Rafael Took part in his first Formula Ford Race since 2001 and and high expectations to perform extremely well on his return to Silverstone. The friday testing was cancelled due to extreme weather occuring in the UK and flooding the entire circuit. This was not the best way to prepare a return to Formula Ford, but Rafael was confident that he would do what it takes to get a win on his return.

Qualifying kicked off the next day on a tricky, drying track with a lot of traffic hampering a clean lap. Rafael posted his fastest time in the dying stages of qualifying but missed out on pole position by only one tenth! "Conditions were quite difficult out on track, with a very greasy track to start with and then a dry line appearing near the end of the session. It was key to get a clean lap at the end of the session. I'm quite dissapointed not to have managed to get pole position. The key of the race will be the start with this damp surface".

In race one Rafael got off to a storming start, managing to jump into first place into turn one and led the pack into the back straight. Dean Baily and Josh Pettitt were battling it out for second place, whislt Rafael was keeping them both at bay. However, after 5 laps Dean Baily tried a double overtaking manoeuvre by passing both Pettitt and Rafael; but Dean was short in getting passed Raf and hit the left side of the car going into turn one. Rafael went wide into the hairpin but managed to stay on track, without any major damage to his car, and joined the pack in 5th position. Rafael then went all out to come back onto the podium and managed to pass Lee Bullock and Carl Garnett before the checkered flag and just missed out on passing Shawn Morrison on the final lap. After the race Rafael was quite upbeat about the race: "This was a very exciting race even though I didn't manage to retain the lead. I am quite dissapointed that, like in 2000, I was pushed off the track whilst I was leading, but this time I got it back on track and faught and exciting race back onto the podium!".

 I race two, which starts in the finishing order of the previous race, Rafael Started in third and had a great start again, but just missed out of getting passed Morrison into turn one. Dean Bailly stormed back up the grid and started pilling on the pressure in 4th place, whilst Rafael was analysing the situation of the battle between Pettitt and Morrission at the front. On lap 7 Morrison made a mistake going into turn one enabling Pettitt and Rafael to get through. Rafael contiuned to pressure Pettitt and waited for the final lap to make a move, as Petitt was braking much earlier than Rafael going into turn one. It was a very tight battle as Rafael Passed Pettitt in turn one but the later opted for a wider line going into the corner and got back his position on the back straight. "It was a great race! I just missed out on the win! I tried to take Pettitt on the last lap, but he did a great manoeuvre to get the first place back. For my return to formula ford I am quite happy to see that I am on the pace and just missed out on the win on both occasions. I will win in the next round!"