60 YEARS OF THE MACAU GRAND PRIX—
The prestigious Macau GP is going to celebrate its 60th anniversary, this year. The former Portuguese colony’s 6.12-kilometre street circuit is the venue of the ’FIA Intercontinental Cup’, representing the unofficial world finale of the Formula 3 season. Consequently, it goes without saying that the grid of the tradition-rich race also will feature a big number of FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers: altogether, eight teams and 18 drivers will fly the FIA Formula 3 European Championship flag, in Macau. With reigning European Champion Raffaele Marciello (Prema Powerteam) and vice-champion Felix Rosenqvist (GR Asia with Mücke), the planet’s most competitive young-gun series will be represented – inter alia – by two of the hottest favourites. Motors TV will cover the anniversary edition re-live: Saturdays’ qualifying race will be broadcasted on Sunday, 17 November from 15.30hrs CET before the race itself (16.10hrs CET).
Felix Rosenqvist travels to China’s gamblers’ paradise with big ambitions. The Swede who turned 22 a week before the Macau GP finished second behind Portugal’s António Félix da Costa in last year’s edition and wants revenge. Alex Lynn (Theodore Racing by Prema), who finished third in 2012, also looks forward to returning to Macau. The Briton who also came third in the 2013 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, and Lucas Auer (Theodore Racing by Prema) who secured fourth position in the championship, will be the drivers behind the two single-seaters that mark the comeback of the name Theodore onto the Formula 3 stage.
Apart from Rosenqvist and Lynn, another three 2013 FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers made it to the top 10, in the 2012 Macau GP: Luis Felipe Derani (Fortec Motorsport, sixth) Raffaele Marciello (eighth) and Harry Tincknell (Carlin, ninth). And all the three drivers are going to once again meet the challenge represented by the narrow streets of Macau.
More than 50 percent of the 29-driver Macau grid contested the 2013 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. 18 drivers racing for eight different teams will honour the event with their presence. In addition to the one for Tincknell, British Team Carlin will enter another two single-seaters for Jordan King und Nicholas Latifi. One of the two kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport vehicles will be raced by Dennis van de Laar. Fortec Motorsports will be represented – inter alia – by John Bryant-Meisner, William Buller and Tom Blomqvist. Alexander Sims is going to contest the event for ThreeBond with T Sport and the Double R Racing squad will make a two-car appearance with Sean Gelael and Antonio Giovinazzi. One of the two Galaxy – Double R Racing cars will be driven by Estonia’s Kevin Korjus who contested the FIA Formula 3 European Championship season finale at Hockenheim for ThreeBond with T-Sport. Eurointernational signed Monaco’s Stefano Coletti – who also raced at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg – for the Macau GP and Lucas Wolf will be the only German young gun on the Macau grid. He contests the 15-lap race for his squad URD Rennsport.
Felix Rosenqvist (GR Asia with Mücke): “I think that Macau’s circuit is the most difficult one of the world. Here, a lot of courage and perfect precision are a must if you want to be fast. A lot of really good drivers are going to race and nonetheless, I’m travelling to Macau with just one goal: to win the race!”
Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix*
Thursday, 14 November 2013
10.55-11.40hrs Practice
14.40-15.10hrs Qualifying
Friday, 15 November 2013
11.00-11.45hrs Practice
14.45-15.15hrs Qualifying
Saturday, 16 November 2013
14.00-14.50hrs Qualification Race – 10 laps
Sunday, 17 November 2013
15.30-16.30hrs Race – 15 laps
* All times are local times (UTC+8).