EXCELLENT CONCLUSION TO ROCKINGHAM F3 TEST FOR IDAFAR

Menasheh Idafar rounded out this week’s official Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series test at Rockingham with yet another National Class-leading performance today, Tuesday, 2nd March, and also concluded the outing just 0.027 seconds shy of the overall top 10.

Experiencing the Northamptonshire venue’s International Super Sports Car Circuit for the first time in an F3 car yesterday, the T-Sport rookie took no time at all to adapt. Today, he improved by seven 10ths of a second and produced a quickest lap of 1m11.844 seconds (97.20mph) this morning.

Good enough to place him 11th overall on combined times for the day, the 18-year-old was just 0.874 seconds outside Jean-Eric Vergne’s outright International Class best – an impressive performance which also meant Menasheh was six 10ths of a second faster than his closest National Class rival.

Looking to focus on some longer distance runs this afternoon, Menasheh’s plans were hindered due to some red flag interruptions. Even so, he was still able to steer his Gulf Computer Services W.L.L liveried Dallara F307 to another strong time of 1m12.150 seconds (96.79mph). Placing him eighth fastest overall for the session, he was also the quickest National Class driver by 0.7 seconds.

“Today has been really good, we’ve done plenty of work and were quick again in both sessions so I’m very happy”, said Menasheh, “Rockingham is probably the toughest track on the British F3 calendar in terms of fitness so I’m pleased with how things have gone. I’m enjoying working with all of the guys at T-Sport, it’s a fantastic team. Things are going better than I could have hoped so far.”

Over the four officially timed test days held so far during the pre-season, Menasheh has emerged as the quickest National Class driver on each occasion. He is now looking forward to the resumption of the British F3 pre-season at Oulton Park in Cheshire – the venue for the opening three rounds of the 30-race 2010 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series – next Wednesday, 10th March.

Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series graduate Menasheh Idafar made an impressive start to his F3 career during the first officially timed test of the pre-season at Snetterton in Norfolk today, Wednesday, 24th February.