ROUND two of the Whilton Mill Kart Club Championship offered promising signs for Solihull ace Harrison Morrow – setting a new personal best and achieving a highest heat finish.
A three-day programme was in store for the budding racer, with an extra day of testing last Friday allowed to him, which appeared to help his preparations ten-fold.
Bolstered by consistent clear weather all weekend, Harrison’s team were able to decide on a kart set-up fairly quickly, allowing them more time for race pace and track driving improvements.
Saturday’s practice saw a new personal best time set by Morrow, who appeared to be getting to grips with the track at a faster rate than the other drivers.
Race day opened with a disappointing first heat against a highly competitive field of Honda Cadet drivers.
After repeatedly exceeding the track limits in the opener, he was disqualified, which would harm his chances later in the day.
Putting the setback behind him, he was next up in heat three, starting 26th in the field of 30.
Pressure was building on Harrison given his earlier disappointment and, with team-mates competing in the same heat, he enjoyed a clean start to the race.
Down to the driver, Harrison reviewed his lines and put the setback behind him.
He had gained pace to stand in 22nd by lap six and continued to grow in confidence to finish in 21st as the second novice overall.
His 20th-placed finish – as a result of penalties – now stands as his best ever heat finishing spot.
Starting in 28th place in the final heat, he battled with a five-kart pack to improve his place to 24th after further racing penalties were applied.
Harrison then went into the B Final, starting seventh out of eight drivers due to not scoring points in the first heat.
Staying determined, he finished fifth, missing out on the A final by a single place.
Despite the disappointment, he looks back on the weekend in a positive light and hopes to back up his efforts in the opening round of the Shenington Sprint Series this weekend.
