Murray takes thrilling season finale
Approaching the final weekend of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship, Niall Murray was hoping to finish his 2011 campaign with at least one race victory. On the back of a superb weekend at Brands Hatch, Niall was brimming with confidence coming in to the weekend and still in with a chance of coming third in the championship.
Qualifying was thrilling to say the least with positions changing on every lap as tenths of a second split several drivers. Leading for most of the session, Murray was having a superb run only to be piped at the end by Brad Bailey, however Niall had done enough to secure second on the grid for both races.
With a superb start off the line, Niall led into the first corner ahead of Brad Bailey and Jake Giddings. Over the early stages of the race, Murray built up a comfortable lead at the head of the field, driving superbly well. As the race progressed, Seb Morris and Sennan Fielding had begun to close in on Murray in his Beacon Racing Ginetta. Niall defended well but a number of challenges from Morris eventually saw him lead for a brief period but as they crossed the start finish line Murray was back in the lead once more. Sennan Fielding had managed to get passed Morris and was now hunting Murray for the lead. Eventually Fielding found a way past with two laps to go. Murray was now defending hard from Morris and slight contact from Seb left Niall briefly back in third until he regained his second position. As they approached the chequered flag, Niall got a superb tow from Sennan Fielding and the pair crossed the line just one tenth of a second apart with Fielding getting the advantage to take his first victory of the season.
With positions decided from second fastest lap times, Niall Murray lined up second on the grid once more behind Brad Bailey. A superb start off the line put Niall into a comfortable lead during the early part of the race. However as in race one, championship winner Seb Morris was applying the pressure on Niall as both were eager to take the final win of the season. Over the next couple of laps, the lead positions were changing on every lap with nothing separating the pair. With paint swapping on several occasions, the race for the lead was shaping up to be one of the best of the season. Brad Bailey who had started from pole was doing his best to keep with the lead pair until contact at Becketts put Bailey off leaving the lead pair to concentrate on the battle for race victory in the dying moments of the race. Now in second, Murray got a good run to get along side Morris coming out of Luffield to lead going into the final lap. Niall defended his lead superbly but despite a last ditch effort from Morris approaching the chequered flag, nobody could deny Niall Murray a fantastic race victory in the final round of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship.
Speaking after race two, Niall commented on his best weekend this season. “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have taken the final race victory of the season. I felt we could have easily won race one yesterday, but to take the final race victory of the season in front of this huge crowd on live TV is brilliant. I’d like to say a massive word of thanks to my sponsors Murray Motorsport, my team Beacon Racing and my family for all their support throughout the season. I can’t wait for next year now!!”
Add our news to your Google homepage!
Add our news to your My Yahoo! homepage!
Subscribe to our RSS news feed
