RAED RAFFII GETS TUTORIAL FROM RUSSELL INGALL AHEAD OF V8 SUPERCAR TEST

Raed Raffii has taken tuition ahead of his maiden V8 Supercar test from one of Australia’s greatest racers – Russell Ingall.

The Bahraini racecar driver, who starred in the 2009-2010 Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship, visited Ingall at the Holden Performance Driving Centre today to learn the basics of driving a high-horsepower, right-hand drive racecar ahead of his V8 Supercar test.

And while Raffii is yet to drive a V8 Supercar, he believes he is ready for the step into the 620hp Australian machine after driving a Supercheap Auto Racing-branded Holden ride car.

“We took the car on the track to learn the locked diff in the car, because I’ve never driven a car with a locked diff before. They have the same diff in the V8 Supercars, so I tried it out just to get an idea of how the V8 Supercar will feel around corners and when you’re pushing hard.

“I think overall I went well. I got some tips from Russell and hopefully I got better as the day went on.

“I still haven’t driven anything the speed of a V8 Supercar. We just built up the speed today before eventually stepping into a V8 Supercar at the test.

“We’re taking small steps forward and hopefully we’ll be ready for the V8 Supercar test.

“Russell is a very good racing driver and a very good instructor. I like working with him. I’m doing okay so far with him so I’ll try to keep it that way.”

V8 Supercar veteran Russell Ingall was impressed with Raffii’s form at the Holden Performance Driving Centre.

“He’s quite good actually. I don’t jump into the passenger seat with too many people, but he’s very good,” said Ingall.

“I’ve got no drama with him; he’s got all the right techniques. He just needs to learn a couple of little things, but he’s still only young and I’m pleasantly surprised. He’s got good line and length, knows where to place the car; having the steering wheel on the other side of the car is always a bit of an issue too, but he’s come to grips with that pretty well.

“I think he’s got a fair bit of talent. He’s definitely brave, that’s a good thing. He doesn’t get scared and he’s got the right approach too, every car that we’ve jumped into he’s gradually come up to the pace instead of trying to be a hero and going flat out straight away. I’ve got no issues; I think he’s going to do pretty good.

“The V8 Supercar is obviously a lot different to drive, but the sequential box will make it a lot easier as well. I don’t think he’s going to have any dramas at all. Queensland Raceway is not too technical so it’s probably not a bad track to go to, so I think if he applies the same technique of building up to it he’ll do fine.”