Menasheh Idafar and the rest of the British Formula Three International Series field were out for one final test this week before beginning the journey to Monza for the start of the season on April 16-17.
For the T-Sport driver it was the final chapter of a bust winter and pre-season which has included testing at tracks around the UK, as well as the legendary Italian track he will re-visit for his first race F3 since winning the National Class in 2010.
After the first day was conducted in wet conditions the 20-year-old set his best time around the Snetterton 300 layout in the morning session of Wednesday's (April 6) running the final official pre-season test. His marker of 1:40.700 was just half a second shy of the top six times with both driver and team encouraged by the fact the time came on old tyres – a brief off scuppered any chance of improvement on a new set of Cooper rubber.
“We made good progress with the car this morning,” said idafar, “I'm quite happy with the pace today as my best lap was on old tyres – unfortunately I went off on my new tyre run so we couldn't improve more.”
“I really do like the new circuit,” he said of the revamped Norfolk venue, “it's nice and I think it should be much better for the racing when we're back there in May. There should be some good chances for overtaking.”
Idafar now heads to Monza for the start of the proper business of the season – racing.
The program begins with a one hour free practice session Saturday (April 16) before qualifying at 12:50pm local time and the first race of the year at 4:40pm. The second and third races of the normal three-race British F3 weekend follow on Sunday.
“I really can't wait for Monza,” added Idafar. “It's an amazing circuit with loads of history. It's going to be a lot of fun racing there for the first time, hopefully we can make a good start to the season but we know it's going to be a really big challenge.”
The series will return to the UK for the second round at Oulton Park on Easter Weekend.
