Showdown of the world’s best Formula 3 in Macao
Track length: 6.21 kilometres
Lap record: 2:11.929 min / Loïc Duval 2005
Distance: 15 laps
Winner 2006: Mike Conway
Traditionally, the motor-racing world focuses on Asia, in
November. From 15th to 18th November, Macao is the venue of
the Formula 3 Grand Prix. The most prestigious Formula 3 race
of the world represents the highlight of international Formula
3 racing. Only the best drivers of the national Formula 3
series contest the event held on one of the most challenging
circuits worldwide – to battle it out for the triumph
in this important event. Hence, the Macao record book features
numerous renowned winners, such as Michael Schumacher (winner
1990), David Coulthard (1991), Takuma Sato (2001) or Ayrton
Senna (1983). And each of the nine Formula 3 Euro Series drivers
who are going to race in Macao, this weekend, is keen adding
his name to this list. Their chances of doing so are promising:
since the creation of the Formula 3 Euro Series, back in 2003,
the Macao GP held on the spectacular street circuit was won
three times by a driver representing the most competitive
young-gun series of the world: Lucas di Grassi (2005), Alexandre
Prémat (2004) and Nicolas Lapierre (2003).
2007 champion Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3) from France
leads the fraction of this year’s Formula 3 Euro Series
drivers on the Macao GP grid. Last year, he came fifth at
the Guia Circuit Rang, thus finishing just one position behind
the runner-up in the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series season, Sébastien
Buemi (Raikkönen-Robertson Racing). Both are regarded
as favourites and the same applies to Germany’s Nicolas
Hülkenberg (ASM Formule 3). Altogether, nine Formula
3 Euro Series drivers will contest the ‘Grande Prémio
de Macau’, with one of them being Italian Edoardo Mortara
(Signature-Plus), the best rookie of the season.
As usual, the Macao GP features a top-class starting grid.
Apart from Grosjean, there are three other current champions
going to contest the race held in the former Portuguese colony:
Marko Asmer (Hitech Racing, British Champion), Kazuya Oshima
(Team Reckless Tom’s, Japanese Champion) and Carlo van
Dam (HBR Motorsport, German Formula 3 Cup Champion). While
Bruno Senna (Raikkönen-Robertson Racing), third in the
2006 British Formula 3 Championship, current GPs driver and
nephew of the late great Ayrton Senna, makes his Formula 3
comeback just for this race.
Romain Grosjean (ASM Formule 3): “I’m looking
forward to Macao. It’s another highlight held right
before the beginning of the off-season. The circuit is different
than all the others we have raced on during the course of
the season. It’s a street circuit with two different
sections: one is extremely fast, the other extremely slow
and twisting. Hence, the setup work is anything but easy.
Driving on the streets of Macao is big fun and the atmosphere
uses to be fantastic. My goal? To win the race! In the past
two years, my team, ASM, didn’t prevail in Macao and
I want to help them to also return to the highest step of
the podium, there.”
The Macao Formula 3 Grand Prix is covered live on
TV:
Coverage times: Sunday, 18th November, 2007
Eurosport: 02:00hrs to 02:15hrs warm-up, 5:35hrs to 07:45hrs
Races 1 & 2
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