59th Macau Grand Prix - FIA F3 Intercontinental Cup

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Could be interesting to see how Harvey, Sims and maybe even Blomqvist go from midfield?

Put van Asseldonk and Buller on the list, too. Last year they already had a great climb from nowhere to 5th and 6th respectively.

[strider]

It's raining in Macau this morning, which could cause havoc with the schedule. The bikers have no wet tyres. Don't ask me why.

[bella]

i think that's their hat tip to sanity. throwing themselves around that circuit in the dry is madness, but a risk worth taking. doing it on wet tyres? well it's an almost guranteed disaster isn't it...

was the rain forecast?

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Dry qualification race. Felix Da Costa took the lead on the run to Lisboa at lap 1, and led to the flag. Rosenqvist finished 2nd, in front of Lynn.

[littleman]

Really disappointed with the performance of the works TOM's Toyota cars.They have always been right at the front until this year - anyone know what's gone wrong?

Also, why are the lap times a good one or two seconds slower than previous years?

[strider]

Originally Posted by bella

i think that's their hat tip to sanity. throwing themselves around that circuit in the dry is madness, but a risk worth taking. doing it on wet tyres? well it's an almost guranteed disaster isn't it...

was the rain forecast?

The rain was forecast for Friday, but didn't arrive until today. It was heavy during the night but only spitting during the day. The bikes got as far as forming up on the grid, but then it rained a bit more and they've delayed it until tomorrow. There's a really ace guy from the IOM doing Twitter coverage for them, complete with pics.

[strider]

Felix da Costa won the qualifying race in Macau in fine style, leading virtually from start to finish. Here's Marcus Simmons' report: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104308

The full results are in the..pdf file: http://www.mstworld.com/Results/2012/12012fm3.pdf

It was cloudy but dry for the race so I don't know why the times are down on last year.

Da Costa really has made a name for himself in the closing part of the season and tomorrow could be the icing on the cake.

Carlin enjoyed the moment, of course, and this is what they had to say: http://www.carlin.co.uk/news/DaCosta...aceinMacau.htm

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Juncadella failed a fuel sample test, but with Prema appealing the decision, he is racing like normal: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104309

I guess this means that we won't know the final result by the end of the week-end.

Even if he is starting only 5th, I think he has a chance to finish 1st on the road tomorrow. He was fast earlier today, setting fastest lap(probably with a tow). And of course, he already won last year from 6th.

Originally Posted by littleman

Also, why are the lap times a good one or two seconds slower than previous years?

This is the first time here with the F312 chassis, might be why? You never get a lot of track time in practice here, with red flags and everything.

[CATMAN]

Great Qualification race result for Carlin and Felix Da Costa.
Keeping out of the dives, massage parlours and seedy side of Macau and no team bed hopping always helps for Macau result
Hopefully the Carlin boys will have some fun on Sunday night Carlin seem to have nailed another top package together.

[jondownunder]

Live stream... formation lap underway:

http://www.justin.tv/hkgoldenden#/w/4199086624/8

[p-matt]

Missed the start - what happened?

[strider]

First report: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104355

[bella]

well, he was driving pretty much the most auspicious racing car ever invented, so it's not a surprise he won

seriously though. first red bull driver to put it on the top step at macau?

[CATMAN]

It was a great result for Felix and Carlin who are long overdue a Macau win. A very mature drive from Felix da Costa.

[smithhehehaha]

Originally Posted by CATMAN

It was a great result for Felix and Carlin who are long overdue a Macau win. A very mature drive from Felix da Costa.

Da Costa really controlled the race from the start, although he have a slower start
And here's come a future star in Macau

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Well done to Da Costa. The start and the re-start were two critical moments for him, but he dealt with them with a lot of maturity, cold blood and confidence, and kept the lead.

Also, well done to all drivers, this was a fairly clean race for Macau standards.

[strider]

Originally Posted by bella

seriously though. first red bull driver to put it on the top step at macau?

Yes. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104398

More important even than the FR3.5 wins, which I thought were impressive.

[bella]

impressive yes, but macau is a motorsport knighthood. you get a better title than "sir" - "macau gp winner"

it's a bit of a fairy story all this, isn't it? on the one hand it's difficult to *not* support robin frijns for saying that he wouldn't touch the red bull driver scheme with a barge pole (or words to that effect). on the other hand, in exactly the right place and time and if you motivate yourself correctly, this is what it can do for you.

[Peat]

http://youtu.be/LNEgTvqZcUo

Small highlights package.

[ivanalesi]

Originally Posted by bella

it's a bit of a fairy story all this, isn't it? on the one hand it's difficult to *not* support robin frijns for saying that he wouldn't touch the red bull driver scheme with a barge pole (or words to that effect). on the other hand, in exactly the right place and time and if you motivate yourself correctly, this is what it can do for you.

Besides the funding, I think there's little else that Red Bull have improved in AFC. He was a strong driver in GP3, his career was a bit in trouble because of the uber competitive field of GP3 in 2011.

[Mekola]

Félix Da Costa got another award to his fruitful racing career. Clearly he was the man to watch in lower series this year.

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Although he was somewhat overshadowed by his fellow Macau first-timer Alex Lynn, great job from Pascal Wehrlein, stalking the leading trio all race long, and ending up with a solid 4th place.

Well done to Pipo Derani for his cilmb from 13th to 6th too, that was unexpected.

It's a shame that we mysteriously lost Hannes van Asseldonk early on, he could have been a strong top 10 contender IMO. Same for Kevin Korjus, if only he didn't have to start from the pitlane in the qualifying race.

Also, whatever happened to Alexander Sims and Jazeman Jafaar? It seems that they flew off the radar all week-end long. Same story for Jack Harvey, although he had the excuse of being a Macau rookie.

[chunterer]

AFDC is reminding me a bit of Parente though, I don't mean nationality but in that his talent has really come to the fore in one big burst in F3 and FR3.5. I hope RB continue to look after him so he doesn't fall by the wayside in single seaters like Alvaro has.

[bella]

iirc parente lacked the dough that afdc has now, so i don't think that'll be an issue.

did van asseldonk not throw it in the wall?

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Originally Posted by bella

did van asseldonk not throw it in the wall?

It looks like it: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104355

It was a bad day for Prema as Hannes van Asseldonk, sixth on lap one, went out on the second lap.

6th on lap one already... It seems that this guy really likes Macau.