Sinnot wins Drift Allstars European Championship for Team Nexen

Team Nexen Tire Europe has won the 2012 Drift Allstars European Series, with its Irish Driver, Alan Sinnot in first place and Spanish champion, Lluis Lopez in fourth. The title-clinching meeting took place on the island of Malta on what is the biggest professional drift event in southern Europe. Team Nexen’s position as one of the leading professional drifting teams in Europe was confirmed at the ex-Sandhurst School Sports Arena in Pembroke, when its two drivers competed in the final.

Nexen says its Spanish champion was “on fire all weekend”. Lopez laid out his intentions from the first practice, making himself the man to watch with a full throttle, no-lift style. Teammate and championship leader, Sinnot, by contrast, had a very tough week after trying to sort his mechanical gremlins from Hungary. Even with his car down on power he took third place after one of his main championship rivals, Finnish driver Juha Rintanen, took P2 for the Achilles Tires Nissan LBD team. Pete Barber, another UK driver on the Aerokit – Nexen Tires team had another strong drive, taking P5.

When it came to the battles, both Nexen drivers progressed through their first battles in the top 16 with masterclass displays against local drivers. Proceeding to the semi-finals Lopez then came up against championship rival, Nigel Colfer of Ireland, driving for Marangoni Tire Europe. It took two very close battles and a one more time for Lopez to record the win, knocking out Sinnot’s main championship rival. Sinnot himself beat the UK’s Martin Richards, driving for Altenzo Tires – Pure Performance, and progressed to the final.

Lopez led against Sinnot in a battle of the national champions, recording another fast run, but Sinnot shadowed Lopez well around the full run. In the second run, Sinnot led with Lopez charging hard. The Spanish drifter entered a corner too fast when and nearly collided with his teammated, effectively handing Sinnot victory.

After the podium Sinnot said: “It has been a great night with some hard battles, we qualified third finished first. Five podiums out of six events, two wins and the 2012 Drift Allstars European Championship. What more can I ask for the perfect season?”

The performance of its drivers meant that Nexen Tire Europe retained the lead on the tyre teams table. It finished above Marangoni and Achilles in second and third respectively taking the Tyre Manufacturers Championship.