Ithmaar backed GP2 driver makes podium at Monza, falls 1 point short on championship table

MANAMA, Bahrain – 17 September 2008 –An Ithmaar banking group sponsored driver fell just one point short of third place on the 2008 GP2 Championship table – despite a podium finish at the final round in Italy on Sunday (ed note: 14/09/08)

Romain Grosjean who concluded his debut GP2 Europe season with 62 points- just one behind third place and another point behind second – said that although the season did not go as well as it could have, the ART Grand Prix team had proved its potential.

Bahrain based Ithmaar Bank, Solidarity and Shamil bank are key sponsors of Grosjean’s impressive GP2 racing career which has already earned him a test driver slot on the Renault Formula One team.
 “It’s been a while since I last raced at Monza and the changing weather did not help me get to grips with the track and the car,” said Grosjean. “I was disappointed with my qualifying round but I had a sensible race with a package that I was not completely comfortable with,” he said.

 “My aim at Monza was to finish the championship in the top three and although I kept my hopes alive on Saturday, I was hampered the next day by D’Amrosio who cut the chicane twice but always kept his position,” said Grosjean. “I tried my best to catch up with the leader as I still had a chance to get past Senna and Di Grassi in the championship and, although I made a mistake by pushing too hard, I have no regrets,” he said.

“The points we lost earlier in the season, for which neither the team not I were responsible, hit us hard – but I will always have fond memories of the season and my work with this fabulous team,” said Grosjean. “We clinched the title in GP2 Asia and, even though the GP2 Europe championship did not go as well as it could have, we showed we had the potential to do great things,” he said.

About Ithmaar banking group

 
The Ithmaar banking group consists of: Ithmaar Bank, Shamil Bank, Solidarity (an Islamic insurance company), Faisal Private Bank (Switzerland), Faysal Bank Limited (Pakistan), First Leasing Bank and Ithmaar Development Company. The group’s services, including investment, private, retail, and commercial banking, private equity, mergers & acquisition advice, takaful, leasing, and real estate development, form a 360 degrees value chain that embraces the entire spectrum of banking and financial services.