Depok-Avila Bahar, a student of the 2019 Public Relations Study Program, Vocational Education Program (UI Vocational), Universitas Indonesia (UI), won the title at the ITCR 1500 National Championship again. Previously, Avila managed to win first place in the National Indonesia Touring Car Race (ITCR) 1.5 Rd.1 with the Honda Racing Indonesia Team at the Indonesia Sentul Series of Motorsport (ISSOM) 2021 Seri 1 which will take place in March 2021.
ISSOM 2021 Seri 2 is a national championship for touring car racing held at Sentul International Circuit (SIC), Bogor, on Sunday (13/6). The car racing competition held several categories, including Mercedes One Make Race, BMWCCI One Make Race, Honda Jazz/Brio Speed Challenge, Euro Touring Car, Super Touring, ITCR, and Indonesia Retro Race.
In ISSOM 2021 Seri 2, Avila competed against Demas Agil and Haridarma Manoppo, the two main drivers of Toyota Team Indonesia (TTI). It did not make Avila flinch, even though he had dropped to third place. He managed to put himself back into first position before entering the second lap.
“I am very grateful to be able to win again in ISSOM 2021. Actually, maintaining the championship is very difficult and requires maximum effort. I am aware that there are still many shortcomings in this event, but I also have to give my best in this competition to make my parents, relatives, friends, and of course UI Vocational proud of what I got,” he said.
Avila explained that, this year, he was contracted by Honda Racing Indonesia. Avila had to prove to Honda and his parents that he could and was able to maintain the feat. “Indeed, my performance had decreased, but it did not stop my enthusiasm to enter the first position again,” he said.
Avila’s pride is even more complete because he was able to achieve first place in the Rising Star ITCR 1500 category. “Always have a goal, and as long as I get an award, there will be pride and satisfaction for myself. To achieve successive championships, there must be improvements in terms of mentality, performance, in order to make the people around me proud, which is my motivation in defending the title,” said Avila.
In this ISSOM Seri 2, Avila trains more optimally. Brainstorm with the team, improve the performance of the car, and apply certain techniques in using the car in order to improve its appearance in the world of racing.
Behind the success story of the car racing arena, Avila always remembers his duties as a student. He shared the right tricks in managing the time between learning activities and preparation for the championship. He said, while in quarantine to take part in competitions, he made time to study and do various things assignments given by the lecturer. Avila was greatly helped by the Distance Learning (PJJ) program implemented by UI.
“Media Relations is a subject that I really like and relates to what I am currently doing in the world of Motorsport. With this course, I learned how to represent the Honda company in order to maintain its image, speak well, and relate to journalists. I can implement this course,” said the son of Alvin Bahar, an Indonesian car racer.
The next challenge for Avila is Digital Motorsport at the Asian level championship, which will be held virtually in the next few weeks. “This championship is not the end of everything. There are still many championships that I will win in other motorsport events. I hope to maintain my achievements in the next championships,” said Avila.[:]
