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IFM: Rodolfo Avila Valencia race notes
Rodolfo Avila complicated debut in IFM Rodolfo Avila had big hopes for the opening race weekend of the new International Formula Master (IFM) at the circuit of Valencia but the Macanese driver couldn't finish further ahead of 18th and 17th ...
Published: May 23, 2007, 8:43 PM
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Rodolfo Avila complicated debut in IFM
Rodolfo Avila had big hopes for the opening race weekend of the new International Formula Master (IFM) at the circuit of Valencia but the Macanese driver couldn't finish further ahead of 18th and 17th in the end. A frustrating Friday's qualifying session end up in two trouble races.
In the Practice sessions Avila was on pace to put his car on Qualifying "Top-10" but the only Asian driver of the championship couldn't make it true. Avila couldn't found that lap and finished the 30 minutes qualifying session in the back of 31 cars grid. "I found it awfully frustrating. The yellow and red flags were waving all the time and I couldn't find a single clear lap. I know I could go much faster but definitely it wasn't my day", said an extremely disappointed Avila who started from 21st.
The very first race in the history of International Formula Master began just after midday on Saturday afternoon. The 20 year-old Macau SAR driver hadn't a shining start but he recovered the lost positions before the second corner. To avoid an accident in his front, Avila had to go to the gravel and ruined his chances to score a good final position in the Race 1. "In T4 two drivers came together in my front and I had no way to escape. I had to go to the gravel and left it in the last place. This can happen in racing but of course I was extremely disappointed when you are trying to climbing positions. I burnt my tyres trying to pass as much opponents as I could until the end. Then I got stuck behind Maulini. The car handling wasn't helping and he defended his position very well so I couldn't improve much more", held Avila who drove a "carbon colour" Formula S2000 during the Spanish meeting.
Race 2 saw Avila trying again to climb in the classification but a gearbox failure stop him to go further. "I was doing my race when gearbox got stuck on 6th gear in the main straight. I couldn't shift up or down. It was a scary situation because I was fighting for a position. The car almost stopped but the gearbox came again and I could continue the race after loosing several positions. It was quite disappointed. In the end I overtook my team-mate and. I am sure we can get better results during the season but we still have lot do in the car setup", said Cram Competition driver supported this year by Macau Government, Macau-slot.com, BNU, CESLAsia, PAL AsiaConsult, TsingTao, Fat Siu Lau Restaurant, Sujika Crafts and PT Asia.
Avila returns to action in two weeks time when the International Formula Master goes to France for Races 3 and 4 at Pau's Street Circuit in France. Last year Rodolfo Avila conquered his first British F3 National Class podium on the notorious streets of Pau.
-credit: www.rodolfoavila.com
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