Adam Morgan returns to the British Touring Car Championship this season driving a striking new Mercedes-Benz A Class for his family run Ciceley Racing squad. 2013 was a strong year for the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup champion with points in all but four races (thanks to retirements) and a maiden podium at his home round at Oulton park. This year he's hoping to continue that fine form.
"if I could get the same sort of success as last year, nice and consistent, top 10 finishes, just keep the points ticking over and maybe a few cheeky podiums in there would be really good." He tells me.
With not only the new car, but a move to a new location and a big new sponsor in Wix Filters joining the team, it's been a very busy winter and the new season has come around quickly. The team has also been racking up the testing miles in recent weeks and the Mercedes has impressed so far.
"it's brilliant it's an absolute joy to drive"said Morgan, "it just keeps surprising me with with it's handling and how hard I can push it."
And who knows, if the year goes well, we could even see a second Mercedes A Class on the BTCC grid before the season is out. Watch this space...
Full Adam Morgan interview
Dominik Wilde: You've taken quite a big step this year building your own car for the first time, how has that been as an experience?Adam Morgan: Challenging. Well, we did the Toyota last year and then the Merc this year but it's not just we're building a new car, we've also moved location so we've bought a new unit which was derelict so we've had to build that up as well and obviously with a new sponsor on board it's just been a very very busy winter and it's come round incredibly quick but, you know, building your own car you're just in complete control of what happens so you can oversee every project and every aspect of it so I think that's why it's run faultlessly since we started testing.
Dominik Wilde: So you're impressed with the car then?
Adam Morgan: Yeah it's brilliant it's an absolute joy to drive and it just keeps surprising me with with it's handling and how hard I can push it.
Dominik Wilde: With it taking parts from the Toyota that you had last year, is it similar to drive? What's it like in comparison?
Adam Morgan: It's different. We have got the same parts off of the Toyota, the NGTC parts but the car in overall length is a lot shorter but the wheelbase is only a little bit shorter so it does feel different to drive, it's a good different. The balance of the car is much more level and even everywhere so it feels really good.
Dominik Wilde: In testing obviously you can't really see what the others are doing but where do you think you are in relation to the competition?
Adam Morgan: I think, even on a day like today [Media Day] people can still be underweight and be below minimum ride height and that kind of stuff so it's hard to say but I'm pretty confident we're inside the top 10 pace wise.
Dominik Wilde: So with that, what are your expectations for the season? What do you hope to achieve?
Adam Morgan: Again, it's really difficult and I've got to be realistic. There's 30 cars on the grid and seven champions and I think up to about 15 drivers who can win races, challenge for podiums and stuff so it's going to be difficult but if I could get the same sort of success as last year, nice and consistent, top 10 finishes, just keep the points ticking over and maybe a few cheeky podiums in there would be really good.
Dominik Wilde: And if this year goes well, could there be chance of another car next year?
Adam Morgan: Yes. We do actually have a second shell at home which we've just got in the corner waiting so depending on how the car goes at the beginning of this year and how well we've got it developed and stuff we'll think about building a second one. Then hopefully maybe get it out for the last race or last two and then full time for next year but it depends on the licences and all that kind of stuff.
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