Shaaban gets chance to earn top F3 spot

Dubai: Two of the leading teams in Formula 3 racing have offered Basil Shaaban the chance to earn a place in their driver line-ups for 2009 and beyond.

Shaaban caught their eye on his debut in last weekend's Macau Grand Prix and as a result has been invited to take part in a day-long test session with Britain's Manor Motorsport on Tuesday at Snetterton, England.

The Lebanese driver, who grew up in Abu Dhabi, then flies to France to undergo testing at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit on Thursday with ART Grand Prix, who clinched the F3 Euro Series title for a fifth year in a row recently with German driver Nico Hülkenberg.

The French team developed new Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton on his way to the top, taking him to the F3 Euro Series crown in 2005 and the GP2 Series championship the following year.

"I'm excited that two of the top teams in the F3 Euro Series have decided to evaluate me," said Shaaban, who has contested the last two Euro Series championships with Austrian-based HBR Motorsport in a Shell Dallara Mercedes.