F3 WORLD CUP to the WIRE with STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP RENATO MARQUES Possibly Can to Face the Macau Challenge
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SUPPLEMENT TUE 12.11.2019 F3 WORLD CUP TO THE WIRE WITH STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP RENATO MARQUES possibly can to face the Macau challenge. RADITION is still In addition to best drivers of alive in Macau as the the F3 Championship season, historically most antici- which were naturally expected F3 World Cup to the wire with star-studded line-up Tpated race of the whole to be featured in the race, a lar- event continues to be the most ge group of other drivers com- eye-catching for motorsports prised of former winners and fans worldwide, as well as team fresh blood trying to show their owners and managers. mettle in one of the hardest Known as the “final test” be- circuits in the world of motor fore young racers attempt a seat racing also flocked to Macau. MARQUES/MGPOC RENATO at the top category of automo- The major surprise of the bile racing, The Formula One, entry list goes for the reigning the Macau Grand Prix might champion Daniel Ticktum. have dropped a step or two but After two consecutive wins in continues to keep the spirit ali- Macau, the British driver had ve in attracting the best young a very difficult year starting drivers that now pair with alrea- at Japanese Super Formu- dy renowned drivers to make la where he completed only the FIA F3 World Cup a thrilling three rounds and scored only event. one point, ending up on the This year, the event is expec- Formula Regional European ted to be seriously boosted by Championship (former F3 Eu- the horsepower of the new F3 ropean Championship) where Championship car, as the series he finished in ninth position, adopted new from this season scoring 64 points in just two of specifications with faster and the championship rounds, in higher performing single-sea- Montmeló (Spain) and Mugello ters. (Italy). This year in addition to the In a year that even cost Ti- common chassis, teams and cktum his title of Red Bull’s drivers will be all running on a leading junior driver and the Robert Shwartzman single-make engine that sees brand’s sponsorship, Ticktum both the capacity and power was granted the chance to over- grow by around 90% from the come his issues and potentially old (Volkswagen/Mercedes- make history in Macau by at- -Benz/TODA/Tomei) inline-four tempting to be the first driver to 2.0 liters naturally aspirated, to win three successive Macau GPs the new Mecachrome 6 cylinder and with it, put his career back 3.4 liters naturally aspirated. on the right track. Ticktum lines up for the Ma- TOP RACERS FROM cau F3 race this year with Carlin GRADUATES TO DEBUTANTS Buzz Racing, another histori- As a car is nothing without a cally successful team in Macau driver, teams have been trying as this year they have also been to find the best drivers they away from the spotlight, scoring Callum Ilott Jury Vips RENATO MARQUES O be able to host Tthe new FIA F3 Guia Circuit upgrades to Grade 2, what changed? World Cup cars this MARQUES RENATO year and in order to In total, six points also performed in this few years ago, on the It will not replace the as well as high-speed increase general safety around the circuit un- area concerning the Fishermen’s Bend. work of marshals, who sections of road and for the racers, the Guia derwent changes for fence, which has been On R Bend, besides will continue to be street tracks. Circuit has undergone this edition. reinforced, and the the inclusion of Tecpro present, aiming ins- By using a mix of some changes. Besides the first two photography bunker Barriers, the barrier tead to provide racers tube metal sections Although small mentioned, change on the outside of the was also extended 15 with added informa- stacked together, and and imperceptible for were also made at T3 bend, which has been meters in the direction tion on any situation a middle section of most people, the new (Lisboa Bend), T4 (São removed. These chan- of the finish line. A that arises on the tra- high-density foam measures have forced Francisco Bend), T15 ges come after the similar solution was ck, especially in areas between the metal some changes in seve- (Police Bend) and T23 accident occurred last also employed at the where there are fewer part of the barrier ral areas of the track. (R Bend). year with German dri- Police Bend, where the marshal posts and and the concrete wall, The most substan- The most significant ver Sophia Floersch. barrier is also longer ‘blind bends’ that do soft walls absorb