Macau Grand Prix race weekend thread

strider · 13 Nov 2006, 13:17 (Ref:1764967)

I suppose we may as well get this under way as the meeting starts on Thursday. The latest entry list is here, for those who haven't been following that thread. There has been a certain amount of musical chairs going on, but I think the list is up-to-date.

The programme is here.

So who do we think is going to win? I'm going to take a punt on Vettel, even though his end of season EuroseriesF3 form wasn't great. Carlin always produce a good car for Macau and the Mugen-Honda engine should be no handicap.

Conway should be the best of the Brits after his performance last year, although Oli Jarvis may have been given a boost by his showing in Beijing yesterday.

MrTTraces · 13 Nov 2006, 13:32 (Ref:1764977)

Carlin will be the favourites I would assume with Vettel and Jarvis, but i think there is a strong entry list, a number of the drivers have a chance. It'll be interesting.

climb · 14 Nov 2006, 07:55 (Ref:1765563)

One of the most well balanced grids seen in the last few years. No super-favourite, many many legitimate contenders.
Only a handful of expected backmarkers.

Redracer77 · 14 Nov 2006, 10:59 (Ref:1765769)

is the race live on TV or the internet?

**bella** · 14 Nov 2006, 11:21 (Ref:1765796)

this thread has the discussion about the tv coverage...

strider · 15 Nov 2006, 16:42 (Ref:1766981)

It's beginning to look as though this year's event could be even more of a lottery than usual. The weather conditions are changeable and there has been some rain, which is most unusual.

The forecast is that it could be wet tomorrow morning, drying up for the afternoon. The first sessions on the track are always the most difficult, because the surface is incredibly green or dirty. Everyday traffic continues to run around the track right up to the last minute and it's definitely not the most evironmentally friendly traffic you've ever seen...

strider · 16 Nov 2006, 02:49 (Ref:1767309)

For any night owls there may be out there, live timing is available here now. It's cloudy, but not raining and the early times suggest the track is dry.

This meeting is being timed by MST Systems, not MST Sports Timing. You need to go here for the home page.

Oh, and this is the current time in Macao, as they prefer to call it.

strider · 16 Nov 2006, 03:18 (Ref:1767319)

Free Practice Session 1 times:

Code:

S  NO  CL  DRIVER  NAT  CAR  TIME  LAPS  GAP  KPH  
1  1   Kohei HIRATE  JPN  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:14.887  12   163.33  
2  22   Robert STREIT  BRA  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:15.432  13  0.545  162.67  
3  2   Kazuki NAKAJIMA  JPN  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:15.435  12  0.548  162.67  
4  26   Mike CONWAY  GBR  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:15.457  13  0.570  162.64  
5  7   Adrian SUTIL  GER  Dallara Toyota-TOM'S  2:15.724  12  0.837  162.32  
6  4   Richard ANTINUCCI  USA  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:15.991  13  1.104  162.01  
7  17   Charlie KIMBALL  USA  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:16.194  11  1.307  161.76  
8  9   Sebastian VETTEL  GER  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:16.243  6  1.356  161.71  
9  18   Marko ASMER  EST  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:16.409  12  1.522  161.51  
10  6   Kamui KOBAYASHI  JPN  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:16.558  13  1.671  161.33  
11  16   Romain GROSJEAN  FRA  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:16.971  9  2.084  160.85  
12  21   Kodai TSUKAKOSHI  JPN  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:17.170  13  2.283  160.61  
13  5   Paul DI RESTA  GBR  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:17.270  13  2.383  160.50  
14  10   Oliver JARVIS  GBR  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:17.300  12  2.413  160.46  
15  11   Sebastien BUEMI  SUI  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:17.349  12  2.462  160.40  
16  12   Maro ENGEL  GER  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:17.844  12  2.957  159.83  
17  14   Fabio CARBONE  BRA  Dallara Nissan  2:17.855  8  2.968  159.82  
18  8   Kazuya OSHIMA  JPN  Dallara Toyota-TOM'S  2:18.555  7  3.668  159.01  
19  23   Rodolfo AVILA  MAC  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:19.639  11  4.752  157.77  
20  32   Daisuke IKEDA  JPN  Dallara Toyota-TOM'S  2:19.757  5  4.870  157.64  
21  24   Jonathan KENNARD  GBR  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:20.195  12  5.308  157.15  
22  27   Stephen JELLEY  GBR  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:20.392  6  5.505  156.93  
23  3   James JAKES  GBR  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:20.965  7  6.078  156.29  
24  15   Yelmer BUURMAN  NED  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:21.204  12  6.317  156.03  
25  20   Maximo CORTES  ESP  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:21.658  12  6.771  155.53  
26  28   Michael HO  MAC  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:21.848  12  6.961  155.32  
27  29   Mauro MASSIRONI  ITA  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:22.348  12  7.461  154.77  
28  19   Roldan RODRIGUEZ  ESP  Dallara Mercedes-HWA  2:24.157  12  9.270  152.83  
29  25   CHEONG Lou Meng  MAC  Dallara Honda-Mugen NB  2:24.985  8  10.098  151.96  
30  31   LEI Kit Meng  MAC  Dallara Opel-Spiess  2:26.747  12  11.860  150.13  
31  33   James WINSLOW  GBR  Dallara Toyota-TOM'S  2:28.304  10  13.417  148.56  
32  30   Jo MERSZEI  MAC  Dallara Toyota-Tom's  2:30.360  8  15.473  146.52

