Apr 2007
British F3 International Series - Donington Park
Cheng Congfu "Frankie"
leading British F3 National Class
Performance Racing was back in action in Donington Park this weekend, for the second round of the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series. Despite Frankie Cheng's double win in the National Class, the team had a difficult weekend in Oulton Park, and was looking forward to a change of fortunes in Donington.
The free practice session was positive, with all three drivers working well, and Cheng showing good speed. Unfortunately this didn’t translate in the two qualifying sessions, as Ricardo Teixeira and Hamad Al Fardan couldn’t get the best out of the car, and Cheng was caught by a red flag and could not make use of his new tires.
As usual the racing was hard fought, and Teixeira came close to scoring the first points of the season, dropping to 15th place (11th in Championship Class) in the latter stages of Race 2.
Both Cheng and Al Fardan had their hands full during both races. Cheng had a good start in Race 1 and was briefly leading the National Class field, but ended up dropping to fourth position. He then pressed Ali Jackson hard throughout the race but could not get past. He did go one better in the 2nd race, finishing in third place and keeping a 17 point lead in the National Class. Hamad spent both races right in the middle of the National Class pack, and took 6th place in the National Class in Race 1. He improved his pace, and was headed for a better result in Race 2, but was involved in an incident and dropped back down the order.
Team Manager Bobby Issazadhe commented on the weekend: “It was a positive weekend for us. Ricardo came close to scoring his first points of the season, which shows the team is on the right track. Hamad is still learning but it looks like he can get some good results this year, and Frankie did a good job once again and is leading the National Class.”
There is now a three week break in the calendar, during which Performance Racing will undertake a 2 day test in Snetterton. After that the team will be heading to Romania, where the third round of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British
F3 International Series will take place in the streets of Bucharest.
Performance Racing was back in action in Donington Park this weekend, for the second round of the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series. Despite Frankie Cheng's double win in the National Class, the team had a difficult weekend in Oulton Park, and was looking forward to a change of fortunes in Donington.
The free practice session was positive, with all three drivers working well, and Cheng showing good speed. Unfortunately this didn’t translate in the two qualifying sessions, as Ricardo Teixeira and Hamad Al Fardan couldn’t get the best out of the car, and Cheng was caught by a red flag and could not make use of his new tires.
As usual the racing was hard fought, and Teixeira came close to scoring the first points of the season, dropping to 15th place (11th in Championship Class) in the latter stages of Race 2.
Both Cheng and Al Fardan had their hands full during both races. Cheng had a good start in Race 1 and was briefly leading the National Class field, but ended up dropping to fourth position. He then pressed Ali Jackson hard throughout the race but could not get past. He did go one better in the 2nd race, finishing in third place and keeping a 17 point lead in the National Class. Hamad spent both races right in the middle of the National Class pack, and took 6th place in the National Class in Race 1. He improved his pace, and was headed for a better result in Race 2, but was involved in an incident and dropped back down the order.
Team Manager Bobby Issazadhe commented on the weekend: “It was a positive weekend for us. Ricardo came close to scoring his first points of the season, which shows the team is on the right track. Hamad is still learning but it looks like he can get some good results this year, and Frankie did a good job once again and is leading the National Class.”
There is now a three week break in the calendar, during which Performance Racing will undertake a 2 day test in Snetterton. After that the team will be heading to Romania, where the third round of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British
F3 International Series will take place in the streets of Bucharest.
Performance Racing wishes Avila success in the future.
Performance
Racing and Rodolfo Ávila have agreed to go their
separate ways for the remainder of the season.
Performance Racing and Rodolfo Ávila enjoyed a productive partnership over the past 14 months, and we would like to thank Rodolfo for that, and to wish him all the best for the future.
The team is going ahead with the plans already made for the upcoming events, and is currently evaluating several driver options to take over the now vacant seat of the Dallara F307 Mugen/Honda in the British F3 International Series.
Performance Racing and Rodolfo Ávila enjoyed a productive partnership over the past 14 months, and we would like to thank Rodolfo for that, and to wish him all the best for the future.
The team is going ahead with the plans already made for the upcoming events, and is currently evaluating several driver options to take over the now vacant seat of the Dallara F307 Mugen/Honda in the British F3 International Series.
