Macau F3 Grand Prix news

[NAC]

Is there also a link to any live timing for this race?

[strider]

Sorry, guys, I think live coverage, either on TV or the 'net doesn't seem to be a possibility. Eurosport has wall-to-wall coverage of the WTCC finale - Race 1, Race 2, highlights, you name it, but no F3. It's a crying shame.

However, NAC, the good news is that you should be able to get a full results service and even live timing from the 'other' MST - www.mst.world.com

I would post a link, but the website doesn't seem to be available at the moment. Maybe they're setting it up for the weekend. Hope so. More when I know it.

[NAC]

Thanks strider

Now I just have to get my head around the time conversions

TV listings here
http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/im...28.pdf?lang=en

Anyone anyone know if it's on TVU or Soap Cast

[strider]

I found the link for the results and live timing from Macau. First, go here. That's the page with the results of the free practice sessions, qualifying sessions, the Sunday morning warm-up and the two races, the first of which is actually on Saturday. That sets the grid for the Grand Prix itself on Sunday.

Even better, just underneath the headlines at the top of the page, there is a line that says: WTCC Macau - Support Race Live Timing - Click Here! If you do that, it should do the trick.

Lastly and especially for Last2LiftOff, here is a lap of the circuit on YouTube. It's not very clear and the guy even lifts off for Mandarin, but it gives you an idea of the contrast between the flat out sections near the sea and twisty section through the old town. No wonder Martin Brundle once said it was one of the three best circuits in the world, along with Spa and Suzuka.

[Last2LiftOff]

Wow...what a trip in that car Strider, thanks very much for that. The boys'll have some fun on that circuit. "Keep your head up and your feet moving." LOL. I just love the sound of that machine. F3's great stuff, I can't really think of a comparable here.

FWIW, Bob Wickens has been mentioned in both Carlin's F3 and WSR campaigns for next year. And I bet they think they're getting complaints about the coverage now!

Bravo, bravo.

[strider]

Bruno Senna talks about the race and how important it is here. I must admit there is no-one I would rather see win than him for all sorts of reasons, but I doubt if it will happen.

Meanwhile, there's a Q & A with Marko Asmer here. I'd say he's in with a real chance of taking the win, because he has the right mental attitude.

Not to be left out, Carlin are talking up the chances of their Macau rookies here. It's true that rookies have done well in the past, but it's a really strong field this year.

Marko talks about a couple of Japanese drivers whom he knows from racing over there, but I shall be watching Olly Jarvis's progress keenly. There's a great history of European drivers doing well for TOM'S in Macau - Tom Coronel, Peter Dumbreck and Darren Manning, whilst James Courtney so nearly won it, not that he's European, of course!

[Kiwi3]

I am fascinated to see how Brendon Hartley will go in such a good team but win only his second F3 meeting.

He has split his teammates in first practice although the bad news is that Carlin are nowhere first time out, presume they have not found a good setup yet.

Less than a tenth between Grosjean and Buemi, looks like it could be a terrific scrap between ASM and RRR with Hulkenburg and Kennard also less than a tenth apart in 9th and 10th!

[NAC]

Article on practice here

I know it's only 1st practice and on a track he has not been on before but Mr Hartley will have to step a up a few notches if he wants to impress, currently 4.9 seconds off the pace of Grosjean

[NAC]

For those that were asking for live feeds / TV there is live audio. Mix between English and local language

Qualifying 1 on now

http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/gp...id=617&lang=en

[bella]

ok, i really should know this by now. but...

i'm completely confused by the tyre regs. what are they? how many sets is a driver allowed?

and how the hell does qualifying work!

[Last2LiftOff]

Sorry Bella, I don't know. Someone else will I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Kiwi3

I am fascinated to see how Brendon Hartley will go in such a good team but in only his second F3 meeting.

Ah Kiwi, NAC, and the rest, another New Zealander. Good on ya'.

[Valker]

7 sets of slicks, 3 sets of wets. Two qualifying sessions, fastest time determines race1 grid position. Grid for race 2 is results of race 1.

http://gp.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/mgp...23-05-2007.pdf

TYRE LIMITATION DURING THE EVENT

60)
b) The same driver may not use more than a total of 7 front and 7 rear dry-weather tyres and 3 sets of wet-weather tyres throughout the entire duration of the Event.
c) Wet-weather tyres may only be used if the circuit has been declared wet by the Clerk of the Course.


