“It was a very good weekend and a solid start to the 2015 Formula Masters China Series season, and to have scored some decent points is very positive,” said Read. “However, there is still everything to play for and it’s a long season. To be on the podium twice is something that I and the Eurasia Motorsport team can be very proud of and hopefully something we can carry into the next race at the Shanghai International Circuit (SIC).
“There were a couple of extra testing days added to the weekend due to some scheduling conflicts, which meant I had a lot of time in the car. I think there were five or six days back-to-back in, which is something I’ve never experienced. It was crucial to get as much testing as possible, especially as we introduced a paddle-shift gearbox. It didn’t take too much adapting from the sequential to the paddle-shifts; if anything it was quite a smooth change and made the driving a little easier.
“Testing at the Sepang International Circuit over the winter was hugely beneficial, especially for the wet race on Saturday (25 April). I had previously tested twice in the rain prior to the weekend, so, to finish fourth having started from eighth, showed that testing was hugely beneficial. I was able to make up ground on the other drivers just by using my experience.
“In those sorts of conditions, you’ve always got to be careful and make sure you bring the car home, but it was important for me to push and try to set a fast lap, as those lap times determine the grid for Round 2. I tried to get the lap in as early as possible so I could then purely focus on getting the car home in one piece and, to set the third fastest lap and cross the line in fourth position was very satisfying.
“Sunday was a very good day for me. I Rounds 2 and 3 from third and fifth respectively and the Sepang heat made tyre conservation very difficult.
“The day’s opening race was a pretty calm one for me, as I got a good start and had to focus on consistency while circulating on my own for the most part. I could have fought for second position in the initial stage, but the field had spread out after a couple of laps and it became a case of making sure you brought the car home and preserved the podium finish.
“I started the second race from fifth, which was on the more grippy inside line. I made the most of a first-corner incident involving a few drivers to move up to second position and, from there, I was on the defensive against a rival who caught me lap-by-lap, able to manage his tyres a little better.
“Unfortunately, my tyres had faded towards the end of the race, which meant I didn’t have the pace needed to defend my position in the final laps.
“I retained third position thereafter and the result is something that we can be very proud of as a team. I’ve stood on the podium in other championships, but to stand on a podium at Sepang in an important championship is very special. It was a great feeling. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste the champagne, but I sprayed it nonetheless.
“Between races we always go over the data and make sure that I’m as prepared as possible for the next instalment in the championship. There is a lot off-track work to do and data is the biggest part of that. With Eurasia Motorsport fielding six cars last weekend in Malaysia, the team had a lot of data and you have to look through it all to see where you can find lap time.
“We’ve got a coach, Richard Bradley, who is racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) this season, and he comes along to every race to help us improve. It is really great having him there on race weekends.
“However, to get into the right frame of mind ahead of a race I will put my headphones in and listen to some music. I listen to a lot of different genres, depending on my mood; if you’re a bit stressed out and need to calm your nerves, some chilled out music does the trick, but if you feel a little down, you can put on something that will give you a lift.
“We stay at the track all day, arriving at 6.00 and leaving at 22.00, so you only use your hotel to sleep. You always need a good night’s sleep, especially before a race weekend, to keep you energised.
“Being at the track all day has its positives, as you’re always in the racing mind-set and remain focused on what need to be done. You don’t want to be there wasting time, as you’ll be tired the next day. You’ve always got to stay in the right frame of mind and remember why you are there.”
Aidan Read will next be in action for Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) at the Shanghai International Circuit in China (5-7 June).
For more information on Aidan Read and his racing activities, please visit the official www.parabolicmotorsport.com website, ‘like’ his Facebook page or view content on his YouTube channel.