Impressive debut for new race team

Initially, the Pett-based 16-year-old looked to have got his WSK Euro Series campaign off to a shaky start when he was only able to set the 51st-fastest lap in timed qualifying at Sarno, near Naples.

A solid if unspectacular 13th place finish in his opening heat might have led some to dismiss him as another plucky trier - but this diminished when he rocketed from 15th to third in his following race.

Despite the treacherous wet conditions, Barlow was able to demonstrate the skills that won him three national junior titles last year and scored another brace of top 10 finishes (seventh and fifth).

This left him ranked 26th overall and therefore made the cut for Sunday’s two points-scoring finals. With the rain increasing, conditions for the drivers became even worse, but the officials allowed the racing to proceed.

Describing them as “the toughest conditions I’ve ever seen,” Barlow gamely plugged on to finish 18th. Starting again from the ninth row of the grid in the main final, he worked his way into ninth place.

Barlow lost a few places as he adjusted the carburettor but eventually found a competitive speed and took the chequered flag in 11th.

See Friday’s Rye and Hastings Observers for the full article.