RAED RAFFII ALL SMILES AFTER V8 SUPERCAR TEST

Raed Raffii had his first taste of a full blown V8 Supercar at Queensland Raceway – and the Bahraini racecar driver impressed.

Raffii tested V8 Supercar great Russell Ingall’s #39 Supercheap Auto Commodore, with the speed of the state-of-the-art V8 Supercar impressing the 21-year-old.

“Incredible – I can’t believe how fast V8 Supercars are, they’re very, very fast race cars,” Raffii said.

“They are difficult cars to drive, very different to the Chevrolet Supercars I drive back home in Bahrain.

“I put a wheel off the track a couple of times, I found it hard to slow the car down, but then the team told me to apply more brake pressure – you have to stand on them!”

Raffii was given driving tips by team owner Paul Morris and Ingall.

“Paul took me out to show me how to drive a V8 Supercar properly and he was impressive, really quick.

“His and Russell’s advice was extremely helpful. It was a great experience, one I really enjoyed overall,” he said.

Raffii contests the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship, winning three races in the 2009/10 series, grabbing five podiums and six pole positions.

He was given the opportunity to test the Supercheap Auto Commodore V8 Supercar by series winner Fahad Al Musalam, who tested for Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2008.

“I am very grateful to Fahad, Paul and the Supercheap Auto Racing team for giving me the opportunity to drive a V8 Supercar,” Raffii said.

“I am hopeful of being able to get back and do more testing and become better. I would definitely like to race V8 Supercars.”

Morris said Raffii’s first V8 Supercar test was a success.

“V8 Supercars are unique cars to drive, but Raed has impressed us with his how he approached the test,” Morris said.

“He has genuine ability and is fast.

“Experience counts for a lot in this category but I’m confident that with more testing he would quickly fit in and be competitive.”

V8 Supercars Australia Chief Executive Officer, Martin Whitaker said Raffii’s introduction to V8 Supercars would lead to even greater interest in the category in the Middle East.

“I think what’s nice about today is that Raed has had the chance to realise his own dream and ambition to drive a V8 Supercar and I think the wonderful think about it is that he’s applied himself in a very professional manner,” Whitaker said.

“He’s listened to the advise, he’s taken the advise and slowly but surely bedded himself into driving the car, and from what I can see his lap times are very good.

“Hopefully this will develop into a chance for Raed to get a drive in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series and after that who knows what will happen,” he said.

“Most importantly from a Middle East perspective, it should help encourage greater interest in the races in both Bahrain and Abu Dhabi and hopefully see that translated into more spectators, more interest from investment and a greater television audience.”