Asa · 16 Nov 2006, 06:58 (Ref:1767386)

I hope the 107% qualifying rule is strictly applied in this race. Some of those local drivers at the back are real time wasters.

flor · 16 Nov 2006, 07:46 (Ref:1767406)

does not look too good for drivers without mercedes engine

Asa · 16 Nov 2006, 08:28 (Ref:1767423)

Thursday qualifying times:

Pos Driver Make Time
1. Marko Asmer Dallara Mercedes-HWA 2:13.965
2. Kohei Hirate Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 0.291
3. Romain Grosjean Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 0.439
4. Kamui Kobayashi Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 0.535
5. Fabio Carbone Dallara Nissan + 0.780
6. Mike Conway Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 0.790
7. Richard Antinucci Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 1.277
8. Robert Streit Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 1.484
9. Charlie Kimball Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 1.514
10. Paul Di Resta Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 1.628
11. Kodai Tsukakoshi Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 1.992
12. Maro Engel Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 2.137
13. Sebastien Buemi Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 2.315
14. Kazuki Nakajima Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 2.337
15. Kazuya Oshima Dallara Toyota-TOM'S + 2.610
16. Sebastian Vettel Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 2.655
17. Adrian Sutil Dallara Toyota-TOM'S + 3.013
18. Oliver Jarvis Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 3.156
19. James Jakes Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 3.279
20. Stephen Jelley Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 3.355
21. Daisuke Ikeda Dallara Toyota-TOM'S + 3.568
22. Yelmer Buurman Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 4.128
23. Jonathan Kennard Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 4.246
24. Mauro Massironi Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 4.689
25. Roldan Rodriguez Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 5.183
26. Michael Ho Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 6.149
27. Maximo Cortes Dallara Mercedes-HWA + 6.478
28. Rodolfo Avila Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 6.519
29. James Winslow Dallara Toyota-TOM'S + 6.734
107% = 2:23.343
30. Cheong Lou Meng Dallara Honda-Mugen NB + 10.153
31. Lei Kit Meng Dallara Opel-Spiess + 10.697
32. Jo Merszei Dallara Toyota-Tom's + 13.743

Sev · 16 Nov 2006, 13:12 (Ref:1767704)

Wow, who is Marko Asmer? Not a name I recognize particularly.

One thing I find surprising is how far down Vettel/Di Resta are. I'd have put them as my favourites. Does make me wonder if Vettel deserves his "wonderboy" status...

**bella** · 16 Nov 2006, 13:20 (Ref:1767712)

stealing someone elses viewpoint here, i think vettel has done a very good job in the past few weeks chopping and changing between cars. f1, f3 and the wsr are all very different types of cars, and it's definitely not as easy as it sounds.

i hate to say that because i'm still personally very cynical about him too, but what ho, praise where praise is due.

asmer did a couple of years of british f3, then something else this year.

Bezzen · 16 Nov 2006, 13:27 (Ref:1767719)

Asmer came 7th in the Japanese F3 series this year.

strider · 16 Nov 2006, 13:36 (Ref:1767731)

Marko Asmer raced in British F3 in '04 and '05 for Hitech Racing, the team he's driving for this weekend. He was always a contender, but never managed a race win, although he finished 4th overall in the points in '05.

As Bezzen says, this season he has been racing in the All Japan F3 Series, driving a Nissan-engined car as team-mate to Fabio Carbone. He won the last race. He comes from Estonia and is still only 22.

