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Balfe Takes Radical Win and Moves Into World Cup Lead |
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
 The Balfe Motorsport team made a return to the top step of the podium this weekend, as drivers Shaun Balfe and Nigel Taylor powered to victory in the latest round of the Radical World Cup at the Nurburgring in Germany.
The Newark Glass Group backed team had bounced back from a mechanical failure in free practice, in which Balfe suffered a huge 130mph spin, to record a fantastic pair of results to push them to the top of the standings at the halfway point in the season.
At the start of the weekend both drivers were setting superb times around the European Grand Prix venue, putting the team right at the sharp end of the timesheets.
The team worked well to have the Radical SR8 fixed and ready for
qualifying on Saturday morning, where Nigel and Shaun were able to take
third on the grid for both races.
In race one, Taylor immediately dived into second place at the first
corner and pulled out a gap to the chasing series leader before the
pit-stop window opened. He handed over to Balfe, who rejoined in third
place after the full round of stops.
Shaun took back second place on the road and was matching the times of
the leader. However, he was too far ahead to make a challenge for
victory.
In the second race on Sunday morning, Nigel once again caught the
second place driver napping and went for the same pass into the first
corner. This time, though, his rival tapped the rear end of the car,
sending Taylor into a spin which dropped him to 18th place.
A brilliant fight back through the field allowed Nigel to catch the
leaders and take the lead just before the pit-stop window opened. As
Balfe took over, two of his rivals were struggling with engine problems
and he was able to rejoin in second place.
A great fight for the lead then followed, with Balfe looking for a way
past for a handful of laps, before finally taking his chance with 15 of
the 45 minute race left to go.
Once past, he powered away, building up a 15-second lead before he
crossed the line, taking his and the team’s first race win for almost
18 months.
“I’m so pleased with that result,” said Balfe. “The whole team worked
hard for this, it really is a team effort. We were right on the pace
from the moment the weekend started. Apart from the suspension breakage
in free practice it has been a faultless weekend. Nigel’s drive back
after the first corner spin was absolutely fantastic. It definitely
feels good stepping back onto the top step of the podium, I’d forgotten
what it was like,” he added.
The team now has a six week break before the next round of the series, at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium in the middle of August.
“It’s great to be leading the championship at this point,” said Shaun.
“With only four rounds it will make it a hard fight right to the end of
the season, but to be leading at the halfway point is the right place
be.”
“I’m looking forward to the Spa round too. Both Nigel and I love the
circuit there and we’ll be looking for a return to the top of the
podium there,” he added.
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