and tive change is the ins- ones are precisely at On T4 and T23, into Moorish Hill. not allow racers to an- reduce kinetic energy tallation of “soft wall” the most famous of all changes are more Besides the safety ticipate any potential during a high-speed safety barriers for the Guia Circuit bends - related to the new solutions concerning dangers ahead. crash, lessening the first time in Macau. the Lisboa Bend - with inclusion of Tecpro the track barriers and injuries sustained by Steel and Foam the enlargement of the Barriers, which repla- buffer zones, another SAFER BARRIERS drivers and spectators. Energy Reduction buffer zone in order to ce the previously used of the systems that EXPLAINED This technology was (SAFER) Barriers were match this area per- tire walls. will be on trial this SAFER barriers, ge- initially designed by installed on Turns 1 fectly with the track’s The new material year is the inclusion of nerically named “soft a team of engineers and 2 (Reservoir and width so racers do not provides added energy electronic flags at 10 walls,” were developed led by Dean Sicking Mandarin Bend), the need to make a detour absorption, reducing different points on the in the late 1990s and at the Midwest Road- two fastest bends of to enter the buffer the force of the impact circuit. early 2000s and are side Safety Facility at Guia Street Circuit, to zone, as well as avoi- and reducing damage This electronic flag found on many ra- the University of Ne- increase safety for all ding unnecessary con- to vehicles during a system is already en- cing circuits, namely braska-Lincoln, and vehicles on the track, tact with the barriers crash. forced in several other the oval automobile was first installed on but particularly for the in this area. Macau had already circuits and motors- racetracks (US Indy the Indianapolis Mo- Formula 3 (F3) cars. Other changes were started using these a ports competitions. and NASCAR Series) tor Speedway in 2002. II tue 12.11.2019 nished tenth, aims to return this he proved last year with Hitech year to the level of 2017 when GP that he can be very competi- only a collision on the very last tive in Macau. turn with Brazilian Sérgio Sette Hughes finished one step F3 World Cup to the wire with star-studded line-up Câmara stole the chance of a away from the podium last year only 14 points in the cham- podium or even a final win in but left a great impression and pionship and finishing ninth Macau. the feeling that with one more out of 10 teams. But let us not forget this year of experience, he could im- Following the return of Tick- year’s best drivers in the FIA prove even more. tum is another experienced dri- Formula 3 Championship, in- Last but not least, we could ver on the Guia Circuit, Callum cluding the Champion Robert not leave the Estonian Jüri Vips Ilott. Despite having moved up Shwartzman. out of the ‘favorites’ group. Vips to the FIA Formula 2 Cham- The Russian clinched the this year scored three victories pionship this year with Sauber championship this year with an during the regular F3 season, Junior Team by Charouz, Ilott impressive 212 points, finishing ending up fourth in the overall is stepping back into an F3 car, ahead of his teammates at Pre- standing. determined to achieve a very ma, Marcus Armstrong, and He comes to Macau this year wanted win in the Macau Grand Jehan Daruvala. with Hitech GP, a team with Prix that on several occasions The trio initially planned to whom he raced all season and he only missed by a fraction. continue the teamwork with that has extensive experience in The Ferrari Driver Academy SJM Prema Theodore Racing Macau. member takes the opportunity for Macau, but the Indian dri- This lineup contributes to of a two-month break from the ver was replaced by the Danish the uncertainty over the winner F2 Championship before the Frederik Vesti who also moved at this stage but at the same final race at Yas Marina Circuit up from F3 Regional. Vesti’s pro- time, it gives the impression at the United Arab Emirates at motion is well-deserved after he that the competition will be the end of the month. won the series in his rookie year. fierce over the weekend. Ilott secured a pole start Another name to take into A clearer glimpse of what back in 2017 as well as podium account is British Jake Hughes. each driver can do, will be only finishes in the qualification race Although his season had ups achieved when the F3 cars get on three occasions (2016, 2017, and downs and he finished only on track on Thursday, Novem- 2018) including a win on a race seventh overall, he already has ber 14, for the first run at the in 2017.