IDAFAR IMPRESSES IN TEST TRIM AT ROCKINGHAM & OULTON

 

Following his highly successful start to the Formula Renault BARC season at Brands Hatch over the Easter Weekend, Menasheh Idafar elected to remain in the UK this week with his Hillspeed team for an important two-day test before heading home to Bahrain.

 

The 17-year-old, who maintained excellent composure to secure a double podium finish, and with it the championship lead, during a chaotic season-opening event at Brands Hatch mere days ago, continued to underline his impressive pace with test runs at Rockingham on Thursday, 27th March, and at Oulton Park on Friday, 28th March.

 

Running on the same International Super Sports Car layout at Rockingham which will be used during the third and fourth rounds of the championship on 19th/20th April, Menasheh performed well and emerged as the BARC driver to beat, even though on old tyres.

 

At Oulton Park the British-born Bahraini, who has a UK base in South West London, tested on the full International Circuit and while the Formula Renault BARC competitors will race on the shorter Island layout on Spring Bank Holiday, Monday, 26th May, the mileage at the Cheshire venue yesterday was certainly very worthwhile.

 

Hillspeed team boss Richard Ollerenshaw said: “Menasheh really is on top form, he’s driven exceptionally well over the last couple of days and he was incredibly quick at Rockingham. At Oulton Park today he was in great form again, especially during the last session. He’s unquestionably becoming a force to be reckoned with.”

 

Having now returned to the Middle East, the Gulf Computer Services, Gulfol and Ortolan supported racer will be back in his FR2000 Class Formula Renault on Monday, 7th April, for an official test outing at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire. Additional tests are also planned ahead of the next race meeting three weeks from now at Rockingham.

 

“I’m pleased with how testing has gone this week”, said Menasheh, “It was important to use the opportunity to have some track time at Rockingham and Oulton Park as they’re the two tracks which come next on the championship calendar. We’ve had a fantastic start to the season, hopefully we can continue to make good progress.”