Morgan-Horan storms to maiden AORC win
Boston Morgan-Horan and David Morgan have written their names into the Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship winner’s list by taking out the Loveday 400.
Both Kiwi Morgan-Horan and navigator Morgan collected their first victory by 24s on a day for the Extreme 2WD competitors.
Finishing second best were Brett Comiskey and Corey Cooper, while Finke winners Beau Robinson and Shane Hutt had to settle for third, a further four minutes back.
However, coming into the final day it appeared Aaron Haby had it wrapped up with more than four minutes of an advantage over the rest of the field.
But engine dramas would force the South Australian into the pits and out of the race in the day’s opening section.
A consistent drive across the Sunday’s 200km schedule saw Horan get a maiden triumph.
“It was pretty rough out there, I just had to baby the car the last few laps there,” Morgan-Horan said.
“I think it worked in our favour starting in the first Heat, because we started up the front there and got clear air. It was good to follow some cars before the track cut up.”
To make the win extra special, Morgan-Horan was thinking about not even competing in 2024 after a tough time for the family.
“At the start of the year I didn’t think I was going to race again, due to my brother passing away to motorsport – but here I am, and I’m glad I came back with a win.” Morgan-Horan said.
One of the closest class battles of the day was the SXS Motorsport Australia Championship.
Just 3.8s covered James and Michael Mogford and runners-up Lachlan Bailey and Nathan Sracek.
Mogford gave it his all.
“We laid everything on the track, we had nothing left, so we had to wait around to see the boys come in. 3.8 seconds behind me and Lachy [Bailey] at the finish – that’s good racing,” Mogford said.
Pro Buggy honours went to top five finisher Roydn Bailey and Dean Ellbourne, Prolite was taken out by Mel Brandle and Liam Brandle, while Sportslite winners were Paul Tinga and William Daniel Kelsey.
The best Performance 2WD drivers were Michael Shipton and Paul Chorlton, while Production and Extreme 4WD honours went to Norman Parker/Mark Robinson and Philip Lovett/Luke Stanley respectively.
The penultimate round of 2024 is the Markwell Group Gold City 450 on August 30-September 1.
Image: Tony Donoghue
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