Driver Database News

The battle for the region’s most prestigious GT championship title heads to Malaysia next week when the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia takes to the 5.6km Sepang International Circuit for Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2011 season.

The stage is set for a spectacular return to the Malaysian track, the series having last raced there in 2009. Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila of Macau leads the charge as the record field of 26 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars embarks on the second half of the season. Avila shot to the top of the leaderboard with a victory in the last round at Ordos, Inner Mongolia, and at Sepang can expect to face stiff opposition from the likes of Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori, who won the first four races of the season and now trails Avila by just a single point. Racing commitments elsewhere mean the Swiss ace will hand the wheel over to reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Christian Menzel of Germany for the Singapore round next month, so Imperatori must score maximum points in Malaysia to remain in the championship race.

The LKM Racing Team duo of Keita Sawa, third in the standings, and FIA WTCC regular Darryl O’Young will also be on the hunt for points, as will series newcomer Brian Wong of the USA who is making a remarkable debut in Asia.

In Class B, the competition will be just as fierce. Team BetterLife’s Wang Jian Wei of China will be seeking to continue his phenomenal series debut, but on-form rivals Francis Tjia of OpenRoad Racing and Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong are snapping at his heals in the points. Woyo Racing’s Davide Rizzo of Italy, who made both his series and motorsport competition debut at the start of the season, will be one to watch having won twice in the category in Ordos, taking pole position for good measure.

As the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia prepares to race outside China for the first time this season, both the overall and Class B championship titles remain wide open. The fast, sweeping Sepang International Circuit, host of the Malaysian round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and venue for the series’ pre-season test, will be in stark contrast to Inner Mongolia’s tight and twisting Ordos track, demanding a radically different set up and driving style.

Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.

Following a spectacular start to the season at the Chinese round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship last month, the battle for the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship title heads South for two races at the Zhuhai International Circuit as part of the China Touring Car Championship weekend.

Having won both the opening rounds with series newcomer Alexandre Imperatori, defending champions Team StarChase got their season off to a near-perfect start and top the leaderboard just six points clear of Rodolfo Avila of Macau, competing with two-time champions Team Jebsen. Series newcomer Brian Wong became the first USA driver to stand upon the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia podium in Shanghai, and his strong debut performance puts him third in the points.

China’s Wang Jian Wei with Chinese Porsche dealer entry Team BetterLife, who also made his debut in Shanghai, tops the Class B category for non-professional racers and also lies fourth overall. Snapping at his heels in Class B is Hong Kong’s Wayne Shen just six points adrift, followed by Francis Tjia.

In Zhuhai, expect the LKM Racing duo of two-time champion Darryl O’Young of Hong Kong and Japan’s Keita Sawa to be back with a vengeance after an unlucky second outing in Shanghai which dealt their title aspirations a severe blow. Newcomer Davide Rizzo of Italy will make his debut in Zhuhai and could well provide some surprises, while former Class B champion Philip Ma of Hong Kong is back having missed out on the opening two rounds.

With Mok Weng Sun of Singapore unable to make the Zhuhai races, the series welcomes back Canadian Christian Chia who joins brothers Marcel and Francis Tjia at OpenRoad Racing.

The record field of 26 identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars will line up on the grid for two races on Zhuhai’s 4.3km fast, challenging circuit.

Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.
Rounds 3 & 4 – Provisional Entry List
No.3/Alain LI (HKG)/B/Alain Li
No.5/Yuey TAN (SIN)/B/Wimobilize McElrea Racing
No.7/Jeffrey LEE (TPE)/B/Team Pauian Archiland
No.9/WANG Jian Wei (CHN)/B/Team BetterLife
No.11/Ringo CHONG (SIN)/B/Team Kangshun
No.15/Keith VONG (MAC)/B/Asia Racing Team
No.16/Wayne SHEN (HKG)/B/Modena Motorsports
No.18/Marcel TJIA (HKG)/B/OpenRoad Racing
No.20/Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)/A/Team Jebsen
No.21/Francis TJIA (HKG)/B/OpenRoad Racing
No.22/Morris KU Yee Lung (HKG)/B/Team DAYCRAFT
No.23/Paul TRESIDDER (AUS)/B/Paul Tresidder
*No.25/Christian CHIA (CAN)/OpenRoad Racing
No.27/Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)/B/Nexus Racing
No.28/John SHEN (HKG)/B/Modena Motorsports
No.37/Davide RIZZO (ITA)/B/WoYo Racing Team
No.55/Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG)/A/LKM Racing Team
No.59/Philip BRIANDET (SIN)/B/Philip BRIANDET
No.66/Rose TAN (CHN)/B/Team C&D
No.68/MAK Hing Tak (HKG)/B/OMAK
No.77/Jacky YEUNG (HKG)/B/Jacky Yeung
No.83/Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)/B/Asia Racing Team
No.88/Keita SAWA (JPN)/A/LKM Racing Team
No.89/Brian WONG (USA)/A/Absolute Racing
No.98/Philip MA (HKG)/A/Team Hong Kong Racing
No.99/Alexandre IMPERATORI (SUI)/A/Team StarChase

*Non series registered

Rodolfo Avila is relishing another big test of his career this weekend when he becomes the first Macau driver to line up in the famous Singapore Grand Prix, on the stunning Marina Bay Street Circuit, the highlight of the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season.

Marina Bay is the first and only street circuit on this year’s calendar and the venue is part of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix weekend from September 25-27. Championship top-3 contender Avila is staying calm ahead of the Singapore race saying, “Singapore poses an awesome driving challenge, and I am proud to be the first Macanese to race in this prestigious event. Anyway I am taking the race as any other race and I am focus to get another podium.”

In what is proving to be a brilliant Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series debut, Asia Racing Team’s driver continues to prove he is a serious title contender with five podium finishes thus far, including two victories, the 22-year old from Macau is just three points behind two-time PCCA champion. “I don’t expect an easy weekend. The circuit requires 100% concentration and accuracy. I never drove in this track before and I just have one session of 30 minutes to get familiar with the track. All my opponents raced year last here, and this race will have some quick guest drivers too”, held Avila.

The event will be held in the city’s marina area on a 5.067 km temporary street circuit that runs down Raffles Boulevard and over the mouth of the Singapore river past City Hall into Raffles Avenue, home to luxury hotels and imposing skyscrapers. Avila’s Macanese race engineer Duarte Alves shares the same optimism and caution: “As many street circuits, the Singaporean track is very challenging. This street circuit has a total of 23 corners, more than usual for a race circuit. The grip level is very poor at the beginning of the weekend and the asphalt very bumpy. We need to find a good setup quickly as the practice time is short, and we need to take a special attention to the tires performance. I believe if Rodolfo trusts in the car from the beginning we have chance to leave Singapore with a good result.”

During the summer break Avila received good news. An old-time sponsor came along right on time for the Singapore GP – TsingTao Beer / San Chon Hong Macau. “I am extremely pleased they have now decided to join us in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and, as with all our sponsors, we will be working hard to ensure they derive the maximum commercial benefit possible from their partnership with us.”

But the best for Avila is yet to come. The Macanese ace expects a very good new in the end of the week: “I can’t reveal anything about it right now but, if everything goes according to plan, this is going to be a major boost for our outfit and for Macau motorsports”.

The event kicks off for the Macau, BNU, RPmacau, Fat Siu Lau, Sujika Crafts, PAL Asiaconsult, Asia Creative Group and TsingTao Beer / San Chon Hong Macau sponsored Porsche 997 GT3 Cup with Free Practice at 20.00 on Friday 25 September. Saturday features the Qualifying session at 17.45. The 12-lap race will take place at 17.30 on Sunday 27 September and will be aired live on Channel 5 – Mediacorp, the biggest broadcasting station in Singapore.

