SHAHAAN ENGINEER ENDS PRE–SEASON ASSEN TEST ON TOP

– Second year racer sets the fastest time during the final session at bitterly cold Dutch track

Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup contender Shahaan Engineer made a great start to his preparations for the 2013 season, his second in car racing, at Assen in The Netherlands last week by recording the fastest time during the final session and day of the official two–day collective test.

With snow affecting running on Thursday, 21st March, and freezing conditions prevalent throughout Friday, 22nd March, the wintry weather certainly made things challenging but the Indian–born racer lit up the timing screens with a best lap of 1m35.444 seconds.

Mumbai born Shahaan, who currently resides and studies in the UK, is now looking to consolidate the performance at Assen as his second season with Fortec Motorsports in the popular and hotly contested Northern European Cup edges ever closer. The FIA authorised championship is heading for another record–breaking season this year with at least 40 registered drivers, representing 17 different nationalities.

Away from the track, Shahaan recently became part of the McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT) ‘Performance Academy’ which combines the best knowledge for driver development, using McLaren experience, and athletic enhancement from MAT’s work with elite sports teams. The result is a programme of assessment and monitoring, allowing a driver to achieve their full winning potential.

Speaking on Shahaan’s involvement with the initiative, manager of the Human Performance Programme Clayton Green said: “We are very happy to be working with Shahaan this year, maximising his performance for this season and assisting in his development with an eye on his longer term career aspirations.”