Reigning junior Grand Finals and Euro Max Challenge champion Harry Webb added to his reputation as one of motor racings most exciting prospects by winning the prestigious Rotax Winter Cupon his debut in the senior category.
The 15-year-old Strawberry Racing driver won the coveted trophy after an enthralling battle with team-mate Harrison Scott, to take victory at Campillos (10 February).
Harry was amongst the principal contenders throughout the week-long meeting in Andalucia, having qualified 3rd overall and winning two of his three preliminary heats.
In the pre-final, he had started in 6th place overall, after an engine failure in his second heat had cost him a chance of qualifying further up the grid for the first of Sundays two final. However, he demonstrated his pace and race craft to finish in 3rd place.
A clash between Webb and nearest challenger Scott, during the closing stages of the final, set up a nail-biting charge to the chequered flag.Webb had taken the lead early on, but his rival fought back.
I had got away well but in the last five laps Harrison pulled me in. On the last lap he was all over me, but I wasnt going to give in and nor was he. He attacked and, naturally, I defended through every corner. Neither of us would give an inch to the other and as we went into one of the corners, Harrison had two wheels on the grass. I was given a warning flag. There was no aggro afterwards, it was all very friendly.
Harry crossed the line marginally ahead of Harrison to secure an historic back to back victory: To win both junior and senior two years in a row is pretty good. I needed to win, because if I hadnt I wouldnt have been doing the European races, so this one means rather a lot to me.
Having won on his international senior debut, Webb was asked how the racing compared with that in juniors: At this level, Junior Max is very hard but the seniors are harder. The front brakes make life both harder and easier for you. If youre behind someone, you can make late lunges going into the corners but if youre leading, they make sure you cant relax for a moment. But Im sure my dice with Harrison made for great viewing and it was certainly exciting for us. We both showed just how fantastic the new Tony Kart EVK chassis is, and how strong Cream Racing engines are.
