Friday Nov 08, 2024
FT
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Monday, 9 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In a thrilling first finish, the soft spoken racer who turned 18 in June says that winning the championship “is a dream come true”.
Following a comfortable lead in the first lap, the rest of the pack caught up with Ghaffoor in lap two in this season’s grand finale. After dropping down two places in the second lap, the young racer made a spectacular comeback during the final lap to finish first.
“It was pretty intense at the end, and so much more worth it,” says Ghaffoor.
Starting from pole position in all six races this season and achieving five wins in a row, Ghaffoor says he owes his success to his family, his sponsors JAT Holdings and race champ, guru and uncle, Zulfi Sulaiman.
“Racing is more than just driving your car from start to finish at your full potential,” says the final year student at the Colombo British School. “It’s about focus, thinking ahead and planning each lap, to balance control and aggression. And of course it’s about being patient.
“It’s also about remembering that your helmet doesn’t hide your personality on the track,” says Ghaffoor.
Racing lessons for Ghaffoor - on track and off – from maintaining his car to keeping a cool head were gleaned from his two uncles, Sulaiman and Azlie Irshad, also a Mini standard champion.
“An important thing that they’ve shown me is that your race isn’t the only thing that matters. Your behaviour and presentation outside the race car is a fundamental piece of the jigsaw that makes the ideal champion,” he says.
Ghaffoor’s passion for racing was sparked when he sat behind the wheel of a go-kart at the age of six in Nairobi. But it took him another 10 years until his return to Sri Lanka to live his dream.
After a series of outstanding performances in karting races at the Speed Championship in 2012, including first runner-up in Round 2, Ghaffoor moved on to his first Formula experience in the SL A McLarens ALTO K10 class the same year. He clinched second runner-up in Round 3 of the Championship, and moved on to what he says “some serious racing”.
Ghaffoor sponsored by JAT holdings who represents TEAM FMF (Flying Moto Factory) has just one more race to complete this year’s thrills – the Colombo Night Race 2013 in December.
“I just can’t wait,” he says.
“It was a real pleasure to work with Aamir Ghaffoor through this year as he conducted himself as a real young gentleman and professional on and off the racetrack. We, at JAT have enjoyed this relationship and will continue to support Aamir through his carrier. Like all the winning products we market, we are extremely pleased that Aamir ended this year as the youngest Formula McLarens 1300cc champion and wish him all the best for the night race too” said Managing Director JAT Holdings Aelian Gunawardene.
