Hamad Al Fardan
Encyclopedia
Hamad Al Fardan is a Bahrain
i racing driver. He is the first Bahraini to drive at GP2 Series
level.
driver Ahmed Al Fardan. His first experience of formula racing
came in 2004, when he drove in the Formula BMW Asia series. In 2005, he undertook a full season in the championship with the Malaysian team Meritus
and finished third overall. He also raced in the Formula BMW World Final, finishing in eighteenth position. For 2006, he returned to the series for two races only due to commitments in other championships, winning both of them.
championship in 2006
, finishing the championship in sixth place with one win despite missing the last four races of the season. He again raced for the Meritus team. He returned to the series for 2009
and won the opening four races before the remainder of the season was cancelled, leaving him champion by default.
-based Toyota Racing Series
for 2006, again employed by Meritus. Scoring one race victory, he finished thirteenth in the championship. He remained in the formula for 2007, although he switched teams to Mark Petch Motorsport. In this year he won two races and moved up to eleventh place in the championship. It was a hectic season for Al Fardan, as he also competed in British Formula Three
on the other side of the world.
for 2007
(in addition to his TRS commitments), where he established himself as a frontrunner in the series. He finished third in the championship for the Performance Racing
team, despite not winning a race.
Over the winter of 2007–08, he moved to the Asian Formula Three Championship
, driving for a national team sponsored by the Arabian bank Gulf House Finance. He won both rounds of the season-opener at the Sepang
circuit in Malaysia, and two further races, but then accused the team of fastest man, Frédéric Vervisch
, of cheating. He declined to make a protest preferring to walk away. He finished fourth in the championship. Following his performance in 2007, Toyota F1
test driver Kamui Kobayashi
tipped him to become the first Middle East
ern driver to make it to Formula One
.
Al Fardan moved to the German
ATS Formel 3 Cup
for 2008, where he was placed eleventh in the final standings, although his season was disrupted by injury.
team to compete in the 2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season, becoming the first Bahraini and Arab
ian driver to race at this level. His backing from Gulf Finance House
also means that the team will change its name to GFH Team iSport for the duration of the series. He ended up 20th in the championship, scoring two points.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
i racing driver. He is the first Bahraini to drive at GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
level.
Formula BMW
Al Fardan is the son of rallyRallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
driver Ahmed Al Fardan. His first experience of formula racing
Formula racing
Formula racing is a term that refers to various forms of open wheeled single seater motorsport. Its origin lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the FIA for all of its post-World War II single seater regulations, or formulae. The best known of these formulæ are Formula One, Formula Two, and...
came in 2004, when he drove in the Formula BMW Asia series. In 2005, he undertook a full season in the championship with the Malaysian team Meritus
Team Meritus
MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*...
and finished third overall. He also raced in the Formula BMW World Final, finishing in eighteenth position. For 2006, he returned to the series for two races only due to commitments in other championships, winning both of them.
Formula Renault
Al Fardan competed in the Formula Asia V6 RenaultFormula V6 Asia
Formula Asia V6 Renault, renamed Formula V6 Asia in 2007 by Motorsport Asia, was launched in 2006 and regulated by Motorsport Asia. It was a Formula Renault 3.5 that include also World Series by Renault and the former Formula Renault V6 Eurocup....
championship in 2006
2006 Formula V6 Asia by Renault season
The 2006 Formula V6 Asia season was the first season of the series. The season started on May 13-14 in Sepang and ended on October 21-22 in Zuhai.-Race calendar:-Full Series Results:...
, finishing the championship in sixth place with one win despite missing the last four races of the season. He again raced for the Meritus team. He returned to the series for 2009
2009 Formula V6 Asia season
The 2009 Formula V6 Asia season was the fourth Formula V6 Asia championship. The season started on the weekend of May 29–31 at Sepang, but the series was eventually cancelled after four races, making Hamad Al Fardan, who won all four races, the season champion.-Race calendar:-Full Series...
and won the opening four races before the remainder of the season was cancelled, leaving him champion by default.
Toyota Racing Series
Al Fardan also drove in the New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-based Toyota Racing Series
Toyota Racing Series
The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier "open-wheeler" motorsport category. The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy...
for 2006, again employed by Meritus. Scoring one race victory, he finished thirteenth in the championship. He remained in the formula for 2007, although he switched teams to Mark Petch Motorsport. In this year he won two races and moved up to eleventh place in the championship. It was a hectic season for Al Fardan, as he also competed in British Formula Three
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
on the other side of the world.
