Balfe secure podium at season-ending race

Behind them, sadly GT4 Pro-Am champions Mia Flewitt and Euan Hankey and returning duo Shaun Balfe and Rob Bell failed to finish the three-hour showpiece event

Championship debutant Lars, who is in only his second year of competitive racing, impressed the team by improving by a stellar six seconds a lap throughout the course of the weekend and after qualifying fourth in class he and Charlie were aiming for a podium in the race.

Lars started his McLaren 570S GT4 and immediately jumped ahead of two competitors to settle into second. Fighting traffic and incidents all around him, while avoiding any dramas, he and Charlie did a superb job to cross the line second in their first British GT Championship event together.

GT3 fan-favourites Shaun and Rob returned to the championship for a one-off appearance and, despite looking competitive all weekend, it was a recurring misfire problem that caused their race to end early.

Starting fifth in the GT3 Pro-Am class, the duo proved they had pace, making up places in the overall order during the race. Unfortunately, the misfire grew worse and just after the halfway mark, the team brought the distinctive red McLaren 720S GT3 in.

With a never-say-die attitude, the crew worked away on it for 25 minutes and managed to get it back out for one last push. In spite of all the effort, the misfire returned for good only a couple of laps later, causing its retirement.

Having already sealed the GT4 Pro-Am title at Snetterton, it was a crushing end to Mia and Euan’s impressive 2020 campaign as the pair were hoping to complete a 100 per cent win streak.

After a positive qualifying session, their race was over on the opening lap after another GT4 car span in front of the 570S GT4 and Mia could do nothing to avoid it, suffering irreparable damage in the process.

After a memorable season of racing, Balfe Motorsport will now turn its attention to the Gulf 12 Hours in January and preparations for what is shaping up to be a busy 2021 season.