RR Announces Ground-Breaking Middle Eastern Partnership
Formula Renault BARC Championship entrant Russell Racing today announced a ground-breaking partnership with the founder of Thunder Arabia, Hassan El Wardany, which will see the team running two of Bahrain’s most promising young single-seater drivers this year as part of a proposed long-term association with the Middle East.Operating under the banner Middle East–Russell Racing in the 2007 Formula Renault BARC Championship, the Doncaster-based squad will field a brace of FR2000 Class cars for 16-year-old pairing Essa Yusuf Mohammed and Menasheh Salman Idafar alongside a third entry for Manchester racer Mark Gillibrand, another BARC debutant.While the Middle Eastern venture is currently in its infancy, a maiden test outing for Essa and Menasheh at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit yesterday, Tuesday, 17th April, went very well indeed with both Hassan El Wardany and Russell Racing owner Tim Russell excited regarding the long-term prospects of this promising new partnership.Commenting on the agreement, Tim Russell said: “We’re delighted to welcome Hassan, Essa and Menasheh to the UK and have every confidence this season will mark the beginning of a long and successful partnership between Russell Racing and Middle Eastern motorsport.”With a UK base in London, Essa and Menasheh will be embarking on their first season of racing outside the Kingdom of Bahrain this year having previously competed in the burgeoning Thunder Arabia Middle East series. Both drivers do also have some karting experience in their homeland but 2007 will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge to date. “This is the start of a major long-term plan where we hope to create a ladder of opportunity for young drivers from, and associated with, the Middle East”, explained Hassan El Wardany, “Our partnership with Russell Racing really is ground-breaking.“This season will mark the first time there has ever been a Middle Eastern team racing in the UK so we’re very excited about the year ahead. We’ll see how Essa and Menasheh adapt to Formula Renault BARC and then consider progressing into Formula Renault UK or even the National Class in British Formula 3 next year.”Gearbox karting star Gillibrand all set for BARC debutAlongside the new Middle Eastern partnership, Russell Racing is also delighted to officially confirm 24-year-old Manchester driver Mark Gillibrand for the 2007 Formula Renault BARC season.Making his competitive single-seater debut during the opening round of the season at Donington Park less than two weeks from now, Gillibrand is hopeful of a strong maiden campaign having previously enjoyed great success in club karting at the famous Three Sisters circuit and also in the British 125cc Gearbox Karting Championships.
“I’m really looking forward to Donington and although we’ve only been in the car once before, which was at Brands Hatch, I’m confident we can get up to speed pretty quickly”, said Mark, “Our decision to race in BARC this season came out of the blue really but we’re hoping we can enjoy a strong season and attract some sponsors along the way.“We’re totally self-funded but hopefully racing in Formula Renault BARC will offer us a level of publicity which will then help our approaches to potential sponsors. Our aim is to have a good year, progress forward and then hopefully be in a position to move into Formula Renault UK in 2008.”The opening round of the 2007 Formula Renault BARC Championship will take place at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire on Sunday, 29th April. Ahead of the series curtain-raiser, Russell Racing will continue in talks with several drivers regarding the team’s vacant fourth seat.