Rodolfo Avila travelled to Germany to race in Recaro F3 Cup Eurospeedway Lausitz event aiming to prepare for the Macau Grand Prix F3 race in the end of the season. Unfortunately, the German mission was far from being accomplished.

Avila’s nightmare started on Friday. An engine trouble followed by a brake failure completely cracked the Free Practice session for the Macanese driver. During Saturday Rodolfo Avila faced disillusion and disappointment again. After three laps on the East German circuit in Qualifying 1 the gearbox passed away and Performance Racing Europe crew had no chances of repairing it on time for the first race of the weekend. So Avila saw his F3 rivals from the grandstands in Race 1.

Lausitzring is not a good place to overtake. It’s bad news when you start 16th, like Rodolfo Avila in Race 2 on Sunday. The British F3 National Class contender did his best but it was impossible to do a better result without any proper practice before the Qualifying 2. Anyway Avila made a good race start and began to gain positions. He was 11th for a while. Unfortunately, in the middle of the race Avila lost the focus and lost positions too. The “Racing for Macau” car crossed the finish line in 13th.

“It was a very frustrating weekend. We had technical problems and I couldn’t concentrate myself enough in the end of Race 2. I don’t know why but I lost my concentration and couldn’t keep my opponents behind. I’m very disappointed with myself. Anyway I hope we can do better for the rest of the season”, held Avila, who presented a brand new sponsor in this event – Sujika Crafts, a Thai and Mongolian decoration products Shop to open very soon in Macau at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The driver sponsored by Macau Government, Rio Casino, Hotel Fortuna, Macau-Slot.com, BNU, Gain Well Group, Tong-Lei, CESL-Asia, Profabril – Asia Consult, RP MACAU, CTM, Tsingtao Beer, Fat Siu Lau Restaurant and PT Asia will be back to British F3 International Series next weekend.

Avila will test at Donington Park next Thursday (May 18), in preparation for the double-header rounds, at the Leicestershire parkland track on May 20/21.

Macanese motorsports rising talent Rodolfo Avila is pleased to announce his entry into the EuroSpeedway BERU Top10 Recaro F3 Cup event May 13-14 at Lausitz, Germany. This is an extra race for Macau British F3 International Series National Class contender.

In the course of Beru Top10 event Avila will be racing for the Performance Racing Europe and drive the former Menu Motorsport Dallara F306 – Mügen Honda, instead of the usual National Class Dallara F304 – Mügen Honda.

“I’m just thrilled with the opportunity to step up the F306 for this event. I look forward to return to F306 cockpit. I did Macau Grand Prix last year on the wheels of this car. It’s an amazing car to drive and will be my car for Macau Grand Prix, my favourite and most important race of the year”, says an excited Rodolfo Avila.

The Eurospeedway Lausitz event is an excellent chance for Avila to start the preparation for 53rd Macau Grand Prix, who will take place on November 16th to 19th at Guia Circuit. The 19-year old driver is looking to achieve a good result in his German F3 debut.

“I know the track and in my opinion it’s a very interesting one. Last year I tested there so I’ll surely feel comfortable at the wheel quite fast. I don’t know the German F3 Cup very well but I’m aware there are few top teams and drivers running in the series. All I want is to make a good result and train for Macau. I have no pressure as this is a one off”, remarked the dedicated Macanese racing star who has gained more inspiration and confidence especially following confirmation of a new sponsor.

Latest Casino to open at Macau SAR, Rio Casino, part of Galaxy Casino group joins Avila’s list of supporters together with the Macau Government, Hotel Fortuna, Macau-Slot.com, BNU, Gain Well Group, Tong-Lei, CESL-Asia, Profabril – Asia Consult, RP MACAU, CTM, Tsingtao Beer, Fat Siu Lau and PT Asia.

For Friday is planned a three hour test and the Qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday (Qualifying 1) and Sunday (Qualifying 2) in the morning. The Races are programmed for Saturday (Race 1) and Sunday (Race 2) after lunch.