SUPPLEMENT MON 23.11.2015 F3 Rosenqvist wins GP for 2nd consecutive time Comini crowned F3 TCR International Series Champion Rosenqvist wins GP for 2nd consecutive time ELIX Rosenqvist has become the second man to win the Suncity Group Formula 3 Ma- BARBOSA PAULO Fcau Grand Prix in consecutive years, repeating Edoardo Mor- tara’s feat with a dominant per- formance yesterday. Having started from pole po- sition, Rosenqvist got away to a good start, but front-row star- ter Charles Leclerc managed to drift past him on the run to Lis- boa, pulling off a breathtaking Stefano Comini move around the outside to WISS driver Stefano Comini has Sbeen crowned the first-ever TCR International Series champion after Felix Rosenqvist Charles Leclerc putting on an impressive performan- I’m always ce throughout the weekend in Macau. He had arrived at the Guia circuit disappointed with a mere two-point advantage when I’m not over Pepe Oriola, and with the great RENATO MARQUES RENATO handicap of having never raced on first. But it is this particular track. Comini managed to stay ahead of still a good the Spaniard in both races, achie- ving precious advantage points and result. a growing psychological gain. The CHARLES LECLERC duel between the two was particu- larly fierce in Race 2, ending only grab the lead. when the Craft-Bamboo Lukoil dri- Rosenqvist was back in the ver Oriola retired with a pierced ra- lead at the start of lap two thou- diator, which occurred after he came gh, when Leclerc lost momen- into contact with the back of Comini tum after making a mistake at while braking into the Lisboa bend. the final corner. Leclerc then With Oriola withdrawing, Comini repeated his earlier move to get could finally breathe, and he rou- around Rosenqvist once again nded things out with a superb mai- coming into Lisboa and set den win at Macau. In his sixth win of about trying to build a lead. the season, Comini crossed the line The race was red-flagged at ahead of teammate Andrea Belicchi, that point after a huge crash a 1-2 finish that allowed Target Com- involving Gustavo Mene- petition to claim the Teams’ title as zes, Yu Kanamara, Mitsunori well. Takaboshi and Ryan Tveter The podium was completed with left debris all over the track at Mikhail Grachev of Liqui Moly Team Fishermen’s Bend. Engstler taking third place in Race 2, Leclerc led the way after his second podium finish of the sea- the safety car restart, but the son. Van Amersfoort driver was Another history-marker was Rob swallowed up by both Rosenq- Huff, who took pole position and vist and the third-placed Sam Rosenqvist leads the race won Race 1 – his eighth personal vic- tory on the Guia circuit. Jordi Gené and Comini completed the Race 1 po- dium. Macau’s tradition of early-race crashes was also respected, with both races seeing spectacular first- Mercedes driver Maro Engel grabs inaugural GT World Cup lap crashes triggering red flags. As for Macau racer Rodolfo Ávila, he finished in 12th place in Race 1 ARO Engel was one of the and fifth in Race 2. This form comes Mweekend’s big winners, ri- after he obtained two straight victo- sing to victory in the Macau GT ries in the TCR Asia Series. Hence, Cup – FIA GT World Cup, whi- the teams title went to its Asia Ra- ch took place yesterday. It was cing Team. an eventful race, shortened after Stefano Comini, the winner of Race two laps due to an unusual crash 2 and TCR champion, said: “I have no during the safety car period, words, it’s a very special moment for bringing the race to an early end. me, winning at Macau and clinching But the drama did not finish with the first TCR title... What can I say? the end of the race. Afterwards, Unbelievable… Both races were very the organizers decided to pena- tough. I knew that [coming] second lize Edoardo Mortara, who had in Race 2 was enough for me to claim finished second. He was given a the title, but I really wanted to win at 20-second penalty due to a “jump Macau, and when I saw that Huff was start” at the beginning of the out of the race at the start, I really race, which resulted in him mo- thought I should have a go.” RM Maro Engel ving down to sixth position. II mon 23.11.2015 F3 Rosenqvist wins GP for 2nd consecutive time MARQUES RENATO MacLeod on the run into Lisboa. ginning of the race, I felt confi- That moment gave