Venezuelan Robert La Rocca shows speed in first F3 event

23rd January 2012

Competing in the F3 Brazilian Open, Venezuelan pilot
Robert La Rocca would see action against the who's who of Formula 3 drivers
at the famed Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo Brazil. Home of the final round
in the Formula One World Championship, Interlagos features a magnificent
track design with elevation changes and a mixture of different types of
corners. Coming to grips with a new car, new team and new facility, La Rocca
held his own and impressed in the progress while battling for a podium
result in the annual event.

"This was my first time back in the car since my test in England a few
months ago," expressed La Rocca. "Also, this was my first time in an F3 car
in drivable conditions. The power and grip is incredible and is a lot to get
accustomed to when you are battling multi-time champions at a new track.
Improving every session, I think I proved that I have the necessary speed
and ability to compete with these machines."

Learning the track, the team and most importantly the car, La Rocca would
improve his speed and overall lap time with each and every passing session.
Building confidence on one of the most challenging and high speed tracks in
the world, the Venezuelan would progress through the official test sessions
without incident and prepare for his three heat races that would ultimately
set the grid for the main event.

La Rocca continued, "My three heat races went well. I ran in the top five
for the majority of the time and my lap times were consistent with the fast
guys."

In the first of three heat races, La Rocca would score a solid fifth place
result and would back that up with a sixth and second in heats two and
three. Utilizing a point system to set the grid for the main event, La Rocca
would line up outside the front row in his first official F3 race weekend.

Getting an average start in the main event, La Rocca would fall back and
settle into the third position. Biding his time and waiting for the right
moment to attack, the fourth place driver, who was penalized in the third
and final heat race for jumping the start and causing an incident, began to
make contact with the rear of La Rocca's car.

"It is a long race and I got hit three times in one lap. In the process of
all the contact, I lost two positions and was forced to try and work my way
back forward," continued La Rocca.

La Rocca worked hard to get past a few drivers and fight for the race win.
Forced to drive hard, the F2000 Championship Series driver was blocked on
more than one occasion and when making a pass to regain the fourth position,
both drivers misjudged their speed and braking points and eventually made
contact. Unable to rejoin the race, La Rocca was very sad to have a
potential podium result taken from his grasps in such an important event.

"I can't thank my team and supporters enough for their hard work and
dedication. To come here and compete against guys like Lucas Foresti who was
an F3 Sudam Series, British F3, GP3 and World Series by Renault driver as
well as Andre Negrao who raced F3 in Brazil, Formula Renault 2.0 in Europe
and last year competed in the World Series by Renault as well as several
other high profile race and championship winners is something special. I was
hoping to come home with a podium result but I learned a lot and will be
able to transfer that knowledge to my 2012 racing season."

Click here for the Robert La Rocca web site - designed and built by Racecar

Poly bushes by Autobush

8th February 2012

Nurburgring Track Days

20th January 2012

Early season start for Robert La Rocca

9th January 2012

Exciting Italian car collection unearthed

30th December 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

25th December 2011

Car Storage - Storacar

19th December 2011

Car shipping and SVA registration

18th December 2011