Lando extends lead after comfortable fifth win in NEC

Monday
08
August 2016
at
Tt Circuit Assen
with
Lando Norris
Lando was delighted to take his fifth win in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup at Assen this weekend (6-7 August).
The 16-year-old Josef Kaufmann Racing driver was on song to take his second double pole in consecutive rounds before speeding to a comfortable lights-to-flag victory in the first race. He was disappointed to be denied a fourth win in a row when finishing second in the second encounter. But after taking the overall lead for the first time this year at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, it was more than enough extend his gap in the standings.
The ADD Motorsports racer said: “It was another good weekend. It was my first time on this circuit, so it was pleasing to get double pole in qualifying and the win. I was a little disappointed not to hold on for the win in the second race, but I couldn’t keep him behind and there was nothing I could do. But I’ve extended my lead at the top and have come away pretty happy.”

His first time at the circuit. Lando used his first practice session to get used to the track, but could still find the pace to finish third in both. He used two sets of tyres in the first qualifying session, going fastest on the first set before improving his time and ensuring pole on the second set. The team made a few small changes for Qualifying 2, but he took pole again, this time by almost half a second.

The Somerset driver made sure he got off to a great start in the first race, racing into a 1.3 second lead by the end of the first lap. He pushed hard for the first few laps, eventually winning comfortably by more than four seconds in what was his third consecutive win in the Championship. 

It was a similar story at the beginning of the second race, with Lando getting off to a great start and opening up a commanding three-and-a-half second gap. But this time, the gap was slowly pegged back, before Lando was forced to defend.

He managed to fend off his competitor’s first few attacking attempts, but was overtaken with two laps to go and had to settle for second. However, his lead now stands at 24 points with two weekends remaining.

He added: “We struggled a bit with the race pace and this is something we will have to work on. I pulled a gap without over-pushing my tyres, but he caught me and although I held him off, there was nothing I could do. I’m pleased to have extended my lead, but it can change quickly, so I need to make sure I keep winning and stay consistent to stay up there."