Fahmi Ilyas drove for Fortec Motorsport in 2011 (Photo Credit: SRO)
Double R Racing have confirmed a two car challenge in their year's British Formula Three International Series with a car apiece in the International and National Classes of the championship.
Joining the team after racing for Fortec Motorsport in the series last year Malaysian driver Fahmi Ilyas will join the team to fill the seat in the International Class, driving a brand new Dallara F312. Prior to his coming to the UK Ilyas raced in Formula BMW Pacific, before moving to the equivalent European series. Last season, as well as the British championship, he race in European F3 Open, taking a breakthrough win at Brands Hatch.
He will be joined at the team by a fellow graduate of racing in Asia in Australian Duvashen Padayachee, who will race in the National Class, driving a Dallara F308. The 21-year-old only moved from karts into cars for the 2010 season, driving in Formula BMW Pacific, peaking with a podium finish at Guangdong, China. For 2011 he moved into the JK Racing Asia Series, scoring a podium in the Singapore Grand Prix support race en route to fourth in the final championship standings.
“We're very pleased to have agreed a deal with Fahmi to join Duvashen, it's good to have a driver in both classes and we're sure they're going to make strong progress during the year,” said team principal Anthony 'Boyo' Hieatt, “Fahmi's new car only arrived on Saturday so the boys are working flat out to get everything ready for the official test and Media Day this week. We're aiming straight away for the top six with him, in qualifying and the races – he'll be quick.”
“Duvashen has made good progress so far in testing with the National Class car, he's improving well each time he's on track and will only build on that as he gains more experience. He's working hard to raise additional sponsorship from back home and with some good performances in the first few races, we're sure he'll be able to achieve that.”
