WIX Racing’s Adam Morgan says he has “good pace” with his Mercedes-Benz A-Class, despite the Lancashire racer scoring no points at Oulton Park for the first time in the current British Touring Car Championship season.
On Saturday, Ciceley Racing’s Morgan had a problematic qualifying session, crashing out and causing a red-flag stoppage with ten minutes remaining. Although Morgan returned to the pits with a largely intact car, he was not allowed to participate any further as the cause of the stoppage, leaving him down in a lowly 25th on the grid.
“I was gutted to be caught out by the conditions” said Morgan after qualifying. “The team had made significant changes and I was just starting to explore the cars limits when I unfortunately found them!”
Progress in both of Sunday’s races proved to be difficult not only for Morgan but for the entire grid, with little overtaking on the Oulton Park International circuit. In race one, however, Morgan was one of only a few drivers on the move, improving to 18th by the chequered flag.
Race two saw the first retirement of the season for the WIX Racing driver. Damage caused during contact with another driver caused his steering to break with just one lap remaining whilst Morgan was running in the points in 14th.
Race three saw an equally determined drive from the 25-year-old, who climbed from 25th to 17th. However he was unable to penetrate the points-paying positions and endured his first pointless weekend since Croft in 2012 as a result.
Morgan criticised the lack of overtaking at the longer Oulton Park circuit, with the addition of the Shell Oils hairpin and an additional chicane at Foulstons limiting passing at the Cheshire circuit.
“This new International track layout has made it very difficult to overtake slower cars” said Morgan. “We have found good pace and made massive improvements with the WIX Racing Mercedes handling, but unfortunately the implemented changes turned the race into a procession and I just couldn’t overtake.
“I am disappointed to be leaving with no points for the first and hopefully last time this year but improvements have been made and the car was again just getting better and better.”
Despite scoring a lack of points, Morgan proved his mettle by finishing the weekend as the top scorer in the Jack Sears Trophy as a result of passing the most cars in the races. His 15 places gained over the weekend move him up to sixth in the Trophy standings.