Big money backing Arab driver’s F1 push

(GMM) A Bahraini race driver, one of the first Arabs to approach the pinnacle of open wheel racing, may soon enter the formula one radar, the boss of his GP2 team has predicted.

It is believed 21-year-old Hamad Al Fardan is now the most heavily sponsored driver in the F1 feeder category, following the announcement this week of his partnership with Gulf Finance House (GFH) for the next GP2 Asia Series.

"Hamad is an exciting talent with the potential to become a national sporting star, and he could find himself behind the wheel of a formula one car in the future," said GP2 team iSport principal Paul Jackson.

Hamad is also sponsored by Gulf Air, another Middle Eastern company involved in the upper echelons of motor racing.

The GP2 Asia series begins in October.