Things were looking good for the Lebanese driver, but what looked like a stellar career in the making stumbled when funds required to move to the next level dried up. “In 2007 I was selected to became part of the A1 Team Lebanon driver development program, and competed in several races in Formula Renault across Europe, in preparation for a full season in 2008. Unfortunately, my season plans came to a halt due to lack of funding.”
The alternative was racing at home, in Lebanon, and select Formula 3 races in the UK for Ghanem, “In late 2008 and early 2009 I successfully participated in Hill Climb events and Rallies in Lebanon, scoring a win on my debut Hill Climb event and fourth in my first ever rally. I was able to return to single seater racing in mid 2009 thanks to secured funding. I spent a few months testing Formula 3 cars across European circuits before taking part in the last two rounds of the Formula 3 UK series – National Class with Carlin Motorsports scoring three podiums in four races.”
By now Ghanem was becoming a pioneer for motorsport in the Middle East, with a number of ‘firsts’ as he explains, “On 13 September, 2009 I became the first Lebanese to stand on a podium in single seater racing. Again funding dictated my progress in single seater and in 2010 I was not able to secure a full budget to continue my F3 campaign so I took part in a few rallies in the Lebanon and Jordan scoring a few podiums along the way.”
As for his foray into the UAE racing scene, he explains, “In 2010 I shifted my racing to the UAE since it was the only place in the region where track racing was established and joined Gulf Sport for the 2010/2011 UAE GT Series.”
Thus Ghanem became a feature in the distinctive white number 46 Ginetta and immediately made an impact by finishing second in the Cytech UAE GTC Class in the opening race of the season. He followed that up with another two second places making it a hat-trick in the runner-up slot in his first three GTC races. He followed that up with another second place in Round 6 and his first win in the very next round. He had arrived and made his mark – and it was mission accomplished when he clinched the Cytech UAE GTC title in the final round.
Ghanem acknowledges the highlights of his 2010/2011 season, “I finished second in my first ever GT race followed by two consecutive podiums. There was also pole position in Round 3 and almost winning the race. Then, of course, winning round seven and taking the Championship in the final round.”
