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Derbyshire Formula Renault BARC team Hillspeed further underlined its
pre-season promise this week with a brace of highly impressive test outings for
Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy.
Although running three cars in total in this year’s Formula Renault BARC
Championship, only Al Harthy was in action this week and he certainly wasted no
time in making the most of the opportunity by lapping consistently close to the
pace of category race winner Ollie Hancock on Tuesday, 4th March, at Brands
Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent.
Running alongside drivers from the sister Formula Renault UK series,
26-year-old Al Harthy concluded the day as the second fastest of the
BARC runners with a best lap of 46.021 seconds (93.76mph).
Heading to Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit in
Northamptonshire yesterday, Thursday, 6th March, Hathersage-based Hillspeed
again enjoyed a strong run with Al Harthy posting times regularly in the low 1m
19 second bracket.
“We’ve enjoyed a couple of excellent test days again this week”, commented
team boss Richard Ollerenshaw, “Ahmad was very good at Rockingham yesterday, by
far the quickest Formula Renault BARC guy out there from about 10 or 11 drivers
in total.
“At Brands on Tuesday there were only a few 100ths of a second splitting
Ahmad and (Ollie) Hancock when both drivers were running in full BARC trim so
we’re feeling very confident with only a couple of weeks to go now until the
start of the season.”
Ollerenshaw added: “Our preparations are coming together very well indeed.
Ahmad looks comfortable on track and I think he will make a few people sit up
and take notice this season – he has certainly been buoyed by his performances.
We’re now looking forward to having all three of our drivers back in testing
action next week”
Essex 17-year-old Michael Lyons, who will make his full season Formula
Renault BARC debut this year, returns to the track on Tuesday, 11th March, at
Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk where he will be joined by Al Harthy. British-born
Bahraini Menasheh Idafar will then hook-up with both of his team-mates next
Friday, 14th March, at Brands Hatch - the day after his 17th birthday
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