The incredible turn of fortunes for Naveh Talor in Valencia
Naveh Talor delivered an incredible recovery drive at Circuit Ricardo Tormo against all odds by gaining 17 positions
While the season opener of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia provided plenty of action and stories, it is the story of Naveh Talor that stands out in particular. The 19-year-old youngster from Israel picked up 17 places to go from 23rd to 6th position during the first EuroNASCAR 2 race in Spain, thus also scoring four extra points for the most gained positions of that race.
Political trouble almost made Talor miss the season opener
It had been a rather rough start into the first NWES race weekend of the year for the Not Only Motorsport driver. With the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, Talor – along with reigning EuroNASCAR PRO champion Alon Day – could not fly out to Spain at first.
After several changes of plane and itinerary, the two Israeli drivers eventually managed to travel to Spain on Friday. Albeit missing all practice sessions that day, the NWES granted them an individual 15-minute practice the following morning.
No qualifying due to technical issues
When everything finally seemed to go it’s regular way again, Talor faced the next disaster. Technical issues on his #90 Camaro meant that the teenager was forced to forfeit the qualification session.
The Not Only Motorsport mechanics worked hard to solve the issue on the car before the start of the first race. Yet, no qualifying meant that Talor had to start dead last.
Going into the race from 23rd, the only goal for the young driver was to try and still make the best out of his predicament: “I knew the only way I can go is forward and finish as high as I can. That was my plan, so I told my spotter not to speak to me too much so I can focus on my race,” Talor told ‘EuroNASCAR.com’.
Seven positions gained on the first lap, seventeen positions by the chequered flag
What followed was nothing short of a magnificent drive by Talor, who is running his only second full-time season in the NWES. On the opening lap, he passed seven competitors and set his focus further ahead.
“I started overtaking more aggressively than in the first lap on which I was a little bit more cautious. Turn 2 was especially a good overtaking spot as well as turns 4 and 5,” the Israeli shared his strategy.
By the end of the 15-lap race, the Not Only Motorsport racer had climbed his way up to finish in a sensational sixth place. A strong showing which surely boosted the expectations for things to come.
“Next time we aim for the podium”
Talor himself understandably enjoyed his action-packed recovery drive: “It was a fun experience getting past the contenders in each lap and picking up sixth place. I didn’t have a single contact, it was just easy picking. I think I managed the situation the best I could and next time we aim for the podium.”
After finishing race 2 in twelfth position, Talor currently sits fifth in the overall EuroNASCAR 2 championship. For the next rounds at Brands Hatch on July 3-4, he will most certainly be among the favourites for another stunning performance.