FREE PRACTICE, QUALIFYING SESSIONS AND WARM UP

94) On each of the first two days of the Event, there will be one free practice session of 30 minutes and one qualifying practice session of 45 minutes, these being separated by 3 hours.

THE GRID

104) At the end of the last qualifying practice, the fastest time achieved by each driver will be officially published.

105) The grid for the first race will be drawn up in the order of the fastest qualifying time achieved by each driver. Should two or more drivers have identical times, priority will be given to the one who set it first. The classification of the first race will determine the grid positions for the second race. Any cars failing to complete a lap will be arranged at the back of the grid in their first race grid order.

[NAC]

Last2LiftOff "Good on ya'. ", just what was that meant to mean. Yea we know Brendon didn't do that great. Time will tell

Practice 1 Here
Qualifying 1 Here

bella, this from the "[FONT=Helvetica-Bold]FIA FORMULA 3 INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 2007[LEFT]SPORTING REGULATIONS"

FREE PRACTICE, QUALIFYING SESSIONS AND WARM UP

94) On each of the first two days of the Event, there will be one free practice session of 30 minutes and one qualifying practice session of 45 minutes, these being separated by 3 hours.

101) All laps covered during qualifying practice will be timed to determine the drivers position at the start in accordance with the prescriptions of Article 105.

TYRE LIMITATION DURING THE EVENT

60) b) Except for wet-weather tyres, which are unrestricted The same driver may not use more than a total of 7 front and 7 rear dry-weather tyres and 3 sets of wet-weather tyres throughout the
entire duration of the Event.

http://gp.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/mgp...23-05-2007.pdf

edit* errrr dito Valker, great minds .....

[bella]

ahhhh brilliant, thanks. it all makes (a bit more) sense now

hartley doesn't seem to have been able to pick up the middle bit of the circuit as quick as everyone else has, but i guess that's down to experience. i'm sure there's an official excuse that's better than that, but that's what it looks like to your average dumb outsider anyway.

[Last2LiftOff]

Originally Posted by NAC

Last2LiftOff "Good on ya'. ", just what was that meant to mean.

Exactly that NAC. Just landing the ride in the first place is an accomplishment if you ask me. I don't see a Canadian flag anywhere on the list as an example. Good on ya'.

[NAC]

Articles on Q 1

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63939

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f3/n...onal_pole.html


Last2LiftOff, just winding

[Last2LiftOff]

Yeah NAC, 10-4.

And it's a heck of a list, look at the talent on there, in those cars, on that circuit (see earlier onboard lap). No green with envy smiley, I've checked.

[strider]

Originally Posted by bella

hartley doesn't seem to have been able to pick up the middle bit of the circuit as quick as everyone else has, but i guess that's down to experience. i'm sure there's an official excuse that's better than that, but that's what it looks like to your average dumb outsider anyway.

It may depend on the set-up. The first and last sectors are the fast ones, the middle sector, which is where most time can be gained or lost, is through twisty old town. If Carlin are running a low downforce set-up, it will hurt their drivers through sector 2.

Enjoying the tour?

[strider]

First qualifying times:

