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Miata Trophy returned to action on Saturday 10 August at Snetterton, for Rounds 9 & 10 of the 2024 season.
The meeting marked the beginning of the second half of the championship’s latest campaign, putting further emphasis on the importance of each and every point available.
Qualifying
Hills Motorsport’s Will Morris rocketed out of blocks in qualifying, with a lap time of 2m16.399s setting a tough benchmark for competitors to better. The driver currently at the top of the championship standings, John Langridge, looked sharp but was unable to better Morris’s time.
In fact, no driver was able to best the time set by Morris and the #17 driver would head into SuperPole as fastest qualifier. Miller Motorsport pairing Langridge and Alex Miller would join Morris in the pole position shootout, along with Hills Motorsport’s Declan Lee and Drew Fletcher.
Kevin Silvain was the fastest ND Class qualifier with a time of 2m18.376s.
SuperPole
Having qualified fastest of everyone, the pressure was on Will Morris to convert to the front of the grid in SuperPole. However, the Hills Motorsport driver was unphased and rose to the occasion to secure an inaugural Miata Trophy pole position.
Langridge joined Morris on the front row, with teammate Miller lining up in third. Fletcher managed to jump Lee to start the day’s opening race in fourth, while BC Cars Motorsport’s Kevin Silvain was again the fastest Mk4 Mazda MX-5 driver.
Race One
A poor getaway for polesitter Morris enabled Langridge to steal the race lead, with Fletcher surging up the order to second. Just behind the leading duo Miller and Morris dueled for third, as the entire field battled for important early positional gains.
By the end of lap three Morris was back in second place and looking to replicate his earlier qualifying pace to reel in leader Langridge. Sure enough, a few laps later the gap was less than 0.400s between the leading duo.
A compelling battle between Langridge and Morris followed. Ultimately, a dive up the inside of turn one on lap seven by Morris proved a decisive overtake for the Hills Motorsport driver. For the remainder of the race, Morris fended off Langridge’s advancements to secure his first-ever Miata Trophy victory – by just 0.548s!
Langridge would be joined on the podium by Miller Motorsport teammate Miller, who managed to keep behind a trio of Hills Motorsport drivers: Drew Fletcher, Nicholas Stott and Dillon Stepney.
Declan Lee, Simon Fleet (Jiffy Winks), Jack Hodges (North West Racing) and Ray Worley (Boreham Motorsport) rounded out the top ten NC Class finishers.
Kevin Silvain continued in his strong vein of form by winning in ND Class, displaying some tremendous overtakes as he picked his way through the overall field.
Race Two
A lightning getaway from Langridge saw the #5 driver once again get the jump on Morris, but Miata Trophy’s newest race winner immediately put the pressure back on the leading #5 car. Miller maintained third ahead of Fletcher and Lee, with the latter making a storming charge through the field.
Lee continued to pave his way up the order, rising as high as third-place before a mechanical failure put a unfortunate end to the driver’s day.
Up front, Morris continued to pressurize Langridge. The lead switched hands on a number of occasions in a hugely-entertaining affair. Eventually, a tremendous overtake from Morris secured the lead heading into the final laps of the race. Langridge pushed Morris hard to try and prise the win away, but it was Will Morris who sealed a phenomenal day of racing with a second victory.
Langridge’s efforts were rewarded with another second place finish and a good helping of championship points, while once more Miller joined his teammate Langridge on the podium to cap a great day for Miller Motorsport.
Fletcher just about managed to hold on to fourth by 0.181s over the line, finishing ahead of Hills Motorsport teammate Stott. Stepney, Fleet, Worley, Hodges and Alister Esam (BC Cars Motorsport) completed the top ten Mk3 MX-5 finishers.
Another strong showing from Silvain ended atop the ND Class podium.
Miata Trophy returns on September 7th at Cadwell Park. Secure your space on the grid HERE.