ADD Motorsports driver Lando Norris has second place in the WSK Masters Series firmly in his grip after a tough weekend that saw him beaten to the title. Like the Glastonbury racer a fortnight ago in the WSK Euro Series, Alessio Lorandi was crowned champion in the KSJ-class with a round to spare.
But despite a difficult debut at the Friuli Venezia Giulia circuit – made harder by some kart issues – the 13-year-old left determined to go all out for a win in the next round to clinch second spot.
He said: “It wasn’t a bad weekend, but we struggled a lot for pace and couldn’t find the problem so it was difficult. My main competitors just had a lot more speed and there wasn’t anything I could do to catch them. It was disappointing, but I’m still second in the Championship so will do my best to win the next round and stay there.“
Lando was always going to be up against it with his competitors having had extra days testing at the circuit. But after his first day of testing was interrupted by bad weather, it left him with even more to do.
Despite this, he still clocked up the fastest lap on his first full day on the track. However, when the kart struggled for pace the day after, the team tried a different set-up which seemed to help and he qualified in sixth and then finished fourth in the Super Pole. Lando finished fifth, second and fifth in the three heats but in the pre-final his main competitors were faster again and he finished sixth.
He began the final in sixth place and as in the pre-final got off to a good start, but soon found the drivers around him had more acceleration. Unable to catch those in front, he finished in sixth place with Lorandi winning the race and claiming the title.
Lando added: “It was difficult. It seemed whenever I had the chance to catch someone up I couldn’t get the pace and the tiniest little thing made the difference. I have a few weeks off now until the next race although I don’t race in the last round of the Masters until July. I want to try to win the next round and make sure I come second in this Championship now, which will still be really good.“
Gareth Morgan – ADD Motorsports / © Photo KSP