sennan Fielding made contact putting the pair out and Niall now found himself in third and right on Howard’s back bumper for second. Approaching Hawthorn corner Niall got a fantastic run on Tom Howard to pass him around the outside promoting him to second. With Jake Giddings now firmly in his sights, the trio of Murray, Giddings and Morris were almost running bumper-to-bumper. Niall followed Jake up to Druids passing him for the lead. However slight contact from Giddings on the run down to Graham Hill bend resulted in Niall running slightly wide allowing Giddings and Morris back into the lead. Murray got his head down and by the time they returned to Druids corner on the following lap Niall got past Giddings once more and put himself securely into second and now set about taking the lead from Morris. Approaching Druids corner on the next lap, Murray got a superb run on Morris to take the lead as they exited the corner. While leading the race, a mistake from Niall allowed Morris back in front but when coming out of Paddock Hill bend on the following lap, Niall was along side Morris to re-take lead but the latter forced Niall onto the grass resulting in him spinning but luckily for the Irishman he spun back onto the track and the advantage he had built up prevented him from falling down the order. As the chequered flag dropped it was Morris who took the race win with Niall in second and Max Coates now in third. However following a meeting with the Race Officials, the Clerk of the Course handed Morris a three second penalty for his manoeuvre on Niall thus handing Niall Murray a very well earned and deserved maiden victory.
Starting from the back of the grid for race two, Niall was really going to have his work cut out to emulate his impressive race one form. Murray got yet another superb start despite having to avoid series newcomer William Palmer who struggled to get his car off the line. At the end of lap one, Niall was now up to eighth position and putting fellow championship rival Max Coates under pressure. Over the next few laps Niall tried everything to find a way past Coates who was defending hard to keep his championship challenge alive. Eventually finding a way past at Surtees, Niall now set about making his way further up the order with Seb Morris next in his sights. Out in front Myles Collins ran wide coming out of Paddock Hill bend and was followed by Brad Bailey, which immediately promoted Niall to third and now challenging for second. With only two laps remaining, there was nothing separating the lead pack of Charlie Robertson, newly crowned Ginetta Junior Champion Seb Morris and Niall Murray. As they came out of Clearways for the final time Charlie Robertson had a very slender advantage to win over Morris but Murray moved to the inside and was just piped by Morris at the line to finish third by a mere six hundreds of a second! In addition to his fantastic podium finish, Niall also set the fastest lap of the race with a 1.46.612, one of only two drivers to drop below 1.47 in the race.
Speaking after race two, Niall reflected on his best weekend ever, “This has been the best weekend of my racing career. I’m very confident that with even one more lap I could have won the second race! However I am delighted to have taken my first victory this weekend and to come from the back in race two I was hoping for a top five at best, so to get third and challenge for the lead was just brilliant. Were now lying a very strong fourth in the championship with a mathematical chance of third, which would just be amazing in only my first season! I’ve got to say a massive word of thanks to my sponsors Murray Motorsport, Ginetta, and my team Beacon Racing for giving me a fantastic car this weekend. Roll on Silverstone!”
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