Strong line-up in Macau Grand Prix

Published on 12 November 2014 by Niels Hendrix

The entry for the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix is brimming with exciting talent. Newly-crowned FIA Formula 3 European Champion, Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who made his F3 debut in Macau last year and has recently tested F1 cars for the first time, returns as part of a three-car entry from SJM Theodore Racing by Prema, winners at Macau in 2013 with Alex Lynn. Joining him are Canadian Nicholas Latifi and Ferrari F1 team protégé Antonio Fuoco of Italy.

So powerful is the draw of the Guia Circuit challenge that Max Verstappen, who in his first year of car racing and aged just 17 has already been signed for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team for next year, will make his debut at Macau this month. Joining him will be his season-long Van Amersfoort Racing team mate, American Gustavo Menezes.

TOM’S, which has won more times at Macau than any other team, this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. Kenta Yamashita, runner-up in the Japanese F3 championship in his rookie season, is joined by Briton Sam MacLeod, 4th in both the British and German F3 series this year.

Another Japanese F3 title contender is Nissan protégé Mitsunori Takaboshi, making his debut on the Guia Circuit with B-Max Racing Team, while Toda Racing from Japan has entered Briton Dan Wells, third in the Formula Masters China Series this season.

Martin Cao Hongwei made history this year by becoming the first Chinese driver to win the British F3 crown and is entered for Macau by Fortec Motorsport alongside the youngest driver in the field, 16-year-old American Santino Ferrucci.

German F3 champion Markus Pommer returns to Macau with Motopark, while the successful Carlin team enters Tom Blomqvist, Antonio Giovinazzi, Sean Gelael and Jordan King, who set the fastest lap in 2013.

Germany’s Mücke Motorsport is fielding 2012 runner-up Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden, Austrian Lucas Auer, and Colombian Tatiana Calderón, a Macau newcomer and the first lady driver to contest the Grand Prix since Cathay Muller – elder sister of FIA WTCC champion Yvan – in 1983.

Team West-Tec makes its first visit this year, and along with them Macau’s own Andy Chang Wing Chung. Seventeen-year-old Chang made his Formula 3 debut this season, finishing an impressive 6th overall in the British series despite not contesting a full season. Joining him will be team mate Félix Serrallés of Puerto Rico.

Another driver on the brink of F1 stardom is Roberto Merhi. Merhi last competed at Macau in 2011, and this year is a front-runner in Formula Renault 3.5 as well as several practice outings with the Caterham F1 team.

No Driver              Nat Team                            Chassis/Engine
 1 Esteban OCON        FRA SJM Theodore Racing by Prema    Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
 2 Antonio FUOCO       ITA SJM Theodore Racing by Prema    Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
 3 Nicholas LATIFI     CAN SJM Theodore Racing by Prema    Dallara F314 Mercedes-HWA
 5 Max VERSTAPPEN      NLD Van Amersfoort Racing           Dallara F314 Volkswagen-Spiess
 6 Gustavo MENEZES     USA Van Amersfoort Racing           Dallara F312 Volkswagen-Spiess
 7 Kenta YAMASHITA     JPN Tom’s                           Dallara F312 Toyota-Tom’s
 8 Sam MACLEOD         GBR Tom’s                           Dallara F312 Toyota-Tom’s
 9 CAO Hongwei, Martin CHN Fortec Motorsports              Dallara F313 Mercedes-HWA
10 Santino FERRUCCI    USA Fortec Motorsports              Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
11 Alex PALOU          ESP Fortec Motorsports              Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
12 Mitsunori TAKABOSHI JPN B-Max Racing Team               Dallara F312 Toyota-Tom’s
14 Tom BLOMQVIST       GBR Jagonya Ayam with Carlin        Dallara F312 Volkswagen-Spiess
15 Antonio GIOVINAZZI  ITA Jagonya Ayam with Carlin        Dallara F314 Volkswagen-Spiess
16 Sean GELAEL         IDN Jagonya Ayam with Carlin        Dallara F312 Volkswagen-Spiess
17 Jordan KING         GBR GR Asia with Carlin             Dallara F312 Volkswagen-Spiess
18 Yu KANAMARU         JPN Carlin                          Dallara F312 Volkswagen-Spiess
19 Lucas AUER          AUT KFZ-Teile 24 Mücke Motorsport   Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
20 Felix ROSENQVIST    SWE Kashbet.com by Mücke Motorsport Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
21 Tatiana CALDERÓN    COL JZR/ Mücke Motorsport           Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
22 Markus POMMER       DEU Motopark                        Dallara F314 Volkswagen-Spiess
23 Félix SERRALLÉS     PRI Team West-Tec F3                Dallara F314 Mercedes-HWA
25 CHANG Wing Chung    MAC Team West-Tec F3                Dallara F312 Mercedes-HWA
26 Richard GODDARD     AUS Three Bond with T-Sport         Dallara F312 NBE
27 Nick CASSIDY        NZL Three Bond with T-Sport         Dallara F314 NBE
28 Roberto MERHI       ESP W66.com Double R Racing         Dallara F313 Mercedes-HWA
29 Stefano COLETTI     MCO EuroInternational               Dallara F313 Mercedes-HWA
30 Dan WELLS           GBR Toda Racing                     Dallara F312 Toda-TRF
31 Will BULLER         GBR Signature                       Dallara F314 Volkswagen-Spiess