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Just 18 hours after completing the fifth round of the 2008 Formula Renault
BARC season at Oulton Park in Cheshire, British-born Bahraini Menasheh Idafar
got back behind the wheel of his Hillspeed-run car yesterday, Tuesday, 27th May, for
an important test session at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire.
With the weather serving up mixed conditions throughout the day, the
17-year-old had the opportunity to hone his skills in the dry and the wet during
a test which could prove to be absolutely crucial as part of his preparations
for the sixth and seventh rounds of the campaign at Croft almost eight weeks
from now on 19th/20th July.
Producing yet another faultless performance today, Menasheh lapped the
2.12-mile track with a best time of 1m 20.3 seconds while using old tyres.
Taking into account his best ever lap at the circuit is just a 10th of a second
faster when using new rubber, the Gulfol, Ortolan and Gulf Computer Services
backed driver ended the test very happy.
Hillspeed’s driver coach, British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Star
Matt Shawyer, said: “It’s been a very good day, both when taking into
consideration Menasheh’s actual driving and also the fact the conditions were so
mixed which enabled him to get the full experience of Croft in the wet and the
dry. We’re delighted with his performance.
“We had a few dry sessions to begin, then it was wet and then we had an
intermediate session towards the end. He did very well in the changeable
conditions and managed a best time of 1m 20.3 seconds on old tyres – the best
he’s ever been around Croft before is 1m 20.2 seconds on new tyres so that all
bodes very well for the races in July.”
Flying back to his home in Bahrain tomorrow evening, Menasheh is set to
switch from his 2.0-litre Formula Renault BARC racing car to kart power this
coming weekend at the Dubai Kartdrome. Joining his 15-year-old brother Ezra
Idafar, the pair will take part in the prestigious 2008 Nivea For Men 24 hour
Endurance Kart Challenge.
With the next two rounds of the Formula Renault BARC Championship not
taking place until 19th/20th July, Menasheh plans to undertake more testing with
his Hillspeed team during June and July although no firm dates have yet been set
in stone.
Provisional 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship Standings (after
Rd5)
1st Ollie Hancock, 64pts; 2nd Menasheh Idafar,
47pts; 3rd Johannes Seidlitz, 38pts
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