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Nigel Mansell OBE Supports Team UK Youth at Tour Series Visit

Team UK Youth have generated quite a following during their performances so far this year. But the draw of the Tour Series in Canary Wharf brought along a high profile supporter in the form of Formula 1 legend, Nigel Mansell OBE.

Team UK Youth was set up to promote the work the charity does to a wider audience. Because of their work with youth clubs all over the UK, the charity helps over 750,000 young people ever year and has been established for over 100 years.

UK Youth president Nigel Mansell OBE funded the team to compete in the top races in the UK, and it's headed up by former professional and UK Youth Vice President, Magnus Backstedt.

At the Tour Series in Canary Wharf, amongst meeting fans and young people helped by UK Youth's work, Mansell said: "I'm very impressed with the performance in the series; we are currently 5th in the championship, and in the first year that's an awesome achievement."

He continued: "I think Maggy [Magnus Backstedt] has done a fantastic job leading the team. The important message is Team UK Youth is about the charity with 45,000 volunteers, working with 7,000 youth clubs up and down the length of the country and we reach at any one time 750,000 to 1,000,000 young people a year. This is an awesome message to get across."

"I'll state one thing now the charity doesn't sponsor the team at all but they are the title sponsor and that is to give them the publicity, and hopefully the encouragement we've had with UK Youth is that we're getting the visibility for the first time in a 100 years. The charity is 100 years old and now hopefully we are going to build on that strength and go forward and be stronger in the future."

Racing in the Tour Series for the second time this year was one of Nigel Mansell's two sons, Greg. Leo, his other, also rides for the team; the pair making strong progress in cycling from a background in motor racing.

Team UK Youth eventually finished 5th in the overall Halfords Tour Series standings. Magnus Backstedt being the star of the show on the night in Canary Wharf with his attacking riding style and eventual 4th place.