Peter Morley has continued his journey to claiming the 2020 Western Australia State Speed Series after adding yet another victory to his already impressive season tally. 

 

With the series hosting both a hill climb and supersprint, Morley was fighting for top spot in the weekend’s two events, both of which enjoyed larger than usual fields. 

 

Just under 40 participants took part in Saturday’s hill climb and got five attempts at the Collie course. At the top of the timesheets, Morley found himself locked in a tight battle with Thomas Hamlett and Ray Ferrari, trailing the duo for much of the day as a result of two penalty runs. 

On his final attempt, he was finally able to break the 44 second barrier and post a solid time of 43.80 seconds. While he leapfrogged Ferrari to jump into second, Hamlett’s best time of 42.41 seconds proved too hard to beat. 

Click here to view the results for Saturday’s hill climb.

Morley and Ferrari were again in the thick of the action during Sunday’s supersprint, which welcomed more than 50 competitors on the circuit’s longer formation.

 

The duo were the firm favourites for the outing after Hamlett withdrew his entry and they certainly didn’t disappoint as each put on fantastic displays during their laps.

 

However like many times this year, Morley ended up being better when it mattered as he recorded his fastest time on just his third lap of the day, while Ferrari’s fastest came just two laps later.

Only needing his third lap time of one minute and 10 seconds, Morley ended up calling it a day, while Ferrari continued to press for 11 laps, but ultimately settled for a runner-up finish, which ended up one second slower than Morley and one second faster than the third placed Cosi Sorgiovanni.

Click here to view results for Sunday’s supersprint.

With Morley now closing in on the 2020 title and dethroning current champion Marcel Every, who finished fourth on Saturday and fifth on Sunday, it sets up a huge final two rounds and series organiser Steve Metlitzky was proud of the competition’s attitude towards the year. 

 

“It has been a bit of a roller coaster and we’ve had to cancel and postpone some events, for reasons in and around of COVID-19. Although since everyone started to go back, it seems like motorsport is back with the vengeance,” Metlitzky said.

 

“Add the need to move some of the events due to calendar clashes, it’s just been one of those years, but there has been no shortage of passion and enthusiasm and people have been so excited.

“Since the series returned in June, the club has been holding events every month, except October where it was delayed due to Targa West, but we’ve been very lucky compared to other states and we’re just happy to have been able to run 14 rounds. 

 

“This weekend especially was a great example of the camaraderie of our people. Everyone was just happy to be there and spend time together sharing their passion – it really was amazing to see.”

 

Only two rounds remain for the 2020 WA State Speed Series with the next event being the postponed October hill climb at Jack’s Hill on 22 November, before the final round takes place next month.