Pos   Driver                  Team                         Time
 1.   Marko Asmer             Hitech Racing                2:13.122
 2.   Romain Grosjean         ASM F3                         +0.207
 3.   Yelmer Buurman          Manor Motorsport               +0.283
 4.   Sebastien Buemi         Raikkonen Robertson Racing     +0.314
 5.   Esteban Guerrieri       Signature Plus                 +0.611
 6.   Kodai Tsukakoshi        Manor Motorsport               +0.766
 7.   Kamui Kobayashi         ASM F3                         +0.803
 8.   James Jakes             Manor Motorsport               +0.984
 9.   Robert Streit           Prema Powerteam                +1.006
10.   Stephen Jelley          Raikkonen RobertsonRacing      +1.020
11.   Oliver Jarvis           Team Reckless Tom's            +1.027
12.   Edoardo Mortara         Signature Plus                 +1.143
13.   Kazuya Oshima           Team Reckless Tom's            +1.231
14.   Nico Hulkenberg         ASM F3                         +1.448
15.   Niall Breen             Carlin Motorsport              +1.566
16.   Atte Mustonen           Signature Plus                 +1.628
17.   Jonathan Kennard        Raikkonen Robertson Racing     +1.721
18.   Carlo van Dam           HBR Motorsport                 +2.203
19.   Renger van der Zande    Prema Powerteam                +2.429
20.   Bruno Senna             Raikkonen-Robertson Racing     +2.998
21.   Sam Bird                Carlin Motorsport              +3.109
22.   Frank Mailleux          Manor Motorsport               +3.170
23.   Brendon Hartley         Carlin Motorsport              +3.320
24.   Walter Grubmuller       Hitech Racing                  +5.334
25.   Takuya Izawa            Fortec Motorsport              +5.452
26.   Rodolfo Avila           HBR Motorsport                 +6.636
27.   Michael Ho              Hitech Racing                  +6.825
28.   Lei Kit Meng            Carlin Motorsport             +11.238
29.   Cheong Lou Meng         Swiss Racing Team             +13.132
             
Not qualified (outside 110 per cent)
             
      Jo Merszei              Swiss Racing Team             +14.318

[bella]

Originally Posted by strider

It may depend on the set-up. The first and last sectors are the fast ones, the middle sector, which is where most time can be gained or lost, is through twisty old town. If Carlin are running a low downforce set-up, it will hurt their drivers through sector 2.

hard to tell (read: i've forgotten). most of the drivers who were 2 seconds+ off were losing most of that in the second sector, so i guess that'd make sense. a couple suddenly picked that up after about 7 or 8 laps. wasn't paying enough attention to see who was going straight out on new tyres.

silly accident for bruno senna though :/

[racecontrol]

I was expecting much more from Hulkenberg... Buurman performance is impressing!!!

Kamui Kobayashi, Nico Hulkenberg, Atte Mustonen and Cheong Lou Meng have been penalized and will start 3 position back on the starting grid

[strider]

Don't be too disappointed in Hulkenberg. He's probably playing it about right for a rookie, apart from picking up the grid penalty.

The trick is to keep your car out out of the wall on the first day in particular (unlike Bruno Senna) and try not to get involved in other peoples' accidents. Grosjean was unlucky there but staged a great recovery.

Tomorrow is when it counts. I'd expect Hulkenberg to move forward then and I'd also keep an eye on Sebastien Buemi.

[bella]

i dunno, i don't think this is hulkenberg's year - he made a mistake about 15 mins into qualifying and i think brushed the wall, but got going again. he's not looked anything near as good as i was anticipating though. perhaps next year, i think this year is asmer and grosjeans. those two were consistently quick and at the top of the timesheets, whereas everyone else was a bit of a flash in the pan.

buurman's a bit of a mystery isn't he. fantastic racer, but doesn't seem to be quite convincing enough for a title challenge. he was very good in qualifying. i suspect manor have the best setup on the grounds that they had a couple of their cars up in the top few. no other scientific methods

[Sev]

I think Kodai Tsukakoshi is worth something of a mention. Although I've never heard of him before, that's a mighty fine performance by him beating Koyabashi who is in a car at least as good. What's more, he's only 20, and finished the highest in his team in JF3.

As for Hulkenburg, I think his inexperience has showed a bit this year. However, his performance in the 2nd half of the year in F3ES was nothing short of outstanding - he outscored everyone else no less, and won the F3 Masters. To me, that says he's ready for GP2, but that's a different conversation topic.

As for today, I find it hard not to see Grosjean winning it, although I want Asmer to on the grounds he needs it far more. Grosjean is sorted next year no matter what happens this weekend; winning Macau could make or break Asmers chances for a good run in '08.

[bella]

i dunno, grosjean has a habit of finding bad luck or mishaps. look at zolder for example. i think if anyone's likely to get taken out or do something random it'll be grosjean. the place to win from could very well be the 2nd or 3rd row, if there's someone a bit... unpredictable at the front. if it's someone like hulkenberg, then you can wave the race goodbye, although i really don't think he's going to pull it out of the bag this weekend.