Norris Produces Stunning Podium Position from Back of the Grid

Lando Norris has produced a stunning drive to second position after starting from near the back of the grid gaining an incredible 15 positions over the course of the race. The British racer had to start from the back of the grid following a disappointing BRDC British Formula Three race yesterday but more than made up for it with a supreme drive to the podium – his progress only halted by a long safety car period which resulted in the race not being restarted. Championship leader Ricky Collard however endured a difficult race, despite a great start, which ended with him down in 14th after being innocently sent in to the gravel trap at the mid-point of proceedings.

Rain overnight provided a headache for the grid in the run up to the second race of the weekend at Silverstone. With wet tyres decided upon as the order of the day, the race started with two green flag laps in order to give the field the best chance of getting to grips with the conditions. Collard started from fifth on the grid while Norris started in 17th after race one finished yesterday ended with a DNF.

Off the line, the Carlin Tatuus-Cosworth cars both enjoyed strong starts and Norris in particular was already on a mission – taking at least four cars as the grid made their way in to the first corners on track. Collard had also got away extremely well and moved up to second position as he looked to challenge for the lead however as he made a move on Jan Jonck he ran wide which pushed him down the grid; as a result after the opening lap Collard was running in seventh and Norris ninth.

Norris continued his strong progress through the field in the damp conditions – claiming further positions in relatively short succession to see him fifth after only the second lap. Setting his sights on Thomas Randle he soon moved up again before passing both Matheus Leist and Sisa Ngebulana in the space of a few corners to incredibly move up to second as rain began to fall heavily around the circuit.

Collard, who was beginning to also fight his way through the field, had his progress dramatically halted sooner after. Collard was making a move on Randle as the pair fought well and cleanly over fifth position however Quinlan Lall launched in to the equation as he dived up the inside of the pair and in to the side of Collard – leaving them both in the gravel trap. Collard was able to get going again however he was well down the order and as a result of the incident the safety car was released on track.

The safety car brought race leader Toby Sowery in to view for Norris as he patiently waited to see if he would be able to make a move and steal the lead of the race as his own. However the stricken car took too long to be retrieved from the gravel and the race was unable to restart meaning the anticipated last lap dash for the lead was robbed from Norris who took the flag in second position; his stunning drive to the podium gained him a total of 15 places in the process. However it was opposite fortunes for Championship leader Collard who was unlucky to finish in 14th position.

Norris said of his race, “My first lap was really good and I got off the line well to gain a few positions from there. It all got a bit crazy on the opening lap but I was able to pick a few cars off ahead of me as others made mistakes as well. Soon I was up to fourth position and had a good run on Leist and Ngebulana to get in to second position. I knew that Sowery was quite a way up the road but the aim was to continue the pace and try and get the lead from him. However it was a long safety car and we didn’t get to race to the line. Overall I’m happy with second especially considering where we started today. We start the final race this afternoon in third so we’ll see what we can do from there.”

The final race of the weekend gets underway at Silverstone at 16.30.