The Australian V8 Supercar Championship is an enticing motorsport, as young Bahrainian Raed Raffi is quickly learning.  The speed and feel of the cars is impressive and they tend to be a bit more difficult to drive than many other race cars.  This allows the drivers’ talent and skill to truly set them apart from other less talented drivers.  Additionally, the style of racing is typically closer than other racing styles and makes for a higher energy and more completive race.

Who is Raed Raffii

Raed Raffi is a young Bahranian driver who has recently won the 2005 Thunder Arabia Formula Ford Championship Title.  This win provided him the opportunity to test for Formula BMW.  In 2009, he starred in the Cheverolet Supercar season in the Middle East.  He came in fifth place overall with three wins and earned 5 podiums and 6 pole positions.  As Bahrain’s youngest Champion,  he logged plenty of miles on the Bahrain International Circuit.  Many eyes are still locked on him as he progresses in his racing career.

Testing the Waters

Raffii has decided to test the waters of V8 Supercar driving.  He tested in the summer of 2010 for two days at Queensland raceway.  In preparation for the test, he admitted he expected the experience to be nothing like he’d ever done before.  Even driving on the opposite side of the car would be a new challenge to overcome, as the Chevrolet he currently drives has the drivers seat on the left with the gear shift to the right.  He was looking forward to learning the new car and expected it to be a great experience.

Behind the Wheel of a V8 Supercar

While feeling the pressure of representing Bahrain in Australia, Raffii prepared to get into the drivers seat of the V8 supercar.  His main goal was to do well and leave a great impression.  He did just that as  V8 Supercars Australia CEO, Martin Whitaker, said he was pleased that the young 21 year old driver had the opportunity to realise his dream and did so in a very professional manner.  Raffii talked about how difficult the car was to drive and commented on how very fast it was compared to what he’s been used to.

Making the Switch

Raed Raffii hopes to be able to have the opportunity to continue in Supercar racing.  Whitaker looks forward to seeing him drive in the Fujitsu V8 Series, which is the Level Two Series of the Australian V8.  New supercar drivers commonly enter this competition as a way to train up for the bigger events of the main V8 Supercar Championships.  Whitaker also expects Raffii’s switch to V8 supercar racing to increase the interest among fans in the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi V8 races.

Having grown up in Bahrain and being on the racing scene in its early days in that country has given Raed Raffii a passion for the motorsport.  He has no doubt witnessed the many Desert Air 400 races of the supercar championships that were held in his home country.  Those experiences combined with his incredible skills at racing in general at such a young age are sure to make him a rising star in the Australian V8.