Balfe & Derbyshire To Test A Courage
Shaun Balfe and 2005 (Mosler) partner Jamie Derbyshire will both test a Courage C65 LMP2 car on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans next Tuesday (October 18).

As you might have seen, the Balfe Motorsport Mosler is currently up for sale and the squad is keen to move up to LMP2. However, its plans for 2006 have not yet been decided, but the test will be the first time Shaun Balfe has driven a ‘large’ prototype and he is keen to learn from the experience and get a taste of what an up-to-date LMP car can do.

“We’re certainly interested in the LMP2 category,” said Shaun Balfe (right). “But we still have a lot of decisions to make about a lot of different things. But it is nice to have been invited to try the Courage and I’m really looking forward to it. It will certainly be a great experience and might help us to decide, from a team perspective, what direction to take for next year.”

Spirit Volkswagen and Kia backed Jamie Derbyshire (below) will be present on the same day.

“I’ve wanted to try an LMP for quite a while now and I’m grateful to Courage for giving both me and Shaun the chance to get to grips with an up-to-date sportscar. It will be a welcome feeling to being out in the elements, after racing at GT car.

“LMP2 is certainly an option I’m looking at for 2006. I’d like to have a crack at Le Mans too, but I’ll be taking things one step at a time on Tuesday. I just want to have a good test in the Courage and see what it’s like and I can start to make some decisions for next year from there.”