Menasheh Idafar returned to Formula Renault UK action for the first time in over two months at Rockingham in Northamptonshire today, Tuesday, 13th October, as part of a semi-exclusive test outing with Manor Competition.
The 18-year-old British-born Bahraini driver, who last competed in the category during the seventh race meeting of the season at the beginning of August, has also confirmed he will contest the upcoming Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with Manor – the team which took McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Dean Smith to the 2009 driver’s title just over a week ago.
Today’s successful run marked the first part of a targeted testing programme for Menasheh as he integrates with the team ahead of the winter series which gets underway on Saturday, 31st October, at Snetterton in Norfolk and concludes at Rockingham seven days later.
Commenting on his return to Formula Renault UK, Menasheh said: “It was good being back in a Renault today. I enjoyed working with the team, learning how they do things and getting some good experience of Rockingham again before the winter series starts. Hopefully all of the other test days will go just as well for us.”
Yesterday Idafar continued to impress during testing showing good pace in both wet and dry conditions and produced some highly competitive lap times to end the test very evenly matched with 2009 ‘Graduate Cup’ winner Harry Tincknell.
With the track wet to begin and then drying as the day wore on, 18-year-old Menasheh thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and delivered an excellent performance to lay down some good foundations ahead of the first round of the 2009 Winter Championship which will begin at Snetterton just over a fortnight from now on Saturday, 31st October.“Today was very good “, he commented, “In the wet this morning we were really quick and the car felt fantastic. The traction was so good, the car turned in to the corners exactly as I wanted and we were able to do some really good lap times. In the dry, everything went just as well too.
“I’m really enjoying working with Tony (Shaw – team co-owner), Sarah (Shaw – team co-owner) and all of the other guys at Manor. Rob (Bell), who has been coaching me this week, has done a fantastic job and I’ve learned a lot. There is still a lot of work to do before the Winter Championship begins but testing has started well so I’m really happy.”
Menasheh will be back on track with Manor Competition tomorrow, Wednesday, 14th October, for a test at Snetterton with additional outings at Pembrey, South Wales, next week and then further runs at Snetterton and Rockingham during the week prior to each Winter Championship race meeting.