Rosenqvist dent with the car, so even thou- some breathing space at the gh Charles got ahead of me on front and he was able to edge the first lap, I was sure I could himself clear over the next few get him back.” laps. By the time Leclerc mana- Despite being a rookie on the ged to overtake MacLeod, with challenging Guia Circuit, Char- another brilliant pass around les Leclerc finished second, the outside into Lisboa on lap showing a lot of potential. “I’m seven, Rosenqvist was 2.5 se- always disappointed when I’m conds up the road. not first. But it is still a good re- Leclerc was able to cut Rosen- sult,” said the 18-year-old dri- qvist’s advantage, but it wasn’t ver from Monaco, who was na- quickly enough and the pair med the rookie of the year in the crossed the finish line 1.1 se- 2015 FIA Formula 3 European conds apart. Championship. “We were quite “It feels even better to win it fast at the beginning, but Felix the second time,” said a deli- looked a bit faster and then the ghted Rosenqvist. “In the be- safety entered and I couldn’t do anything,” he said, admitting that the winner, Rosenqvist, was “really fast” during yester- day’s race. MacLeod’s hopes of a podium finish were dashed on lap eight when he brushed the wall at Po- lice, which allowed Alexander Sims to grab a top-three place. “To start on the second row, It feels even better to win it the second time. FELIX ROSENQVIST you probably hope that you will get a chance to win. The race went well today. (…) I’m really happy to get on the podium to- day,” Sims said. Antonio Giovinazzi made a brilliant recovery from his ten- th-place start to finish fourth, with Markus Pommer fifth, ahead of Santino Ferrucci and Alessio Lorandi. SÉRGIO ALMEIDA CORREIA ALMEIDA SÉRGIO Mercedes driver Maro Engel grabs inaugural GT World Cup The person who benefited lifying, and I thought right the- most from all this was Morta- re standing by the wall that my ra’s teammate René Rast, who weekend might be over and I’d saw his position upgraded from blown the opportunity we had. third to second, while Stefan To win this race today is ama- Mücke from the Craft Bam- zing. I just love this place, I love boo Aston Martin moved up to this track,” Engel said. third position on the podium. For his part, René Rast was Mercedes-Benz was awar- pleased with his result in his first ded the manufacturers’ cup. event on a circuit that is known as “It is so, so wonderful, and I’m so, one of the world’s most challen- so proud,” said Engel, commen- ging tracks. ting on the fact that this victory “I felt more comfortable from is his second win in a row on the session to session. I think we had Guia street circuit and the inau- a good pace today. It’s not easy as gural FIA GT World Cup Drivers’ a rookie, so I’m pretty happy to title. be here on the podium with these “I made a big mistake in qua- experienced guys,” Rast said. RM III mon 23.11.2015 MOTORCYCLE GP Hickman’s surprising first-time win Renato Marques ETER Hickman was the overall winner of the 49th P MARQUES RENATO edition of the Macau Motorcy- cle Grand Prix, which took pla- ce on Saturday afternoon at the Guia Circuit. The British rider had already performed well during the qua- lifying sessions on both Thur- sday and Friday. He started to take control on lap nine after starting from third position on the grid, making his way up the ranks with a steady and power- ful performance. Hickman made his move to pass Martin Jessopp, the lea- der at the time, while braking for the Lisboa Bend. From that moment onwards, Jessopp was unable to keep up with the new leader’s pace, although he wou- ld persist in attempting to over- Peter Hickman Eight time winner Michael Rutter take Hickman until the cheque- red flag. cond place. long, but my British Super- he provided some great final outside of the tarmac at Dona Hickman’s first-time win on Third place went to Michael bike championships have been thrills. After time away from Maria in a move that comple- the Guia Circuit sets two new Rutter, the historic record hol- pretty strong the last couple of the spotlight in Macau since ted his weekend of exceptional records: being the first rider to der for number of wins in Ma- years. It’s fantastic to be able to his last win back in 2002, he racing and won him the fourth win on only his second run and cau.