11th after 10s penalty
Ticktum was stripped of his win in favour of Lando Norris after a massive battle, but too late for Norris to take to the top step of the podium.
The talent was enormous amongst the 26 entries as most of the top juniors were present plus several Brits graduating to International events. The BabyRace Italian Alessio Lorandi succeeded in Timed Qualifying over Lando Norris whilst Daniel Ticktum faded slightly behind his REM team-mates Norris and Jehan Daruvala. Dean Macdonald was a creditable 6th, just ahead of Mick Betsch.
Norris and Ticktum had tricky heats, the latter with an exclusion for passing during a neutralisation phase whilst Norris took to the grass twice at starts. Lorandi won the first heat, Ticktum the other two; the last with a superb last lap move round the outside of Lorandi. So these earned Lorandi the Prefinal pole, Daruvala alongside with Robert Shwartzman behind and a very creditable 4th and 5th for Archie Tillett and Ross Martin. Ticktum was on eight and Norris on 11.
Too bad that Tillett was punted into a spin at the start, as Lorandi took up the running from Daruvala and Shwartzman. Norris had made a superb start, pushing into the top runners, Ticktum a little way behind but soon to join him. Daruvala had the better of Lorandi who faded to 6th once Ticktum and Norris ganged up on him. That let Daruvala go clear for the win over Shwartzman, Ticktum, Norris and Betsch until Ticktum was given another 10s penalty for the start incidents. “I caught Lorandi quite slowly and took him at the second hairpin, but I wasn’t really quick enough and blocked at the first hairpin the next lap,” said Daruvala.
Shwartzman could not get into line for the first corner of the Final and certainly Betsch right behind was offering no favours, so the Russian ran wide across the grass. Daruvala held his nerve in front but in no time at all had to succumb to the stupendous braking ability of Norris at the first hairpin, and then to Betsch and Ticktum up from grid 16. Shwartzman came off, his race over. Daruvala had a second wind, taking Betsch at the first hairpin whilst Ticktum was closing on Norris and sliced up the inside at the second hairpin. “I had a big job to do and I knew I had to push and then I did an audacious move on Lando but he got me back!’
On the next lap Norris outbraked Ticktum and covered the potential switchback at the second hairpin very well. Another lap and Ticktum was not to be denied, Norris defended but Ticktum’s move at the first hairpin sent Norris slightly wide and earned Ticktum an ominous warning, Norris also getting one. They ran side by side up to the Esses and into the complex but now the others attacked Norris leaving Ticktum clear to win on the road. Norris hung onto 2nd despite Daruvala challenging hard at the hairpins on the last lap with Betsch watching. Macdonald and Martin were next in line with a recovering Lorandi 7th.
All moved up when Ticktum received his 10s penalty, Norris the champion and saying: “I managed to go round the first lap in 4th and got into the race for the lead within three laps. After I got the lead Ticktum caught up, he was much faster and then I had to defend for my 2nd place!”
Karting Magazine November 2013