British Touring Car race winners Morgan and O’neill go rallying

British Touring Car Championship race winners Adam Morgan and Paul O’neill are considering more rallying outings after squaring off on the opening round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship.

Both drivers, along with reputable circuit racer Nigel Greensall, raced Paul Sheard-prepared Mazda MX-5S. Morgan confirmed he would consider another round of the championship. His father Russell is a regular rally competitor and also did the event in a 2.5-litre Millington Ford Escort Mk2.

“This is the way forward,” said Morgan, who finished 34th after a puncture. “It’s been a proper good laugh. I think I’ve lost five wing mirrors and took the front end off the car. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s going back to my routes, where I started out, and it would be nice to do some more. I’d like to do it again and persuade my old man to come out and we’ll do a father-son thing.

“Or maybe I can persuade him to let me out in the Escort. That’ll need a lot of persuading.”

O’neill – now an ITV BTCC pundit – took second in Class B and 24th overall after a clean run, following a retirement on the first stage on the same event the previous year, which was his rally debut.

“It’s one of the best single days of motorsport I’ve ever had,” said O’neill. “All day it’s gone great, there was no pressure and I really enjoyed it. I would do this again and I’d recommend it to anyone.”

O’neill drove a Mk1 1600cc car while Morgan piloted a Mk3 2000cc. Sheard is renting the cars for other rounds of the championship.