Menasheh Idafar will graduate to the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series this year, racing one of T-Sport’s Mugen-Honda powered National Class cars.
The 18-year-old, who finished third overall in the 2009 Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with the Manor Competition team, conducted a handful of tests with Russell Eacott’s T-Sport squad towards the end of last year and immediately felt at home.
Menasheh’s first experience of a Formula 3 car came during the tail end of 2008 and although returning to race in Formula Renault UK throughout 2009, stepping-up to F3 has been his goal since that time.
Now, the promising teenager has been nominated to compete in the British championship at the wheel of one of T-Sport’s National Class Dallaras in response to an agreement for the Brackley-based team to advertise and promote Gulf Computer Services W.L.L.
“I’m so happy to be joining the British Formula 3 International Series grid this year, it’s what I’ve wanted to do since first testing an F3 car”, said Menasheh, “Everyone at T-Sport is fantastic, I get on really well with the team and that can only be good for the season ahead. Although last year didn’t go how we’d have hoped in Formula Renault, I showed what I was capable of in the winter series.”
T-Sport team principal Russell Eacott added: “We’re very happy to welcome Menasheh to the team and we’re sure he’ll be extremely competitive in this year’s National Class. During his first test with us last year we were stunned by the pace he showed, his lap times were very impressive.
“It’s good for us to sign a driver with Menasheh’s potential so early into the year, thanks to the conclusion of our deal to advertise and promote Gulf Computer Services W.L.L. Now the plan is for him to get as much mileage under his belt as possible before the start of the season in April.”
Expanding to 30 races for the 2010 season, the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series calendar will take in visits to all of the UK’s premier motorsport venues along with overseas trips to no less than three Formula One circuits – Magny-Cours in France, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Hockenheim in Germany.
The championship will commence on Easter weekend, 3rd/4th/5th April, at Oulton Park in Cheshire and will come to a conclusion on 25th/26th September at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent.
The V8 Championship moved onto Round 3 which was to be held at the 
Raed had to give best to Al-Yaeesh but in doing so was slowed into the corner allowing 2007/2008 Champion Fahad Al-Musalam to sneak alongside. Neither driver was going to give in and a side-by-side battle through and out of Turn 7 allowed Tarek ElGammal & Mohammed Al-Owais to pass both drivers. Raed tried hard to regain position and in the battle that followed made contact with Al-Owais in a 3-car Turn 1 battle. It was either this or the earlier contact with Al-Musalam that bent Raed’s steering and from then on the car was almost undriveable in right-hand turns. Raed lost 2 further positions whilst struggling with the wayward steering but valiantly fought back on the closing laps to repass those two drivers finally ! finishing in 6th position.
