Australian Aidan Read was forced to sit out for today’s (14 August 2016) rounds of the Formula Masters China Series in Sepang, Malaysia, as he was struck down by a worsening illness, and in the process effectively ending his 2016 FMCS title challenge
Aidan had felt unwell on the previous day but struggled through practice and qualifying achieving a creditable P4 on the grid despite being physically ill in the car at one point during the day.
Taking the start of the weekend’s first race feeling less than on top form in the extreme Malaysian heat was demanding, but Aidan did and was challenging into the first corner when he spun to the back of the field after contact with rival Zheng, bending the cars steering in the process. From here damage limitation was the key in a less than perfect car as a battling rise back through the field saw him take the flag in 6th place to salvage some points.
However, things deteriorated for Aidan overnight and he made the difficult decision to withdraw from the day’s events.
Aidan’s driving coach and mentor, 5 times Le Mans winner Oliver Gavin explained “Competition for Aidan on the Saturday was extremely tough and he battled with his sickness to do the best job he could in extreme circumstances. We had hoped that a night’s rest would see him improve but unfortunately he got worse and it was clearly not possible for him to attempt to race given the way he was feeling”
With main Championship rival Phillip Hamprecht taking 2 victories at the meeting, the Championship, whilst not mathematically impossible seems out of reach now to Aidan who will return to the Malaysian venue for the penultimate round on September, 3-4th 2016.