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Leading Formula Renault squad Hillspeed concluded two days of testing at
Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit last week very happy with the
overall team performance as the 2008 Winter Championship edges ever
closer.
British-born Bahraini Menasheh Idafar, who is stepping up to Formula
Renault UK from Formula Renault BARC for the winter series, provided the
highlight at Rockingham with a timesheet-topping best of 1m 15.8 seconds on
Friday, 10th October.
Although all times over the course of the two days of testing were
unofficial, it’s widely regarded Idafar ended the second day with the fastest
lap. The true measure of his run was that the time would have placed him second
on the grid during qualifying for the third round of the 2008 Formula Renault UK
season at Rockingham in April.
On Thursday, 9th October, Idafar lapped the venue with a time of 1m 16.3
seconds – yet another highly respectable effort. For the upcoming Winter
Championship, Hillspeed will field two UK-specification cars but Idafar’s
team-mate Michael Lyons didn’t run at Rockingham. The 17-year-old will instead
return to the car this Friday at Silverstone.
Rockingham did see Hillspeed field both of its BARC-specification drivers
with car racing newcomer James Theodore – who debuted with Hillspeed during the
final two rounds of the main BARC series just over a week ago – once again
impressing with his speed.
Quickly getting to grips with his ‘slicks and wings’ single-seater, the
16-year-old did very well and ended Friday’s test run with a time of 1m 18.0
seconds. Joining Theodore was 24-year-old Immanuel Bryson-Haynes who is set to
make his maiden race appearance in a Formula Renault BARC car during the opening
round of November’s winter series.
Reflecting on Hillspeed’s two day run at Rockingham, team boss Richard
Ollerenshaw commented: “Menasheh had an excellent couple of days, Friday being
the highlight where he was quicker than anybody. We’re confident everyone’s in
agreement his lap of 1m 15.8 seconds was the best of the day, a truly
exceptional performance.
“James ran well and although he had a bit of an off on Friday morning, he
got back on with the job straight away and improved nicely. He’s coming on very
strongly, we’re sure he’ll be pretty competitive in the winter series. Immanuel
continued to rack up some test miles after quite a break from the car, he’ll be
back out for more preparation this week.”
Hillspeed continues its build-up for the 2008 Formula Renault UK Winter
Championship this week with planned test outings at Oulton Park and Silverstone.
The winter series itself will commence on Saturday, 1st November, at Croft
Circuit in North Yorkshire and will conclude on Saturday, 8th November, at
Rockingham.
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