Sev · 16 Nov 2006, 16:50 (Ref:1767901)

Still, it sounds like he excelled himself in this session. Topping Macau (albeit in the first qualifying session, which itself was very broken by red flags) is a great achievement.

Hirate looks to be more and more like a great signing for Trident. Top non-ASM runner last year. Doing very well in the GP2 tests, and doing great at Macau.

strider · 16 Nov 2006, 18:15 (Ref:1767957)

There's a very full report about today's activities here on pitstop.com.

It explains in some detail the problems that Vettel and Sutil had. So far as di Resta is concerned, you have to remember that this is his first trip to Macau.

Normally, everything would change tonight/tomorrow, but people are still worried about the weather, so who knows?

strider · 17 Nov 2006, 09:07 (Ref:1768346)

Mike Conway was quickest in the second free practice session as Marko Asmer crashed out. Report here.

However, all that was about to change in a rain-affected and chaotic final qualifying session. Report here.

The final combined times are not yet available and the MST site has not been responding for some time. More news when possible.

strider · 17 Nov 2006, 09:14 (Ref:1768359)

Here are the second session qualifying session times, but this is not the final combined version.

Code:

1. Kamui Kobayashi  ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.449secs
2. Kohei Hirate Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.566secs
3. Romain Grosjean Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.930secs
4. Richard Antinucci ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.105secs
5. Paul di Resta ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.175secs
6. Roberto Streit Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.217secs
7. Kazuki Nakajima Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.231secs
8. Charlie Kimball Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.379secs
9. Sebastian Vettel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.390secs
10. Kodai Tsukakoshi Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.553secs
11. Mike Conway Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.578secs
12. Fabio Carbone Three Bond Dallara-Nissan 2min 14.853secs
13. Maro Engel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.857secs
14. Marko Asmer Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 15.108secs
15. Adrian Sutil TOMâ€™s Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.159secs
16. Stephen Jelley Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 15.490secs
17. Sebastien Buemi Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 15.614secs
18. Daisuke Ikeda EMS Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.786secs
19. James Jakes Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 16.010secs
20. Jonathan Kennard Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.644secs
21. Oliver Jarvis Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.945secs
22. Yelmer Buurman Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.091secs
23. Maximo Cortes Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.191secs
24. Roldan Rodriguez Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.286secs
25. Mauro Massironi Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 18.494secs
26. James Winslow ZAP Speed Dallara-Toyota 2min 18.957secs
27. Rodolfo Avila Performance Dallara-Mugen 2min 19.016secs
28. Michael Ho Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 20.590secs
29. Lou Meng Cheong Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 25.917secs
30. Jo Merszei Swiss Dallara-Toyota 2min 26.326secs
Kazuya Oshima TOM's Dallara-Toyota no time
Lei Kit Meng Swiss Dallara-Opel no time

strider · 17 Nov 2006, 09:44 (Ref:1768389)

Provisional combined qualifying times. Antinucci, for one, is due to take a penalty for a yellow flag infringement.

Code:

1. Kamui Kobayashi  ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.449secs
2. Kohei Hirate Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.566secs
3. Romain Grosjean Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.930secs
4. Marko Asmer Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.965secs*
5. Richard Antinucci ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.105secs
6. Paul di Resta ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.175secs
7. Roberto Streit Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.217secs
8. Kazuki Nakajima Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.231secs
9. Charlie Kimball Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.379secs
10. Sebastian Vettel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.390secs
11. Kodai Tsukakoshi Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.553secs
12. Mike Conway Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.578secs
13. Fabio Carbone Three Bond Dallara-Nissan 2min 14.745secs*
14. Maro Engel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.857secs
15. Adrian Sutil TOM's Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.159secs
16. Stephen Jelley Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 15.490secs
17. Sebastien Buemi Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 15.614secs
18. Daisuke Ikeda EMS Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.786secs
19. James Jakes Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 16.010secs
20. Kazuya Oshima TOM's Dallara-Toyota 2min 16.575secs*
21. Jonathan Kennard Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.644secs
22. Oliver Jarvis Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.945secs
23. Yelmer Buurman Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.091secs
24. Maximo Cortes Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.191secs
25. Roldan Rodriguez Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.286secs
26. Mauro Massironi Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 18.494secs
27. James Winslow ZAP Speed Dallara-Toyota 2min 18.957secs
28. Rodolfo Avila Performance Dallara-Mugen 2min 19.016secs
29. Michael Ho Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 20.114secs*
30. Lou Meng Cheong Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 24.118secs*
31. Lei Kit Meng Swiss Dallara-Opel 2min 24.662secs*
32. Jo Merszei Swiss Dallara-Toyota 2min 26.326secs

* indicates time set in first qualifying session

strider · 17 Nov 2006, 12:28 (Ref:1768532)

This is the final version of the combined times. Antinucci was the only one of the leading runners to be demoted.

