Tuesday 4 February 2014

Caterham Academy's Latest Recruit

You may have heard the name Seb Morris before. He has been a key player in British motorsport in the past few years, earning the BRDC Rising Star accolade and claiming the 2012 Ginetta Junior Championship - a series which runs alongside the BTCC. After moving to single seaters in 2013, Morris is certainly one to watch for the future, as he has earned a place in Caterham's Racing Academy. His career goes from strength to strength. Could we see him in Formula One in the future? He is certainly a talented prospect.

Seb Morris finished runner up in last year's BRDC F4 Championship.
Image Credit: Alfer van Rossum (via flickr)



Future In Formula One?

Morris' single seater career only began last year as the 18-year-old Brit took part in the BRDC F4 Championship, where he finished as runner-up. To perform so consistently across the long 24 race campaign shows how Morris has a mature attitude which will serve him well in the junior formula. The likes of Esteban Gutierrez and Giedo Van Der Garde have risen to Formula One with consistent performances, even without claiming an illustrious array of titles. 
Next year will be a key season for Morris as he will enter his first season of racing abroad, in the Formula Renault NEC Championship. It is key to note that McLaren's latest recruit Kevin Magnussen enjoyed two seasons in the series in 2009 and 2010, finishing as runner-up in his second season, with the series offering the perfect launch pad into Formula Renault 3.5 - A category which has recently been considered a better advert for future F1 stars than GP2. With 2013 GP2 Champion, Fabio Leimer being shut out in the cold in regards to a 2014 seat, while 3.5 Champion Magnussen takes the McLaren drive, it is clear to see why the status of 3.5 has greatly increased recently.
"Joining the Caterham Academy is pretty huge for me," Morris said. The Academy is a select group of just six drivers, (including its newest recruit) and one which regularly offers opportunities for its members. It is key to note that both Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi received track time in the CT04 last year, with the latter taking part in FP1 in Austin. "To be part of an F1 team, with all the support and knowledge that brings, is a massive step forwards for my career," added Morris.
Prior to his Caterham link, Seb Morris was a little known entity. However, receiving the backing of a Formula One team so early on in his career will be integral to his development. It will remove financial restraints and ensure that he stays on the right track, (pardon the pun.) In the dog-eat-dog world of motorsport, any assistance is valuable and we will most certainly be learning more about Morris in the future. 

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