Murray Finally Gets the Race Win He’s Been Looking For
Niall Murray finally got the moment he’d been waiting for, as he climbed to the top step of the podium to take the win for the final race of the season at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. There were also double celebrations at the circuit as Charlie Robertson became Vice-Champion at the age of just 14-years-old.
As the lights went out on the last race of the 2011 season, Murray in the Beacon Racing Ginetta got a fantastic start off the line, and managed to get ahead of the pole sitter Brad Bailey. At the same time, champion Seb Morris, managed to sneak his way up into the top three, and then managed to get up into second place and tuck himself up nicely behind Murray.
As for Sennan Fielding, whose performance in race one was fantastic, he had a terrible slide exiting Brooklands, causing a chain reaction behind him, with many of the rest of the pack have to take evasive action to avoid any contact.
As they went into lap two, Morris was right on the bumper of the Beacon Racing Ginetta of Murray. Due to their fighting at the front and being in constant attack of each other, it meant that Bailey, Max Coates and George Gamble could latch on to the back of the leading pair and stop them from making headway from the group.
As the laps ticked by, both Murray and Morris swapped places more time than you could keep count of and with paintwork traded, and a few scuffs and scrapes added to the cars, it was all to play for, for both drivers.
On lap 10, Murray was on an absolute charge for the lead after getting stuck behind the red and white Hillspeed Ginetta. The Beacon Racing driver saw his opportunity at Becketts and went for it, surging past the champion and stealing the lead. After nailing the decisive move, Murray kept his cool and took the perfect line on every corner to close the door to Morris at every opportunity he could.
Morris did try and take the lead again on the drag up to the chequered flag, but Murray had it in the bag, and crossed the line to take the chequered flag by just 0.096 seconds from Morris.
Also on the last lap, not only was there drama at the front of the field, Bailey and Gamble were fighting it out for position further behind. They made contact at Becketts causing a multi-car incident, with dramatic effect to some drivers. Managing to avoid the incident was Robertson, giving him the third place spot on the podium which was not only well received considering he was at one point back down the field in 11th position, but it also meant he secured the Vice-Champion’s spot in the points.
Fourth to cross the line was Struan Moore, fifth was to be had by Will Foster in the Tollbar Racing by Wired Ginetta, and sixth went to the newcomer of the championship Andrew Watson, who was utterly thrilled with his solid finish.
Speaking with an elated Niall Murray after his celebrations on the podium, he said:
“At the start of the season all I wanted was a top five of the championship, and one race win and for a newcomer, I thought that was fairly good. I got a race win at Brands, which was not really officially a race win so I really wanted to get one on track … a race win confirmed and today I really wanted to do it. After yesterday I knew I had the pace to win so today I just didn’t let anyone go near me and I had to have the win.”
Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey
Becki Mitchell
