Chevrolet Supercars ME driver Raed Raffii with Jack Daniel's Racing driver Rick Kelly in the Middle East earlier this year.
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By Briar Gunther 12:49 PM Tue 6 July, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
Raed Raffii hopes his test with Paul Morris Motorsport next week will help his driving in next year’s Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship.
The Bahrain resident finished fifth in the 2009-10 season after winning three of the championship’s 12 races.
The 21-year-old Meezer Team driver arrives in Australia on July 14 and he will undertake two day’s worth of testing at Holden’s Driving Centre on the Gold Coast.
“It will definitely help me out with the next season here in the Middle East,” Raffii told BigPond Sport.
“I’ll come back with some new experiences, of course, which will be very useful for my career.”
Fahad Al Musalam, who won the 2009-10 Middle East championship, was awarded the prize of a V8 Supercar test in Australia but he handed it to Raffii because he has already tested in one.
The Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship runs Luminas, which are similar to Australia’s Commodore, and V8 Supercar drivers Greg Murphy and Russell Ingall will instruct Raffii during his test.
Raafii described the test with Paul Morris Motorsport as a “dream come true” but he does not expect it to be easy.
“I mean these cars are really quick compared to what I’m used to, not to mention that I’ll be driving on the right-hand side and shifting with my left hand,” he explained.
“It should be interesting but who knows? I’ll do my best and we'll see.
“For me it’s not just matching their pace; I’d rather do quick constant laps than be all over the place.”
Raafii said the V8 Supercars were “just awesome” and the drivers “truly amazing”.
“How 25 to 30 cars go side-by-side for the whole period of the race without touching each other... and the racing is amazing to watch,” he said.
“It’s never boring, something’s always happening.”
When asked if he would one day like to compete in V8 Supercars he replied with a smile: “well that could take some time”.
“But yeah I’m working hard now to be physically and mentally fit for the test and I’ll give it my best and we'll take it from there,” he said.
Raffii thanked Al Musalam, Sheik, Salman Al Khalifa, Sherif Al Mahdy and the Bahrain International Circuit for the test.
“I’m really fortunate to be given this opportunity to drive such a racing car with an amazing racing team like Paul Morris’,” he said.