Formula Three
Al Fardan moved to the National Class of the British Formula Three ChampionshipBritish Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
for 2007
2007 British Formula Three season
The 2007 British Formula Three season was the 57th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 9, 2007 and ended on September 30 after twenty two races, with Estonian driver Marko Asmer crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:-Calendar:...
(in addition to his TRS commitments), where he established himself as a frontrunner in the series. He finished third in the championship for the Performance Racing
Performance Racing
Performance Racing is a racing team based in Great Britain, involved in many areas of motorsports. The team has been managed since 1999 by Bobby Issazadhe.- History :...
team, despite not winning a race.
Over the winter of 2007–08, he moved to the Asian Formula Three Championship
Asian Formula Three Championship
The Asian Formula Three Championship was a single-seater racing series based in South East Asia. It is one of a number of national and international Formula Three championships that form part of an established "career ladder" below Formula One. It was sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the...
, driving for a national team sponsored by the Arabian bank Gulf House Finance. He won both rounds of the season-opener at the Sepang
Sepang International Circuit
The Sepang International Circuit is a racing circuit in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, approximately 60 km south of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. It is the venue used for the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix as well as the...
circuit in Malaysia, and two further races, but then accused the team of fastest man, Frédéric Vervisch
Frédéric Vervisch
Frédéric Vervisch is a Belgian racing driver who currently races for Luxembourg in the Superleague Formula.-Early career:...
, of cheating. He declined to make a protest preferring to walk away. He finished fourth in the championship. Following his performance in 2007, Toyota F1
Toyota F1
Panasonic Toyota Racing was a Formula One team owned by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota and based in Cologne, Germany. Toyota announced their plans to participate in F1 in 1999, and after extensive testing with their initial car, dubbed the TF101, the team made their debut in 2002...
test driver Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi
is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in the GP2 Series, won the GP2 Asia Series, and made his Formula One debut with Toyota in the final two races of when he replaced Timo Glock after the German was injured in a crash during qualifying for the...
tipped him to become the first Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern driver to make it to Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
.
Al Fardan moved to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ATS Formel 3 Cup
German Formula Three Championship
The German Formula Three Championship – currently titled the ATS Formel 3 Cup – is Germany's national Formula Three series. In the hierarchy of motor racing formulae, Formula Three is placed between national Formula Renault and championships such as GP2...
for 2008, where he was placed eleventh in the final standings, although his season was disrupted by injury.
GP2 Series
Al Fardan has signed for the iSport InternationalISport International
iSport International is a British championship winning motor racing team that competes in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, the official feeder series for Formula One. It was founded in 2004.- Overview :...
team to compete in the 2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season, becoming the first Bahraini and Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
ian driver to race at this level. His backing from Gulf Finance House
Gulf Finance House
Gulf Finance House is an Islamic investment bank with headquarters in Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain.Gulf Finance House was Euromoneys "Best Islamic Real Estate Finance House" in 2005 and Arabian Businesss "Bank of the Year" in 2006....
also means that the team will change its name to GFH Team iSport for the duration of the series. He ended up 20th in the championship, scoring two points.
