Baker to up Performance.
Baker will work on developing the team from its current National Class program to the main Championship Class category.
"I am happy that Mike accepted this offer," says team manager, Bobby Issazadhe. "I have worked together with Mike since 2003 and know him well. He will give a great boost to this important stage of our team's development. We have acquired a Dallara F306 and equipment for our future British F3 Championship Class program and with Mike on board we have also added experience and top knowledge."
Performance Racing plans to gradually enter the top Formula 3 category in 2006 racing in selected events such as the BP Masters and the Macau GP as well as rounds in British F3 or the German Recaro F3 Cup.
"‘I am very excited to take up Bobby’s offer to work with him on the future development of Performance Racing," says Baker. "The aim is to expand to undertake a limited Championship Class programme in 2006 as well as taking part in the BP Masters and Macau GP with one car and then progress to a full assault on the Championship in 2007."
The team is running Finn Juho Annala and Macanese driver Rodolfo Avila in the National Class in 2006.
"It has become obvious to me teams now have to have a wider base from which to operate from and by running both National and Championship Class cars, Performance drivers will be able to start and finish their F3 racing careers within a positive, structured environment," continues Baker.
"Such a programme should be of interest to countries involved in A1 GP, who could invest in drivers gaining, experience in F3 prior to graduating to A1, as Salvador Duran has shown, F3 and British F3 at that is the best series in the world."
The team has now started its search for drivers to compete in its newly acquired Dallara F306 and has in store a number of other interesting developments for the season ahead. "A car is already sitting there, now all we need is a driver," says Baker.
For further information please contact:
Mike Baker mike@performance-racing.se
Bobby Issazadhe bobby@performance-racing.se
Rodolfo Avila discovers Snetterton and returns to Croft
Racing For Macau
Macanese F3 driver
Rodolfo
Avila recently
completed a total of four test days in preparation
for the 2006 British F3 season. The opening rounds
are scheduled to take place at Oulton Park on Easter
Monday, the 17th of April. The event marks
Avila’s
debut in the world of
high level Formula 3 competition in Europe.
Completing over 150 laps around Snetterton, a circuit
he has never driven on, Avila
relates being extremely
happy with the result. Performance Racing
Europe’s professional advice proved invaluable
as he managed to register more than decent clocking.
“Things are
looking good as I managed to clock in laptimes
identical to my National Class opponents at a track
that I’ve previously never driven on. I still
have so much to learn and with more track time, we
can expect further improvement. I believe we could
achieve even better results as the season gets
underway. I’m really enjoying this challenging
experience”, commented the 19-year old
Avila.
Following two complete test days at
Snetterton, Avila
moved to Croft for a
further 2 days of development. However, the test fell
short of ideal as torrential rains and foul weather
hampered any attempts to produce even just
respectable laptimes. Less than 50 laps were
completed before the team decided to pack up after
lunch of the second day.
“It
wouldn’t have been a bad idea to have stayed
home”, joked the
mild-mannered Avila.
“The rain was
just too much on those two days. The team decided to
cancel the afternoon as the conditions were no longer
conclusive for a productive, let alone a safe test.
At least with the few laps I did, it further exposed
me to such harsh condition – something that we
don’t normally have back in
Asia,” concluded the driver
bearing the youngest hope of Macanese motorsports.
The next test is scheduled at Silverstone on March 22nd in line with the media launch of the series. The test is likewise considered to be a good opportunity for Avila to present his sponsors, namely: Macau Government, Hotel Fortuna, Macau-Slot.com, CESL-Asia, BNU, Tong Lei, Profabril Asia Consult, RP Macau, CTM, Tsingtao Beer, Fat Siu Lai Restaurant and PT Asia – to the British media and race fans.