Morris Wins Sunoco Whelen Challenge, Drive at Rolex 24

Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Seb Morris has won this year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge, earning him a drive with Action Express Racing in January’s 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Welshman beat Marco Cencetti to the prize in the Challenge points standings, in which drivers competing in British GT GT3, Radical Team Challenge, and Radical European Masters are able to enter.

This comes after a successful maiden season in the British GT Championship for Morris, who scored one win and four pole positions throughout the year in his Team Parker Racing Bentley Continental GT3.

The 20-year-old will follow in the footsteps of 2016 Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner and reigning British GT champion Jonny Adam by competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January in the Whelen-sponsored No. 31 Action Express Cadillac-Dallara DPi.

“It was disappointing to miss out on the British GT title this year but my sights have also always been set on winning the Sunoco Whelen Challenge and racing at Daytona, so I’m very proud to have achieved that,” Morris said.

“Manufacturers and big teams like drivers to have proven themselves in big races, which is difficult for young guys like me with limited budget.

“So racing at Daytona isn’t just about having a good time; it’s demonstrating what I can do on one of the world’s biggest sportscar stages.

“I’ll be speaking to my manager about the race as he’s competed there in the past, and I’ve also already started looking at the track and doing some sim work in preparation.”

Meanwhile, Mini Challenge Cooper driver Max Bladon has won the Sunoco 200 Challenge for a drive in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race at Daytona.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.