Morse finds positive despite Bathurst heartbreak
DNF denies Zane Morse maiden victory at Mount Panorama
Fuel pressure issue behind Morse's late retirement
Win would have come just two rounds after first podium in Townsville
Holding pace with the leaders at the toughest track on the calendar was a positive for Zane Morse despite missing out on a maiden victory in heartbreaking fashion.
Morse and AIM Motorsport appeared set for a stunning maiden Dunlop Super2 Series race victory in the Bathurst finale last Saturday.
The #11 Mustang was running in second in the closing laps, but was effective leader due to Zak Best’s false start time penalty.
With a five-second penalty hanging over points leader Best, Morse only needed to stay within touching distance of the #17. That he did, keeping the pressure on the weekend’s benchmark driver to be in the frame for victory.
However, Morse slowed and coasted to the pits with just three laps to go, and his race ended in the pits. Kai Allen went on to win the race and the round despite Best crossing the line first.
A fuel pressure issue was behind the New South Welshman’s third straight DNF, which also denied Morse a second podium finish in three events after his maiden trophy in Townsville in July.
It came a day after Morse was an innocent bystander in a clash at Griffins Bend, with title contender Ryan Wood nursing a damaged car home after contact at Hell Corner.
At Sandown, Morse was forced into retirement after a collision with Best, which earned him a 35-point penalty.
"It was awesome to be running up the front there during today's race,” Morse, who is 15th in the Super2 points, posted to social media.
"Unfortunately, a fuel pressure issue brought our race to a premature end. The team are gutted, but it was good to show we had the pace to race with the leaders.
"Hopefully we'll have better luck at the next one. A big thank you to everyone who came up for autographs while we were parked up. I really appreciate the support.”
Morse wasn’t the only front-runner forced out at Mount Panorama, with four other Super2 drivers suffering DNFs in Race 1.
Wood was out due to damage in a clash with Allen, while Jay Hanson and Cooper Murray both crashed out after running in the top three.
Jack Perkins also retired from the first race, and opted to miss the second as he cast his focus to his Great Race start with Will Brown and Erebus Motorsport.
The 2023 Dunlop Series will conclude with the VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 23-26.
