Dream job as Chris travels the world with race teams

A former Mansfield mechanic has made a fantastic start to the motor racing season as his Lincolnshire-based Ferrari GT team pulled off a sensational opening round win as underdogs in the European GT Open Championship.
Chris Moore sorts a quick wheel change.Chris Moore sorts a quick wheel change.
Chris Moore sorts a quick wheel change.

As team manager, Chris Moore proudly saw his Balfe Motorsport team take victory, seeing off competition from the factory McLaren and BMW teams.

Chris, 31, who started out as a mechanic at Priory Fiat in Mansfield, is now making the final adjustments for this weekend’s second round in Spa Belgium which will be shown live on Motors TV on Saturday and Sunday.

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“We started off this year with a fantastic win in Portugal,” he said.

Cheering the Balfe car on.Cheering the Balfe car on.
Cheering the Balfe car on.

“Being a small privateer team it was certainly a great start to the year, leaving race one as championship leaders.

“We beat two of the factory McLarens and the new BMW works-backed teams, which was certainly something we should be proud of.

“We are one of a few British teams entered within the European series of GT Open.”

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Chris loves his job and believes his journey should inspire other local mechanics dreaming of getting involved with race teams.

The Balfe Motorsport team.The Balfe Motorsport team.
The Balfe Motorsport team.

“I started off as a mechanic at Priory Fiat, now I travel the world working for different race teams,” he smiled.

“I have an awful lot of young lads approach me about how to get into racing, and it’s nice for people like that to see that ‘normal’ mechanics can get into it if it’s what they want to do.

“I currently live in Kings Clipstone but still consider Mansfield as home. “My friends joke I am the luckiest guy in Mansfield and have the best job in the world. It is a great job, but it is certainly is a lot more hard work then people on the outside think it is.”

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Balfe Motorsport are a privately-run father and son team from Fulbeck, Lincolnshire.

Frantic work on the Balfe carFrantic work on the Balfe car
Frantic work on the Balfe car

They both work running family business T. Balfe Construction in the week. Then David is the race team principle while Shaun is the racing driver during the race weekends along with Phil Keen.

They have been racing competitively for over 20 years and were Spanish GT champions in 2004.

Chris added: “I am actually self employed now. I took the decision to go it alone in 2012 where I saw a opportunity where I could pick and choose the racing I would like to be involved in and try a number of different roles. “My main priority is managing the Balfe team but I also do other racing with other teams in a number of different positions just to keep sharp and keep my contacts up.

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“It’s certainly a full-time job with a lot of travelling and a lot of late nights when away.

Chris Moore, right, enjoying the racing.Chris Moore, right, enjoying the racing.
Chris Moore, right, enjoying the racing.

“But I have been lucky enough to have travelled all over Europe and the world in a number of different types of racing - as far as China, America, and South America.

“My main experience of work is GT and endurance racing. I am a mechanic by trade so that involves race car preparation, repairs and pit stops.”

Chris has always had an interest in cars. He grew up in Edwinstowe then moved to Mansfield town centre at 23.

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“I started my apprenticeship straight out of school at what used to be the Priory Fiat garage up on Oak Tree Lane.

“I wasn’t the best apprentice, but I was always keen and thanks to Gary Ward and the guys at Fiat who showed me the way as I passed my apprenticeship qualification first time at the end of 2004.

“While there I used to use all my holidays and weekends helping out racing teams.

Cheering the Balfe car on.Cheering the Balfe car on.
Cheering the Balfe car on.

“I started racing myself briefly at the age of 13 with my dad and brother in autograss racing. I’d always been a fan of racing and regularly use to attend races as a spectator with my family.

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“Then In 2006 after five years of working with teams on a weekend race only basis I was given the opportunity to go into motorsport full time after being offered a job by Balfe Motorsport - the team I had been helping since 2001.

“I left Balfe at the end of 2006 as just a No.2 mechanic.

“I then went and worked for a huge number of different teams around the world, gaining more and more experience along the way.

“My biggest achievements in that time include working for the McLaren GT factory team, competing in the Le Mans 24 hours, and I was a part of the first ever electric racing series in the newly established Formula E world championship.

“Then in 2013 I had a call from Balfe telling me they were thinking of buying a Ferrari GT3 car and starting up the team again and would I be interested in managing it?”

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The team are always interested in finding sponsorship – contact Chris via [email protected]

You can read more about the team and competition at www.balfemotorsport.com/#2or on their Facebook page BalfeMotorsport.