Rodolfo Avila had a tough weekend in 2006 British F3 International Series debut at Oulton Park, Cheshire. The Macanese National Class driver did not finish in the first race and chequered flag in fourth in the second race.

The first round of the season couldn’t start worst. Macau SAR raising star had a tremendous shunt in Friday Test Session. When the 19-years old Performance Racing driver was trying to reach the second time of the day in his class, crashed heavily into the barriers in Island Bend and the Dallara F304 – Mugen Honda ended almost destroyed. The Sweden born and England based team crew worked bravely 24 hours to recuperate the car for the Qualifying session on the day after.

The Qualifying 1 - for the first race – Avila just completed three laps (you must complete three laps to be eligible). Hours later he did much better in Qualifying 2 and put his car in the fourth place of National Class. “I have to thanks to all my team! Thanks Geoff, Carl, Danny, Stewart, Richard, Duncan, Bobby and Mike! They did an astounding job to recover the car for the qualifying. I did two sessions with my right hand completely swollen and stiff because of the Friday crash. It was really painful but it was the maximum I could do in those conditions”.

After the Sunday Easter Bank Holiday, Avila hit the track again for the two weekend races on Monday. The first race had an early over because of a non-thinking move of Championship Class’s Keiko Ihara. The Japanese woman apparently forgetting she was in a different class and hit him so hard in the back that Rodolfo ended up stuck way off the track. “I started from the last position of the grid but I passed two guys before the first corner. One lap later I overtake one more opponent and I was getting confident that I could reach a podium position on the class when she did that stupid mistake. I’m very disappointed because I think we could finish in a honoured position”, told the driver sponsored by Macau Government, Hotel Fortuna, Macau-Slot.com, BNU, Gain Well Group, Tong-Lei, CESL-Asia, Profabril - Asia Consult, RP MACAU, CTM, Tsingtao, Fat Siu Lau and PT Asia.

In the second race Avila started on fourth and ran out of brakes early on and had no choice but to follow Martin Kudzak home for fourth place. The Macanese Motorsport biggest hope had to fight with a non-helping car during 18 harsh laps. “The car wasn’t easy to drive and the result was the achievable. I get in troubles with the brakes. More I push, worst it went. So I managed to keep my track position. My right hand wasn’t helping me too. It was a little bit frustrating weekend and we understood we have to keep working hard if we want to be on the top in National Class”.

The second round of British F3 International Series is scheduled to 20th/21st of May at Donington Park. Macau’s driver has a good chance to enter on extra-Championship race before the Leicestershire event.

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TESTING: Avila ran into trouble in Friday's test session at the Cheshire circuit, a minor mistake unsettling the car as he went down towards Island Bend. The resulting accident was violent enough to flip the car over, and the Macanese was lucky to walk away with nothing worse than a wrenched thumb. The car was not so lucky, and the mechanics worked through the night to try and repair the damage. After a brief trip back to the hotel in the early hours, they were back in action an hour and a half later, working against the clock to complete the repairs.
      
QUALIFYING (ROUND 1): Annala had not been in the wars, so he was sent out immediately the practice session started on Saturday morning. A good effort saw him claim second in class for the race on Monday, though he was disappointed that Rodolfo Gonzalez (T-Sport) was ahead of him. Avila made it out as the session drew to a close, taking to the track to ensure he qualified to start the race (you must complete three laps in practice to be eligible). He just about managed it, qualifying 6th in class, though it's fair to say his times were not really representative, and he needed to ice his swollen thumb afterwards.

RACE (ROUND 1): Round 1 of the series was eventful for both drivers. Race day was cold and breezy, though the track was at least dry. A good start by most of the field was undone when Dennis Retera (T-Sport) crashed out and the Safety Car had to be scrambled. Almost immediately after the restart, Avila was attacked by Keiko Ihara (Carlin Motorsport), the Japanese woman apparently forgetting she was in a different class. She hit him so hard that Rodolfo ended up stuck way off the track. The Safety Car came back out and he was assisted to a place of safety. His race was run. After a third Safety Car period, the race finally got underway properly, with Juho running 2nd in class. It was looking good for the runner-up slot when his good manners proved his own undoing. Trying to let Championship Class runner Charlie Hollings (Fortec Motorsport) through, he checked his mirrors to make sure Cristiano Morgado (Fluid Motorsport) wasn't too close, only to have Hollings hesitate. That allowed Morgado to catch up and he followed the Yorkshireman through, much to Juho's surprise. It's not easy to overtake at Oulton, unless your opponent makes a mistake, and Morgado declined to do so, leaving Juho a slightly frustrated third.
      
