Winner, winner, chicken dinner! This was the phrase posted on Facebook to signal that RL Racing Departments Lando Norris had not only won the 9th round of the Formula Kart Stars championship, but the title itself. The youngster added, At last, a championship won!
Having taken a significant points advantage into the double-header meeting at Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland (11/12 August), Norris and his team might well have decided to play it safe and go for points rather than trophies, but as owner and team boss Steve Armstrong said: We went out to win in style, because thats the best way to do it.
Norris was instantly on the pace in qualifying, posting the 2nd-fastest lap time and went on to claim 2nd and 7th place finishes in the two heats. He had clearly saved his best for the final, as he charged up the order to clinch the race and championship victories.
Im delighted to have retained the Mini Max title, said Armstrong. We won it last year with Josh White and now with Lando, who has demonstrated what a brilliant talent he is.
Not content with his Mini Max triumph, Lando continued his preparation for his assault on the Junior Max class next year by also competing in the faster category. In qualifying he was 3rd, just behind team-mate and championship protagonist Sam Marsh in 2nd. Josh White made it an RL Racing Department two, three, four with the next best time whilst Oli Norris also finished inside the top ten, in 9th.
Sam then demonstrated his credentials by taking 3rd and 1st-place finishes in the heats, setting up his star performance in the final. His eventual win added significantly to his points tally and edged him a step further towards the FKS crown. Sam was faultless in the final. He proved his quality by soaking up all the pressure and then broke clear of the pack when it mattered most. Superb! Josh Whites fighting 6th also ensured that he maintained his title aspirations. Behind Josh, Oli led home his younger brother, in 7th and 8th respectively.
Sundays 10th round of the 12 round series provided Armstrongs Junior stars with a further opportunity to improve their championship standings, and Lando with more important seat-time.
Once again, Sam was the highest-placed RLRD driver and topped the qualifying time sheets. Despite not recording a time in the qualifying session, Lando came through the heats with aplomb before taking an excellent 2nd place in the final. Josh maintained his late-season run of form with 3rd place. Oli crossed the line in 11th, whilst Sam could finish no higher than 12th.
The Junior title-race will go down to the wire, predicted Armstrong. Sam did a good job on Saturday and during qualifying on Sunday, but struggled for pace in the wet. Its a strange thing that has been happening and of course it means that the final two rounds will be a little nerve-wracking. However, were working extremely hard to solve the issue and give him the equipment and support to go out and perform to his best. Josh has pole-vaulted up the order and set up what could be a one-two in the final standings. Hes creeping back into title contention and is very much a dark horse.
Oli had a tough weekend and we need to go back a step and rediscover the pace he showed earlier in the season. His brothers contrasting fortunes also showed just how much potential hes got. Landos an embarrassment of talent and it is great to see him achieve his success on our equipment.
Armstrongs praise was given added weight by the sight of his new Mini Max champion-elect underlining his supremacy in the class with another trip to the top step of the podium: Im really chuffed with Lando. Hes not one for driving for points. He wants to show everyone how good he is by winning trophies. He might just embarrass everyone when he steps up to Juniors full time.
