At Le Mans With Epsilon

Formula Renault UK front-runner Menasheh Idafar made the step-up to European level action earlier this week, at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit in France, where he joined the Epsilon Euskadi squad for a two day test outing.Not only did the test mark the 17-year-old’s first ever experience of the Le Mans track, it was also his maiden appearance at the wheel of a Eurocup Formula Renault car.Joining around 25 other competitors, Menasheh gained vital mileage in both dry and wet conditions and during yesterday morning’s run, Tuesday, 25th November, he produced an excellent ninth fastest time. On Monday, 24th November, the British-born Bahraini’s first ever outing on the Le Mans track, he concluded the opening day of the test a highly creditable 15th overall.While enjoying the experience of the Bugatti Circuit, a regular venue on the Eurocup Formula Renault race calendar, Menasheh also learned a lot from working with crack Spanish outfit Epsilon.Driver coach Matt Shawyer, who accompanied Menasheh for his Eurocup Formula Renault test debut, was impressed with the teenage racer and commented: “He did a very good job during both days. On Monday, Menasheh ended up inside the top 15 which, considering he’d never even seen the circuit before, was a very good effort.“Tuesday morning’s session was the best in terms of times and his placing, he ended up ninth overall and just eight 10ths of a second off the quickest lap. It was good experience for Menasheh, not just for the differences with the braking of a Eurocup car compared to a UK specification car but also for him to start to learn European tracks like Le Mans.”With just a few weeks to go until Christmas, Menasheh’s next track outing will see him travel to another venue he hasn’t previously visited, Valencia in Spain, on 15th/16th December where he will once again pilot one of Epsilon’s Eurocup Formula Renault cars.