Rafael HIDALGO's CV

Date & place of birth : 13 October 1982 in Meyrin, Switzerland
Address : 1041 route de Mategnin, Lot. Le Pré Vert, 01280 Prevessin, France
Phone : 0033 450 40 84 78
Nationality : British/Colombian
Studies : Motorsport Engineering at the University of Central Lancashire (UK)
Latest cirtificates :
  • Baccalauréat S (Scientific) B.O.I. (July 2001) at the International School of Ferney-Voltaire
  • Diplôme National du Brevet option intenational : B.O.I (Maths, History
    Geography (english/french), English, French)
  • General Certificate of Secondary Education :Ordinary Level French (A)
  • General Certificate of Secondary Education : English language,
    speaking & listening, and literature (B,B,C)
  • General Certificate of Secondary Education : first language French (B)
School situation : Level: "Terminale S" scientifique at the Lycée International of Ferney-Voltaire
Subjects studied :
  1. Physics
  2. Chemistry
  3. Maths
  4. English
  5. French
  6. Spanish
  7. History (English/French)
  8. Geography (English/French)
Languages spoken : French and English, knowledge of Spanish.
Job : Instructor for Palmer Sport
Work experience : 3 Days experience in a company:
"Alex Sport" located in Ferney Voltaire. Client assistance, ski mending,
tennis raquetes, organisation of the shop.
Sports : Karting, tennis, table tennis, football, ski, swiming, passion for motor sport.

My passion for motorsport began when I was very young.

Watching fast cars on television was realy a big thrill for me. One day I told myself I was determined to get there and make it to the top.

Then, when I was aged 15 I started karting in the hope of gaining valuable experience to enter single seater racing and finaly get to formula1: my ultimate goal.

For financial purposes I was not able to buy my own kart; so I went to specialised karting facilities where one could practice kart racing. I spent much time there learning the basics of fast driving as well as learning about race situations. Many of my rivals were confirmed karting drivers and very fast. Each time I have participated in a session I have performed extremely well, consistently finishing in the top three and scoring consistent fast times. After two years and a half of karting, I felt extremely confident to move up to the next step: formula ford, the first step of the motor racing ladder.

I therefore attended a race intensive course at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, home of the FIA RAC Formula1 British Grand Prix even though I didn't hold a full driving liscence at the time. This course provided me with the perfect opportunity to gain an insight into the world of a racing driver. During the course I had the opportunity to drive a wide range of different cars:

At the end of this course I participated in my first ever formula ford race, where I proved fastest of all in qualifying, taking pole position for my first race. Unfortunately bad luck struck me with an -over exuberant- driver crashing into me, subsequently taking me out of the race. Just before the formula ford race, I also participated in the Silverstone Karting Grand Prix 2000" and won the race on top of setting the fastest lap of the day. After having gained this very important experience of car racing, added to my karting experience, my next step is to enter the British Racing Drivers Club Formula (BRDC) Ford Championship 2001.

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