A Loughborough College driver has earned the chance to compete against some of the biggest names in global motorsport in the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
Seb Morris will drive in one of the world’s biggest endurance races after topping the 2016 Sunoco Whelan Challenge in his first ever GT season.
The prize drive in Florida in the 2017 staging of the American classic will be the first ever twice round-the-clock race for the 21 year old, who studies on the Loughborough College MSA programme.
The list of past Daytona winners includes Biritsh sportscar legend Derek Bell, fellow Briton Andy Wallace and ex-Formula One driver and multiple Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya.
Seb scooped one win, five other podiums and four pole positions to finish third overall in an outstanding British GT Championship. Anglo American Oil’s season-long Sunoco Whelan Challenge pits drivers from selected Sunoco-fuelled categories against each other and after their results were translated into points, the College student ended with an average of 80.06.
“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 Whelan Challenge and racing at Daytona, so I’m very proud to have achieved that,” said Seb.
“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’m really looking forward to proving myself in endurance racing. Who knows where it might lead.”
Seb will make his debut at Daytona during the special ‘ROAR Before The Rolex 24’ official test days in January 2017 ahead of the big race on 28 and 29 January at Daytona International Speedway.
Photo of Loughborough College driver Seb Morris - Jakob Ebrey Photography