Code:

1. Kamui Kobayashi ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.449secs
2. Kohei Hirate Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.566secs
3. Romain Grosjean Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.930secs
4. Marko Asmer Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 13.965secs*
5. Paul di Resta ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.175secs
6. Roberto Streit Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.217secs
7. Kazuki Nakajima Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.231secs
8. Charlie Kimball Signature-Plus Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.379secs
9. Sebastian Vettel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.390secs
10. Kodai Tsukakoshi Prema Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.553secs
11. Mike Conway Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 14.578secs
12. Fabio Carbone Three Bond Dallara-Nissan 2min 14.745secs*
13. Maro Engel Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 14.857secs
14. Adrian Sutil TOM's Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.159secs
15. Richard Antinucci ASM Dallara-Mercedes 2min 15.252secs*#
16. Stephen Jelley Double R Dallara-Mercedes 2min 15.490secs
17. Sebastien Buemi Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 15.614secs
18. Daisuke Ikeda EMS Dallara-Toyota 2min 15.786secs
19. James Jakes Manor Dallara-Mercedes 2min 16.010secs
20. Kazuya Oshima TOM's Dallara-Toyota 2min 16.575secs*
21. Jonathan Kennard Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.644secs
22. Oliver Jarvis Carlin Dallara-Mugen 2min 16.945secs
23. Yelmer Buurman Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.091secs
24. Maximo Cortes Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.191secs
25. Roldan Rodriguez Hitech Dallara-Mercedes 2min 17.286secs
26. Mauro Massironi Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 18.494secs
27. James Winslow ZAP Speed Dallara-Toyota 2min 18.957secs
28. Rodolfo Avila Performance Dallara-Mugen 2min 19.016secs
29. Michael Ho Ombra Dallara-Mugen 2min 20.114secs*
30. Lou Meng Cheong Alan Docking Dallara-Mugen 2min 24.118secs*
31. Lei Kit Meng Swiss Dallara-Opel 2min 24.662secs*
32. Jo Merszei Swiss Dallara-Toyota 2min 26.326secs

This being F3, not F1, the qualifying cut-off was 110% and they all managed that, just. It's probably unkind to mention it, but the final five drivers were the Macanese...

Lam Pak · 17 Nov 2006, 12:44 (Ref:1768548)

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider

This being F3, not F1, the qualifying cut-off was 110% and they all managed that, just. It's probably unkind to mention it, but the final five drivers were the Macanese...

I dont know what you wanted to say but Rodolfo Avila had 2 engine failures during qualifyings - 1 yesterday + 1 today. He was 19th and 24th in Free Practices. Michael Ho wasn't always the last too.

strider · 17 Nov 2006, 14:40 (Ref:1768637)

I didn't mean to be particularly unkind, Lim Pak, and welcome to the forum.

I suppose what I was thinking is that this is the biggest Formula 3 race in the world and none of the drivers from Macau have been racing at the top level, apart from Avila, perhaps, so they are bound to find it difficult.

How do they feel about it? Are they a bit embarrassed to be right at the back or just happy to be taking part and having a fight amongst themselves to be the first Macanese finisher?

Lightning Bug · 17 Nov 2006, 15:29 (Ref:1768654)

Can anyone tell me whether this is Kobayashi's first time in Macau? If so that is one hell of a performance!

Lam Pak · 17 Nov 2006, 16:11 (Ref:1768675)

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider

I didn't mean to be particularly unkind, Lim Pak, and welcome to the forum.

I suppose what I was thinking is that this is the biggest Formula 3 race in the world and none of the drivers from Macau have been racing at the top level, apart from Avila, perhaps, so they are bound to find it difficult.

How do they feel about it? Are they a bit embarrassed to be right at the back or just happy to be taking part and having a fight amongst themselves to be the first Macanese finisher?

Thanks.I dont like too much of motorsports but I feel Macau GP is great. The first Macanese finisher receives some cash and nation's bless. All the 5 are looking to be the best among them. Avila is stronger and could go further but he doesnt take too many risks. He is young too. Michael Ho was a great driver but he is getting old. Lou Meng Cheong and Lei Kit raced in England.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug

Can anyone tell me whether this is Kobayashi's first time in Macau? If so that is one hell of a performance!

He is a veteran of Macau GP. He did Formula Renault years before.

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