Team Zanardi's Martin Plowman had a difficult return to the Italian OpenInternational Championships on Sunday at Muro Leccese, finishing 12thdespite facing a number of challenges.

Round three marked the 17-year-old's first race back in the Italian Openseries following his accident in round one at Lonato. With seven weeks spentrecovering, Plowman also missed round two of the championship at Sarno.

The BRDC Rising Star's luck seemed to run out before it started once againon Sunday morning when his engine seized after just one lap in qualifying,meaning he tabled only 40th quickest. In the two subsequent heats it wasclear that a lack of testing time for Plowman and the new Zanardi chassiswas holding the talented Brit back. Irrespectively, he managed to notch upfinishes of 10th and 11th.

With the final looming and little to loose, Team Zanardi decided to makeradical adjustments to the chassis and set up. Starting from 21st on thegrid, it was apparent the changes had been worthwhile as Plowman made aconsistent charge through the field to finish 12th.

Although slightly disappointed with the result, Plowman remained optimistic:"We know that our results at the moment are down to a lack of testing on thenew chassis, but we have some sessions scheduled in the coming weeks so thatwill undoubtedly help. We did a fantastic job of turning the set up aroundfor the final and to be honest it was a case of all or nothing. Dino Chiesaand Team Zanardi did a great job."

The reinstatement of Plowman's rigorous testing schedule will prepare him ingood time for round two of the CIK/FIA European Kart Championship atMariembourg, Belgium, on 26 June.