Chinese National anthem playing proudly in England
10th
April 2007 - Victory was at hand and the Chinese
National flag was waving at full glory at the opening
event of the British Formula 3 event last weekend at
Oulton Park. Cheng Cong Fu made his country proud
again by winning two races with fastest lap in the
national class during the Easter weekend. The spring
weather was a delight to the crowd and drivers as
Cheng Cong Fu roared to victory.
The significance of this race was that this was the first time that a Chinese racer has accomplished so much for his country, winning in a Formula 3 series that is sought to be one of the most competitive in the world. At this event alone, there were 30 cars on the grid and 17 countries represented.
In the first race, Frankie took the lead of the National Class with a blistering start overtaking the pole car at first corner. From there on, Frankie just kept his composure and cruised to the finish without any major incidences. It shows how he was able to take control of the race from start, never giving anyone the chance to catch up with him.
The second race of the weekend proved to be the more exciting of the two when the weather turned and the usual English rainfall started. The drivers were now much more on edge and it proved to be the case when the race was red flagged twice. Three starts were needed to complete the second race, which shows what a difficult race this was. However, the pressure did not get to Frankie as he held his nerves, avoided any accidents, and caught up with the leaders by the end of the race. A few laps from the finish, Frankie over took the leader to take the win in the National class for the second time. During all this, he also managed to set the fastest lap with slick tyres in the damp conditions. He is now leading the national class with 42 points, 15 ahead of the Icelandic driver Jenson.
Frankie said: "It was a fantastic weekend for me with two victories in my first Formula 3 event. This is something that I could not even dream of a few weeks ago. It was really hard during the second race due to the unpredictable conditions of the circuit; I have never made three starts during the same race. I tried to be calm and relaxed, the car was perfect during the entire weekend, the team did a great job. I have to improve still in qualifying sessions as I'm still not familiar with the use of the Formula 3 new tyres but I feel confident for the next race to find the way to the pole."
The second event of the British Formula 3 will be held on 21-22 April at Donington Park. In the mean time, Frankie has been chosen by A1 Team China to represent the country in the last two rounds with the important home race at Shanghai and the final round in Brands Hatch. A full racing month for the Cheng Cong Fu that will see him competing every weekend; but after the results of Oulton Park everything can be expected by the Chinese ace.
The significance of this race was that this was the first time that a Chinese racer has accomplished so much for his country, winning in a Formula 3 series that is sought to be one of the most competitive in the world. At this event alone, there were 30 cars on the grid and 17 countries represented.
In the first race, Frankie took the lead of the National Class with a blistering start overtaking the pole car at first corner. From there on, Frankie just kept his composure and cruised to the finish without any major incidences. It shows how he was able to take control of the race from start, never giving anyone the chance to catch up with him.
The second race of the weekend proved to be the more exciting of the two when the weather turned and the usual English rainfall started. The drivers were now much more on edge and it proved to be the case when the race was red flagged twice. Three starts were needed to complete the second race, which shows what a difficult race this was. However, the pressure did not get to Frankie as he held his nerves, avoided any accidents, and caught up with the leaders by the end of the race. A few laps from the finish, Frankie over took the leader to take the win in the National class for the second time. During all this, he also managed to set the fastest lap with slick tyres in the damp conditions. He is now leading the national class with 42 points, 15 ahead of the Icelandic driver Jenson.
Frankie said: "It was a fantastic weekend for me with two victories in my first Formula 3 event. This is something that I could not even dream of a few weeks ago. It was really hard during the second race due to the unpredictable conditions of the circuit; I have never made three starts during the same race. I tried to be calm and relaxed, the car was perfect during the entire weekend, the team did a great job. I have to improve still in qualifying sessions as I'm still not familiar with the use of the Formula 3 new tyres but I feel confident for the next race to find the way to the pole."
The second event of the British Formula 3 will be held on 21-22 April at Donington Park. In the mean time, Frankie has been chosen by A1 Team China to represent the country in the last two rounds with the important home race at Shanghai and the final round in Brands Hatch. A full racing month for the Cheng Cong Fu that will see him competing every weekend; but after the results of Oulton Park everything can be expected by the Chinese ace.