2009 FORMULA 3 EURO SERIES
Pre-season preparations – Basil Shaaban, Prema Powerteam
For immediate release
Wednesday, April 29th 2009
ARAB WORLD’S BASIL SHAABAN LEAVES NOTHING TO CHANCE IN PREPARATIONS FOR 2009 FORMULA 3 EURO SERIES CAMPAIGN
·Basil Shaaban carries out private F3 tests at Adria and Vallelunga
·Lebanese star concentrates on fitness programme and attends course in UK
·Shell-backed driver attends F1 fitness assessment in Italy
·F3 Euro Series star set to host Road Safety campaign in Qatar
OXFORD (England): The Arab world’s leading Formula 3 racing driver, Basil Shaaban, is leaving nothing to chance as he makes his final preparations for the start of the 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series in Germany on May 15th-17th.
The Lebanese racing star has been busy since the recent tests at Estoril and Valencia on a variety of crucial public relations, testing and fitness roles. The Shell-backed driver is set to team up with Monagesque Stefano Coletti and Italian Matteo Chinosi in three Prema Powerteam-run and Italian-built Dallara Mercedes-Benz F308/9s in the 20-race series.
"Since the official F3 tests in Portugal and Spain in March, we have carried out two days of private testing," says Shaaban. "We tested at Adria and Vallelunga and I have been delighted with the progress we have made.
"The tests were particularly relevant to improvements we have been making. It’s amazing how even the smallest modification in driving technique, and I mean small and subtle differences, can generate an improvement of between a tenth and a quarter of a second in one corner alone!"
Shaaban is working well with the Prema Powerteam technicians and engineers and has already noticed an improvement in his driving technique, in advance of the first race of the season at the Hockenheim Baden-Württemberg circuit in Germany.
"I am loving the learning experience and being with a team of Prema’s calibre," added Shaaban. "Working with a driver like Stefano Coletti is really helping me along and I am learning how to extract the maximum from the car-tyre package, which will be vital in qualifying sessions. A good grid position is crucial in the F3 Euro Series, where overtaking is difficult because the field is so close and evenly-matched."
Shaaban has also been working with the team on aspects of car aerodynamics, suspension and braking technology and maximizing his own personal fitness before the new season.
He completed a four-day physical and mental assessment with F1 specialists, Formula Medicine, at the start of this month in Viareggio, Italy. The company currently works alongside Toyota F1, ToroRosso F1, Renault F1 and F1 drivers Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa.
"The results were excellent," enthuses Shaaban. "My physical, cognitive and psychological profile all received good-to-excellent ratings across the board."
Shaaban was found to have a seven per cent body-fat ratio, but is still keen to maintain an even lower weight for the start of the season. This week he is attending a supervised seven-day Juice Fast course at a specialist clinic in the UK, which helps to shed excess muscle-mass and cleanse the body throughout.
Shaaban also visited Qatar last week to meet members of the Qatari media and lobby his road safety campaign. "I like the way that Qatar is developing motor sport from the grass roots level," enthused Basil.
He will return to Doha on May 7th to begin preliminary discussions for a multi-day Road Safety awareness campaign he is planning for later in the year. This will target students in select Qatari schools and universities. "I am looking forward to this and giving something back to the community from my experience in motor sport and my role as UN World Ambassador for Road Safety."
Ends
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