QUALIFYING (ROUND 2): Qualifying for the second race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon. Rodolfo's car was now fully repaired, though the brakes seemed a mite reluctant to function fully. It didn't hinder him too badly, and despite his injured hand, the Macanese driver finished the session in 4th place. Juho was again on the pace too, the Finn eventually qualifying 2nd behind Gonzalez for the second time. It was a relatively uneventful session for the team, though Juho did head the times for the greater part of the half hour. Unfortunately, his tyres were past their best when track conditions were ideal, so he was unable to capitalise on it.
      
RACE (ROUND 2): The race got underway in cold but dry weather, and this time without the benefit of repeated Safety Car interruptions. Rodolfo started well, and held his place in the melee, despite Juho bogging down at the start and only managing to get going once the rest of the field had gone. As they vanished round the first corner, he set off in hot pursuit, determined to make up as much ground as possible. While Rodolfo ran out of brakes early on and had no choice but to follow Martin Kudzak (Fluid Motorsport) home for 4th place, Juho was having an equally frustrating time. He was stuck behind Ricardo Teixeira (Carlin Motorsport), the Angolan refusing to give ground in the fight for 5th. It was only on the penultimate lap that he was able to muscle past, and by then it was too late to make any further progress.

Young Macanese motorsport rising star, Rodolfo Avila is currently in the midst of tough work days in England. After the recently concluded media day at Silverstone, Avila went on with his preparation with a rigorous fitness program at Oxford followed by two days of testing in Donington and Oulton Park.

At the Media Day, the morning was spent testing before all track activity seized for the afternoon meeting with the British media. Delighted by the morning session results after clocking fourth fastest among the National class drivers, Avila proudly introduced his sponsors to the media. "This has been my first attempt at Silverstone and despite the limited track time, the results have not been too bad. There seems to be two tricky corners that require a lot of analysis for car setup", said the 19-year old Macanese.

After four days of training at the Formula Fitness base at Oxford, Avila travelled to Donington Park. "It was quite a challenge as it was too wet and windy. We only had half a day and in my opinion, the track is one of, if not the most complicated circuit to drive on in England. I have to admit I had bit of trouble at the "Old Hairpin". No doubt I have to work even harder in this circuit If I want to be on the top", commented the driver sporting number 38 in a Dallara F304-Mügen Honda.

A day later, the British F3 International Series teams moved to Oulton Park, another unfamiliar track for Avila but this time everything ran a little bit different. "This is such a contrast and it's been quite a good day. Since the beginning, I felt comfortable in the car and looking at the times in both dry and wet conditions, I must say the results have been encouraging. Oulton Park is my favourite British track so far. This is a very challenging track. We are going to have just one more test before the first event. We are aware that we are bound to face a hillclimb but we will take things in stride and avoid pointless mistakes as much as we could", added Avila.

Despite the varied results of tests from the various circuits, Avila has gained more inspiration and confidence especially following confirmation of prestigious Macau Gain Well Group who now joins Avila's list of supporters together with the Government of MACAU, top quality re-launched HOTEL FORTUNA, online gaming company MACAU-SLOT.com, Macau's premier bank BNU, environmental infrastructure company CESL-ASIA, civil construction company TONG LEI, engineering consultancy firm PROFABRIL - ASIA CONSULT, intellectual property service company RP MACAU, Macau telecommunications giant CTM, beverage company TSINGTAO, popular Macau restaurant FAT SIU LAU and telecommunications holding company PT ASIA.

The pre-season training will end on the 4th and 5th of April with another track outing at Snetterton. The 22-round Championship gets under way with a double-header at Oulton Park, England, on 15th and 17th of April (Easter weekend).