ADD Motorsports driver Oli Norris staged a remarkable comeback to finish tenth in the final of the WSK Masters Series third round. The Glastonbury racer started at the back of the grid but finished on a positive after another highly competitive weekend.
The 16-year-old put in one of his best performances in the Masters Series – but simply had too much to do to finish on the podium. But his speedy finish has left him full of confidence for the next race.
He said: “I had nothing to lose in the final, starting last, so I just went for it – it was a really good result in the end so we are happy. I have driven in the UK a lot but I’m getting more confident and used to the more grippy tracks now. I put in my fastest time on the very last lap of the race so it shows we are going in the right direction.”
Oli had never raced at the Friuli Venezia Giulia circuit before but made a good start to finish in fourth position in qualifying, followed by a ninth, 12th and sixth in the three heats respectively.
Having the chance to use six new tyres, the team then decided to use four of them during the pre-final while a majority of drivers used them in the final.
The strategy was starting to pay off as Oli was closing in on fifth – until his engine seized and he was frustratingly forced to retire. It left Oli starting the main final in last place. But he managed to pick off the drivers one-by-one to finish in a very respectable tenth.
He added: “We were so quick in the pre-final until the engine seized, it was disappointing as we were on for a really good result. The strategy of trying the tyre change in the pre-final seemed like a really good change, so I think we’d like to try it again. But we are happy with how we are getting on, and doing so well in the final from where I started gave us a good lift. Hopefully we can push on from this in the next race.”
Gareth Morgan – ADD Motorsports / © Photo KSP