Sean Huyton faces nervous wait over whether he has won the drivers’ championship

Oct 13 2011 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

SEAN HUYTON produced a stunning display in the final round of the Gin Cars G40 Challenge at Silverstone to finish the season with the most points – but still isn’t able to call himself champion.

The 21-year-old is now waiting to hear the results of an appeal to the UK motorsport’s governing body, the MSA (Motor Sports Association), before knowing if he has won the title or has finished second.

Aughton-based Huyton is disappointed for the delay, which is because his only championship rival has complained following an incident on the first lap of the first of last weekend’s two races.

Huyton eventually won the race and then the second to finish three points clear and is facing an anxious wait for the decision.

He said: “I knew I had to produce two of the best drives of my career and I’m delighted that I did that. It’s just frustrating that the championship isn’t finished and I’m nervously awaiting the verdict.

“Despite this, I’m delighted with how the season has gone and know that whatever happens I won the championship on the road.”

Huyton started the weekend with a 21 point deficit to make up on his only championship rival, Mark Davies, and this became 23 after the latter scored a bonus point for securing pole position in both races during qualifying; Huyton would start sixth.

In race one, Huyton attacked from the off, with his now customary lightning quick starts, moving up to second place with an audacious move around the outside of the fast Maggots corner.

With his sights set firmly on Davies ahead of him, Huyton’s pace soon had him on the tail of the leader before the end of the lap.

As both cars battled for the lead at the end of lap one, Huyton saw his opportunity after Davies ran wide. He took the tighter inside line on to the start-finish straight but did so as Davies tried to take the same piece of track.

The impact was side on but sent Davies spinning off the track into a gravel trap while Huyton managed to regain control of his car on the track.

Davies eventually recovered to the track and continued, while Huyton battled with a number of issues from the collision as he fought to retain the lead.

Another similar collision between second and third resulted in both vehicles spinning off, giving Huyton the gap he needed to nurse his car home for a much-needed victory.

Meanwhile, Davies finished in ninth place, keeping his championship lead for the final race of the season, but just by one point.

There then followed protests and appeals from Davies’s Optimum Motorsport team about the collision and subsequent counter appeals from Huyton’s Academy Motorsport team, which remain unresolved at this point.

In race two, Huyton knew a win, or simply finishing ahead of Davies, would secure the title on the track.

A flying start from sixth enabled him to emerge in a three-way battle for the lead after the first corner, Copse, and he again drove superbly to claim the lead from Davies.

Huyton continued as in the first race and posted the fastest laps for the first four circuits, before easing off for the remaining four as tyre wear took its toll.

On the last two laps, Davies caught Huyton, but couldn’t find a way past as the latter demonstrated why he deserves to be champion.

The gap between the two at the chequered flag was just under two tenths of a second, but meant a double race win and title for Huyton, subject to the verdict from the appeal.

He said: “I drove aggressively and fair and took opportunities to overtake people when they presented themselves.

“The two race wins were down to my determination to show I’m the best driver and racer in the Ginetta G40 championship but now I have to wait for the decision via the MSA.

“The car was perfect, the Academy Motorsport team brilliant and all my friends, family, fans and sponsors superb, in their support during the weekend and over the season.

“I’d like to say a special thanks to my latest sponsor, Kitchen Kraft, without whose support the meeting at Silverstone might not have been possible.

“I hope we can all celebrate a title win in the very near future.”

Details of the appeal verdict will appear on Sean’s twitter @seanhuyton once announced.