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team Name | Races | Poles | Wins | Points | Final Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Formula BMW Asia | Belgravia Motorsport | ? | ? | ? | 80 | 8th |
| 2005 | Formula BMW Asia | Team Meritus Team Meritus MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*... |
14 | 2 | 4 | 148 | 3rd |
| Formula BMW World Final | Team Meritus Team Meritus MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 18th | N/A | |
| 2006 | Formula V6 Asia 2006 Formula V6 Asia by Renault season The 2006 Formula V6 Asia season was the first season of the series. The season started on May 13-14 in Sepang and ended on October 21-22 in Zuhai.-Race calendar:-Full Series Results:... |
Team Meritus Team Meritus MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*... |
8 | 1 | 1 | 66 | 6th |
| Toyota Racing Series Toyota Racing Series The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier "open-wheeler" motorsport category. The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy... |
Team Meritus Team Meritus MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*... |
14 | 0 | 1 | 593 | 13th | |
| Formula BMW Asia | Team Meritus Team Meritus MY QI-Meritus.Mahara is a Malaysian motor racing team, primarily competing in the GP2 Asia Series. The team is owned by Peter Thompson and Firhat Mokhzani, and managed by engineer Mario Cambiaghi and Alessandro Brambilla. The team was founded as Qi-Meritus Mahara in 2003.- External links :*... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 10th | |
| 2007 | British Formula Three Championship 2007 British Formula Three season The 2007 British Formula Three season was the 57th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 9, 2007 and ended on September 30 after twenty two races, with Estonian driver Marko Asmer crowned champion.-Teams and drivers:-Calendar:... |
Performance Racing Europe (N) | 21 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 3rd |
| Toyota Racing Series Toyota Racing Series The Toyota Racing Series is New Zealand's premier "open-wheeler" motorsport category. The Series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy... |
Mark Petch Motorsport | 12 | 0 | 2 | 530 | 11th | |
| 2007–08 | Asian Formula Three Championship Asian Formula Three Championship The Asian Formula Three Championship was a single-seater racing series based in South East Asia. It is one of a number of national and international Formula Three championships that form part of an established "career ladder" below Formula One. It was sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the... |
Team GFH Bahrain | 8 | 3 | 4 | 126 | 4th |
| 2008 | ATS Formel 3 Cup German Formula Three Championship The German Formula Three Championship – currently titled the ATS Formel 3 Cup – is Germany's national Formula Three series. In the hierarchy of motor racing formulae, Formula Three is placed between national Formula Renault and championships such as GP2... |
Franz Wöss Racing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 11th |
| 2008–09 | GP2 Asia Series | iSport International ISport International iSport International is a British championship winning motor racing team that competes in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, the official feeder series for Formula One. It was founded in 2004.- Overview :... |
11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20th |
| 2009 | Formula V6 Asia 2009 Formula V6 Asia season The 2009 Formula V6 Asia season was the fourth Formula V6 Asia championship. The season started on the weekend of May 29–31 at Sepang, but the series was eventually cancelled after four races, making Hamad Al Fardan, who won all four races, the season champion.-Race calendar:-Full Series... |
Dyna Ten Motorsport | 4 | 1 | 4 | 61 | 1st |
Complete GP2 Asia Series results
(Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | GFH Team iSport ISport International iSport International is a British championship winning motor racing team that competes in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, the official feeder series for Formula One. It was founded in 2004.- Overview :... |
CHN FEA Shanghai International Circuit The Shanghai International Circuit is a motor racing circuit, situated in the Jiading District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, which was first hosted in 2004.... 15 |
CHN SPR Shanghai International Circuit The Shanghai International Circuit is a motor racing circuit, situated in the Jiading District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, which was first hosted in 2004.... Ret |
UAE FEA Dubai Autodrome The Dubai Autodrome is an F.I.A. sanctioned 5.39 km motorsports circuit located in Dubailand, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Opened in October 2004 with the final round of the 2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup season, Dubai Autodrome was the first part of the Dubai Motor City development that was... Ret |
UAE SPR Dubai Autodrome The Dubai Autodrome is an F.I.A. sanctioned 5.39 km motorsports circuit located in Dubailand, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Opened in October 2004 with the final round of the 2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup season, Dubai Autodrome was the first part of the Dubai Motor City development that was... C |
BHR FEA Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400... 12 |
BHR SPR Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400... Ret |
QAT FEA Losail International Circuit Losail International Circuit is a motor racing circuit located just outside Doha in the Persian Gulf State of Qatar.Built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at the cost of $US 58 million, the track opened in 2004 to the inaugural Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar, won by Sete Gibernau... Ret |
QAT SPR Losail International Circuit Losail International Circuit is a motor racing circuit located just outside Doha in the Persian Gulf State of Qatar.Built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at the cost of $US 58 million, the track opened in 2004 to the inaugural Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar, won by Sete Gibernau... Ret |
MAL FEA Sepang International Circuit The Sepang International Circuit is a racing circuit in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, approximately 60 km south of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. It is the venue used for the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix as well as the... 9 |
MAL SPR Sepang International Circuit The Sepang International Circuit is a racing circuit in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, approximately 60 km south of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. It is the venue used for the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix as well as the... 5 |
BHR FEA Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400... Ret |
BHR SPR Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400... 17 |
20th | 2 |