The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is the official FIA Intercontinental Cup of Formula 3. Demand for hotel room will be so high that I suggest you book your hotel reservation early.
(from the Macau Grand Prix Committee Press Release: October 13, 2009)
Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix-FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup
The world's most talented junior single-seater drivers will once again come together to contest the end-of-season Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup.
A grid of 30 of the finest F3 drivers on the planet will compete for the coveted title, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard, who all won the world's most prestigious junior race before progressing into Formula One.
No fewer than 19 of this year's F1 drivers contested the Macau GP earlier in their careers, and the list of those hoping to continue that tradition makes for impressive reading in 2009.
The champions of the world's three leading F3 series will go head-to-head in Macau, with Japanese champion Marcus Ericsson (Tom's), Euro Series champion Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix), and British champion Daniel Ricciardo (Carlin Motorsport) the favourites heading into the event.
Both Frenchman Bianchi and Swede Ericsson have experience of the Guia following their debuts last season, while Ricciardo will drive the world famous street circuit for the first time this year.
Japan's Tom's team will be on the hunt for their third successive Macau victory, having clinched the coveted title in 2007 with Oliver Jarvis, and last year with Japan's Keisuke Kunimoto. Joining Ericsson at Tom's this year is Japanese championship runner-up Takuto Iguchi.
Keisuke's younger brother, Yuji, will make his Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix debut with NOW Motor Sport, having had his first taste of the Guia Circuit in last year's Formula BMW Pacific race, where he finished an impressive fifth.
The younger Kunimoto placed third in the Japanese championship this year, ahead of Kei Cozzolino of Monaco, the sole entrant from Toda Racing at Macau.
Runner up at Macau last year and GP2 debutant this season, Edoardo Mortara of Italy is back, and joins Belgian Laurens Vanthoor and Finn Mika Mäki at Signature.
New Zealand's Brendon Hartley finished third at Macau last year, and set the fastest F3 lap during the course of the week. He returns with Carlin Motorsport hoping for a strong end to what has been a challenging Euro Series season for the youngster who received his F1 Superlicence in April this year.
Another two drivers returning for another shot at Macau Grand Prix glory will be hoping to avenge their heartbreak of last year. Dutchman Carlo van Dam and Briton Sam Bird were first and second quickest in qualifying in 2008, but van Dam crashed in the qualification race while Bird was taken out at the first corner of the main event.
Van Dam is back this year with British team Hitech Racing, while Bird has joined champion Euro Series outfit ART Grand Prix.
Other Euro Series regulars include ART's Valtteri Bottas, winner of the Zandvoort F3 Masters earlier this year, Alexander Sims, who has joined City of Dreams/ Räikkönen Robertson from regular team Mücke Motorsport, and Manor Motorsport's Roberto Merhi.
Manor will also run British F3 regular Colombian Carlos Huertas, Carlin will field its regulars from Britain, Max Chilton and Henry Arundel, while Fortec Motorsport has Jake Rosenzweig of the USA joining regulars Spaniard Victor Garcia and Briton Daniel McKenzie.
Closer to home, Macau's Michael Ho will be flying the flag for the SAR as it celebrates its tenth anniversary, with Kevin Chen of Chinese Taipei making his Macau debut with Champ Motorsport/Räikkönen Robertson.
An impressive line-up indeed for the 27th running of this prestigious Blue Riband event, the only one of its kind in the world.
About Formula 3
Formula 3 is one of the world's most successful racing formulae with national championships throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia, making it the most recognised and best understood racing driver's school.
It has flourished from its humble beginnings into one of the most competitive and significant feeder championships ever. It has produced many drivers that have gone on to become F1 legends, Sports Car and CART stars.
For example, in the year 2004, of 22 Formula 1 drivers, 20 went through Formula 3!
The Formula 3 cars are state-of-the-art single seater machines, powered by two litre racing engines, which reach speeds of over 260 kph.
The Formula 3 (FIA Intercontinental Cup) Sporting Regulations demand that all the cars be of equal performance so that the drivers race under equal conditions.
Ultimate showdown of the best drivers
The drivers are the champions of all the various Formula 3 series run around
the world throughout the season, including the British, European and Japanese
Formula 3 series.
Two other major Formula 3 events are held during the year - the FIA Formula 3 European Cup at Pau and at the Zandvoort Masters of Formula 3 in Holland.
The teams and drivers come to compete on Macau's testing Guia Circuit at the end of their respective championships for a season-closer which decides the best Formula 3 driver in the world.
Thus the Macau Grand Prix usually becomes the ultimate showdown of the best of the racing world of each category. The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix is the last and the most prestigious of international racing in this single seater category for the year.
Check here for the 2004 provisional programme/schedule: from 18 - 21 November.
Showcase for Formula 1 aspirants.
At the same time, the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix continues to be an excellent showcase for Formula 1 aspirants.
Formula 1 and other major world championship series are wrapped up for the year. There are no events competing for attention and many F1 team managers are in Asia’s gambling oasis for Sunday’s race.
Thus the Macau Grand Prix has become a stepping stone for future Formula 1 drivers. Famous drivers include Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher. All these Formula 1 drivers having graduated from the narrow, twisting Guia street circuit.
Definitely the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix can make or break a young racing driver's career.
READY,
SET, GO!
Hold in to your hats and get ready for a lap of Macau's unique Guia Circuit
with 2001 Macau winner Takuma Sato
"Macau is the greatest circuit in the world I think. It's so challenging.
Normally on a street circuit there is no opportunity to overtake, but here there
are great opportunities.
On the mountainside it's almost impossible, but by the sea there are long, long
straights - as long as Fuji. There are kinks along it, but in an F3 car they
are easily flat, so the best place to overtake is at the end of the straight,
into Lisboa."
Ayrton Senna's ticket to Formula 1
Ayrton
Senna is among the greatest Formula 1 drivers who passed through Macau was.
He won the 1983 Cup with Hong Kong's Theodore Racing. Earlier that year, the young Brazilian won the British F-3 Championship, but was not seriously pursued by Formula 1 teams at the time of his arrival in Macau. In fact he was rejected by Brabham only a few weeks earlier.
So Ayrton used the Macau Grand Prix to produce a sterling performance to convince the Formula 1 supremos that he was for real. Despite the presence of Roberto Guerrero who had two seasons in Formula 1 under his belt, Martin Brundle, and Gerhard Berger, Senna displayed his typical daredevil speed.
Ayrton Senna was simply unstoppable. He won the first leg by more than 5 seconds and the second leg by another 6 seconds.
The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix podium finish led to his signing with the Toleman Formula 1 team a few weeks after Macau
Ayrton Senna finally made his Formula 1 debut in the following season.
Between 1984 and 1994, Ayrton won the Formula 1 title three times and became one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history.
It begun in Macau. The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix gave him the ticket to Formula 1.
Click here to see the Formula 1 car in Macau!
The 51st Macau Grand Prix
Official Macau Grand Prix online ticket prices and booking
English language - here. -
Chinese
language booking here.
Buy motor racing books from Amazon!
Interesting links re. Macau Grand Prix
Ayrton
Senna
The end of the year 1983 for Formula Three was celebrated in the Portuguese
enclave of Macau at the Macau Grand Prix with drivers from all of the national
series. Senna won and negotiations between him and a number of Formula One teams
became serious.
More Formula 1 Drivers Biography from AtlasF1 (new window)
2004 Formula 1 Team's Portfolio from AtlasF1 (new window)
Download the 38th Motorcycle Grand Prix Regulations (pdf)
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Photo from Macau Grand Prix Committee
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