Racing For Peace
Lapter and Nashashibi
Israelis and Palestinians joining forces hasn’t always been the best recipe for success, though two motor racers have decided to put that to the test on the track as they look to make it big on the motor sport stage.
Having first met in 2006, Israeli Aric Lapter, and Palestinian Rasheed Nashashibi this week launched their new website which they hope will attract sponsors and help them in reaching their aim of racing around the world.
Speaking about the initiative, Lapter, 32, told TJ: “Racing4Peace is about two racing drivers from the Middle East, one Israeli, the other Palestinian,
dreaming of becoming professional racing drivers.
“Normally we wouldn’t have a chance of achieving this goal, but by working and collaborating together, our chances are much better. It’s a small example aimed to give our area an example for a bigger idea, that both sides can achieve a lot more by joining forces and not working against each other, we would like a lot of people to follow us and collaborate like do.”
Describing this project as ‘currently being the most important thing in his life’, Lapter believes it’s also an ideal way to show how Israelis and Palestinians can get on together and act in a positive way. “We hope to be very successful and famous, and inspire many people to follow us” he says. “If people on both sides would take action and collaborate, only then could there be a big change. Just the two of us would be difficult to change but we can help to give a better atmosphere and give hope, to change the balance of negative and positive acts, by adding our positive act.”
The two first met in a Go-Kart race in Mini Israel in Latrun, between Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in 2006. “I saw Rasheed speaking fluent English so I thought he was American or something,” Aric explains. “Then when he put on his suit with the Palestinian flag I was shocked to see he was Palestinian. I then thought that since I have the Israeli flag on my suit, we can compete together and each one of us would represent our own country. I invited him to race in the British Formula Vee using my self-built Formula Vee (the first ever Israeli Formula racing car), he accepted the offer and we have been best friends ever since, and have already been through a lot.”
Their link-up was the first time an Israeli and Palestinian have joined forces so notably in sport, and Lapter confesses to having been worried at the beginning, though says those fears vanquished as soon as he got to know Rasheed, with lots of positive feedback from the public helping to further ease any lingering fears.
In terms of what they want to achieve in the car and on the track, he admits Formula 1 is a dream, and there’s a lot to get through before they can even think about that. He says: “To even get a test in F1 would be a dream but first we would like to do one season of racing to see what we’re like. If we are good and can find more sponsors, then next season we would like to race in British Formula Ford, British Formula Renault, British Formula 3, International GP2, maybe FIA GT and maybe A1GP which is the nations league.
“Since I’m also a mechanical engineer I also dream of working in Formula 1 as an engineer, so what ever comes first, driver or engineer.”
As for their partnership, their most recent stage was completed last week with the launch of their website, and they are now looking to raise £50,000 in order to continue their work.
“Half is for the GAC team which would operate the car from track to track, and the other half ii for our flights from Israel, hotels, car rental, etc”.
To sponsor the two, for as little as £6, in order to try and help their dream come true, visit their website at: http//www.racing4peace.com
