HAMAD TO SIGN WITH GRAVITY

BAHRAIN'S Hamad Al Fardan is set to take a major step towards realising his dream of one day racing in Formula One.
It was confirmed on Friday the 12th of March 2010, that the Arab world's leading single-seater racer is days away from securing a place in the prestigious Renault F1 Driver Programme, which supports the development of young talent and helps them secure a role as test driver with the Renault team.
Hamad met yesterday with Renault team principal Eric Boullier, the successor of former boss Flavio Briatore, to continue negotiations on securing his spot.
Once the deal is completed, Hamad will become the first-ever Arab driver accepted into the programme. The programme has helped mould the careers of current F1 stars Robert Kubica, Heikki Kovalainen and Lucas di Grassi, as well as ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean, F1 hopeful Jose Masia Lopez, and recently crowned GP2 Asia champion Davide Valsecchi.
Hamad will be the fourth driver on the programme this year. He will be joining Ho-Pin Tung of China, Jerome dÕAmbrosio of Belgium and Jan Charouz of the Czech Republic. Ho-Pin is
currently the reserve and main test driver of Renault.
After 13 years in racing, this is something I had been waiting for, but it's really only the beginning, Hamad told the media at Bahrain International Circuit. This is not only for me, but
for all of Bahrain and for everyone who supports me. Now I get a major chance that will help me reach F1 and I have to make the most of it.
No one else in the region has done this before, just like how I had become the first Arab to
race in GP2 and score points in GP2. As a part of the programme, Hamad will be required to fly to Finland where he will undergo a full check-up on his physical and mental fitness. He will then be advised on how to carry on his daily exercises and given a list of the correct food to eat. On his return to Bahrain, Hamad will be given a special watch which he must wear at all times to track his progress, the updates of which will be sent daily to the Team.

Hamad's involvement in the programme will see him compete in the 2010 AutoGP Championship, which will feature six rounds over the season with races in the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy. Several teams that race in GP2 are also in AutoGP.
Depending on HamadÕs results in AutoGP, he could be given a winter test drive with Renault as part of F1's young driver tests at the end of this year.
Hamad will then compete in the 2011 GP2 Main Series, which will be held throughout the F1 season. His performance there will help determine his future role with Renault.
All through Hamad's involvement in the programme, Renault can call on him to perform
as a show driver for exhibitions across the world. Hamad will also be able to join the Renault F1 team at certain Grands Prix to see their operations.
The new development has come as welcome news for the 22-year-old, who for the last several months has been out of racing. He was previously eyeing a drive in the Indy Lights Series Ð the feeder category to Indy Car, the top single-seater championship in the US Ð until the Renault tie-up emerged.