Menasheh Idafar Rockingham event summary

Impressive Idafar Bags More Rockingham Points

Menasheh Idafar

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

Menasheh Idafar added more points to his Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series total at Rockingham in Northamptonshire today, Sunday, 4th September, with a very competitive seventh place finish during round 23 of the 2011 season.

Backing up a very solid ninth position during Saturday’s first race of the weekend, the T-Sport driver was in terrific form in wet conditions this morning and after a superb start from ninth on the grid he immediately climbed into the top four.

Confirming his good pace at the 1.94-mile track, the 20-year-old ran within just 1.5 seconds of the soon to be crowned 2011 British F3 Champion Felipe Nasr and looked very well placed for one of his best finishes of the season. On lap three though, Menasheh received contact from behind which dropped him to sixth place.

Disappointed but undeterred, the Dallara-Volkswagen driver pressed on and although slipping behind Carlos Huertas on lap six he maintained seventh position thereafter to secure his second points scoring finish of the weekend.

“We had really good pace and the car was working well”, said Menasheh, “I made an amazing start, really good, and got up into fourth but I was hit after about three laps and that dropped me down to sixth. I was disappointed to slip behind (Carlos) Huertas but in the end seventh was ok.”

Round 24 was less fruitful for the British-born-Bahraini when yet more unfortunate contact resulted in a lap one retirement. Lining up 12th on the grid, the 2010 National Class title winner was first hit at the start and had to take avoiding action to ensure he didn’t make contact with the pitwall. Losing some ground but without too much drama, he was then pushed off into the gravel at turn three.

Menasheh added: “It was a real shame about the second race today, it all got quite messy at the start with one car cutting across me and then pushing me towards the wall. I backed off to avoid anything but then, at turn three, I was on the outside and got pushed off the track. There wasn’t any damage but I was stuck in the gravel. It’s disappointing but overall it wasn’t a bad weekend.”

Menasheh will be back in action three weeks from now at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit in the East Midlands with rounds 25, 26 and 27 taking place on 24th/25th September.

Provisional 2011 Cooper Tires British F3 International Series Standings (after Rd24):

=14th Menasheh Idafar & Hywel Lloyd, 33pts