- Good day for Hong Kong drivers as Adderly Fong gets into touring car top ten ahead of Sunday’s race plus a one-two finish
- French veteran and Italian Mercedes driver follow Estonian in winning their races from start to finish
Juri Vips was the main man in the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix qualifying race at the Guia circuit on Saturday morning.
The race was marred by a pile-up on the first of its 10 laps but that did not affect Vips, who had made a perfect start. "It's never really perfect," he said, "but there were no mistakes."
He kept championship winner Robert Shwartzman just out of the DRS zone for the remainder of the race, although Vips thinks that it may play a factor in Sunday's Grand Prix.
"DRS should be massive because this race is so long," the Estonian said. "If people around me get good starts tomorrow."
Shwartzman did not start as well as Vips, by his own account, but was frustrated as the "safety car came out straight away".
The Russian admitted that "maybe I should have pushed more" but he was never quite close enough to get in DRS.
He expects to challenge Vips tomorrow, but he's "not planning to do anything stupid" to win a first Macau Grand Prix.
"This track is a circuit you need to drive once in your life," said third-place Christian Lundgard on his first trip to Macau. The Dane is confident he can win tomorrow, although he has a battle to overcome Vips, who has led the last three sessions in Macau, and the F3 champion Shwartzman.
A faster race is expected in tomorrow's Grand Prix, as it is in the GT World Cup where Mercedes man Raffaele Marciello will start on pole.
He came in ahead of Earl Bamber's Porsche and Laurens Vanthoor in third.
Kiwi driver Bamber expressed his concerns with the BMWs of Augusto Farfus, who moved up from 12th at the start to finish fourth. "BMW, I think the straight line speed is not correct between them and the other cars," he said.
The 12-lap race started in wild fashion with Dries Vanthoor hitting a wall in an effort to get close to Marciello. Hong Kong driver Adderly Fong managed to move up to 10th place in qualifying.
All in all it was a good day for Hong Kong drivers. Paul Poon Tak-chun, 48, won an eighth Macau Touring Car Cup, leading the way from pole to flag.
It was a Hong Kong one-two as his teammate Alex Fung followed him in. Their Suncity Racing Team also took first and second in the 1600cc standings. Macau driver Felipe da Souza finished third place overall but won the over 1900cc event.
The race was stopped three times for the safety cars after a number of crashes, with the race finishing under a yellow flag.
The final action of the day before the showpiece motorcycle event was the first of three WTCR races. Yvan Muller started in pole and led all the way to the finish, despite a strong challenge from Norbert Michelisz.
The veteran Frenchman said he felt the pressure. "There is always a pressure," he said. "Even when you are on your own there is pressure in Macau."
"Macau, everything can happen. The most important thing is to qualify well, to do a good start and a good first lap. Then go fast."
The win was good for Muller's championship hopes, especially as standings leader Esteban Guerrieri started last on the grid.
Michelisz started second on the grid and stayed there, leapfrogging Guerrieri in the process.
He was not as pleased as he could have been with five races to go, including next week's climax in Malaysia.
"For me I needed to take maximum points today. I really tried my best. I think tomorrow will be a difficult day for us."
Robert Huff, known as "The King of Macau" will start in pole in the third race, after recording the fastest lap on the course in qualification.
Race two starts Sunday morning, with race three following on after the Greater Bay Area GT Cup. The afternoon sees the FIA GT World Cup event, the Macau GT Cup, and then the day rounds out with the showpiece Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix.
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