An update on Moh Ritson
Moh Ritson, the young Co-ordSport sponsored driver, had a successful weekend of racing at Brands Hatch. Read his report of the weekend below:
Moh impresses on his first full-distance race weekend
In his very first season of competition, 15-year old Moh Ritson delivered a faultless performance in rounds five and six of this weekend’s BARC Junior Saloon Car Championship races at Brands Hatch, when the teenager from Leeds signaled his potential with two exceptionally well-judged drives. At the wheel of his Tockwith Motorsport prepared Citroen Saxo VTR, Moh rocketed off the line in both 16-lap races gaining 4 places from the grid to first corner.
The BARC (British Automobile Racing Club) administered Junior Saloon Car Championship is exclusively for 14-to-17 year olds driving controlled specification Citroen Saxos and is designed to encourage and showcase young talent over the season’s 18 rounds split into nine double-header weekends.
2018 heralds Moh’s first year of national car racing. Therefore, with only one race finish under his belt before this weekend due to mechanical issues, Moh’s two, lights-to-flag performances at Brands Hatch were to mark his first ever full-distance race weekend and a significant step forward in his career.
With rain making the 1.198-mile ‘Indy’ configuration of the track exceptionally slippery for Saturday’s Qualifying sessions, a number of over-eager competitors proceeded to plant their cars in the gravel trap on the outside of Paddock Hill bend – the very first corner. But no so Moh, who took the treacherous conditions into account and drove accordingly.
The situation of the stricken cars triggered the appearance of red flags and consequently, both Qualifying sessions were abandoned. It was a situation that forced organisers to allocate grid positions for the first race based on current championship standings, meaning Moh lined-up in 15th.
Determined to make up places, Moh’s start was so good he overtook four cars by the time he reached the first corner. Then, with others ahead of him engrossed in various battles, he took advantage of their slip-ups and gained another three positions during the course of the race to cross the line an impressive eighth.
With the results of race one determining the starting positions for race two, Moh was aware there would be a number of far more experienced drivers lining up behind him. Another perfect getaway saw the 15-year old blast his way through to fifth as the field exited Paddock Hill Bend.
Keeping out of trouble to ensure he got to the finish unscathed and go the full race distance, Moh took the chequered flag in a credible 11th place and achieved what he had set out to do. Looking back on the experience gained from his inaugural visit to Brands Hatch and the outcome of the two races, Moh said:
“With this my first ever event where I’ve had the opportunity to complete both races, it’s been a fantastic experience and I’ve learnt so much. Because I’m one of the newest drivers in the championship, my intention was to do the best I could, learn this legendry track and make sure I secured vital championship points, so I’m very happy to come away from my Brands Hatch debut having achieved just that. I’m now going to take what I’ve learned this weekend to the next event and build on the positives.”
Moh went on thank everyone who had helped and supported him: Driver coach Sarah Moore, Tockwith Motorsport – who prepare and look after his car – plus the sponsors, Co-ordSport, Fusion Learning and Fusion by Design.
The next outing for Moh and his team is at Rockingham in Northamptonshire on 16th June, when he will be back behind the wheel for rounds seven and eight of the BARC Junior Saloon Car Championship.
Follow Moh’s progress on his website, Facebook and Twitter.
