"As the taxi pulled up outside the Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorchester, however, my excitement was taken down a few gears. It may seem an inauspicious place to blood the talent of those who will become some of the most glamorous, fiery competitors in sport, but here, in the shadow of an industrial estate not far from Yeovil, is where a growing number of Formula One stars are made."
"For Rob Dodds, who coached Norris and Hanson when they were earning their training wheels, his role in their success is hard to put into words. It's mad, innit, he laughs. Norris in particular could soon enter the sport's big leagues. Should he seal his first Formula One world championship on Sunday, he would join an exclusive club and with sporting superstardom sealed, soon the crossover cultural status enjoyed by the likes of Hamilton will surely be close behind."
Lando Norris rose from childhood karting to the brink of a Formula One world championship, with early seasons including races in Monaco, Las Vegas and Singapore. Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorchester served as an unglamorous training ground where future stars such as Phil Hanson and Jenson Button also learned. Rob Dodds, a former boxer turned karting coach, mentored Norris and others during their formative years. If Norris secures the title he would be the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton and could achieve similar cultural crossover fame. Young drivers often begin racing well before obtaining road licences, learning speed and control on two-pedal karts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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