52th Macau Grand Prix 2005

It is always the old problem: Driving fast and being reliable the same time is a thing only a few people in motorsport can really manage. The concrete and armco barrier channel through the narrow streets of the former Portuguese colony of Macau (returning to the People`s republic of China in 1999) is the most demanding and also the fastest and longest street circuit in the world. The Guia Circuit, romantic like Monte Carlo at it`s town section and fast like Melbourne`s Albert Park at the sea front part, forces the drivers to find out a precise mixture between aggressive and controlled style of competing more than anywhere else in the world. Luca di Grassi from Brazil presented himself as a master of discipline winning the most important Formula 3 race of each year, the unofficial worldchamppionship in this category, in a convincing manner despite having to fight very tough for victory against Poland`s rising star Robert Kubica, winner of the 2005 Renault World Series.

Qualifying had had to be stopped four times by red flags because of crashes taken place, in Macau the slightest mistake makes the cars strand in the walls. Neither run out areas nor gravel traps are available, the traditional track has only changed in some details in it`s five decades existing. In the old days the environment had been dominated by the buildings constructed in the style of the colonial power of Portugal, later the skyscrapers had been installed as it also had been in the Principality of Monaco.

The troubled practice session had been followed by a civilized qualifying race for the final starting grid won by Loic Duval replacing Lewis Hamilton at the ASM team. The young Briton, under contract at Mclaren since the age of 12 and superior 2005 European Formula 3 Champion, had not come to Asia. Instead of measuring with the world`s elite in Formula 3 Hamilton had decided to prepare the next step of his promising career that will follow in 2006 with entering the GP2 Series. So he joined the GP2 testing sessions taking place at Spanish Jerez de la Frontera, the home of the famous Sherry, to be the fastest man on the track already on his day of debut ahead of established GP2 star Nelson Piquet jr.

All on Yokohama control rubber the 2005 field consisted of 27 Italian Dallara chassis added by one British Lola model driven by Steven Kane and a the bizarre looking Signature from France with Fabio Carbone behind the wheel. 20°C brought nearly ideal weather conditions to the Formula 3 Grand Prix taking place in the afternoon following the two decisive final rounds of the World Touring Car Championship bringing the titles to Andy Priaulx and BMW. Germany`s Joerg Mueller is the only driver in history so far winning both the Formula 3 and the touring car race of the Macau Grand Prix.

Loic Duval had an excellent start from pole position leading the field ahead of Lucas di Grassi, Robert Kubica and German student Sebastian Vettel, who had had an excellent Formula One test driving a Williams BMW only few days before Macau. In contrast to many years before there had been no problems in the extremely critical Lisboa bend behind the three long straights after start and finish. Duval and di Grassi were fighting for the lead, in lap 3 the Brazilian was able to overtake the Frenchman, who received a drive through penalty for having made a jump start. Duval came in during lap 6 making him drop down to eighth position. Bruno Senna, nephew of legendary Ayrton Senna and son of Ayrton`s older sister Viviane Lalli (whose husband had been killed by a motorcycle accident in the streets of Sao Paulo some years ago) already had crashed in lap one in the hairpin. When Duval had left them alone the battle for the lead between di Grassi and Kubica had become more and more fierce. First Kubica tried to overtake di Grassi on the outside ahead of the Lisboa bend, but he did not succeed. Then, in lap 9 he was a lot more clever to try it inside the same place when lapping a backmarker - and passed the Brazilian. The Macau set up is concentrated on the top speeds on the long straights of the sea front, because overtaking in the city is nearly impossible. In lap 10 there happened a big crash with Dany Watts, Dan Clarke and Kubica`s team mate Charlie Kimball making the safety car come out for three of the 15 laps overall. After the safety car returning into the pits di Grassi overtook Kubica again, the Polish Dallara Honda driver was able to stay in contact with di Grassi`s Dallara Mercedes in silver livery, but there had been no possibilty for him to overtake in the city during the two laps remaining. Receiving the chequered flag on an excellent third position only 18 years old Sebastian Vettel snatched both his arms out of his cockpit.

Despite now under Chinese administration Macau is still as glamorous as it once had been at the times of charismatic team owner, sponsor and businessman Theodore Yip, who had been known as Teddy all over the world. Yip, who had given decisive impulses to the strength of the Macau economy, also was the driving force behind the early careers of Vern Schuppan, Alan Jones, Patrick Tambay, Keke Rosberg and many, many others. In 1983 Yip won his home Grand Prix of Macau with Ayrton Senna driving. The man with the Dutch nationality, born in 1907 in Sumatra, spoke five languages and six Chinese dialects fluently, loved everything making life so exciting: Motoracing, champagne and beautiful women. His parties taking place on all days of each year`s Macau Grand Prix were a legend. Teddy Yip died in 2003 at the age 96.

© 2005 by researchracing        Photos: www.f3euroseries.com       Graphics by project * 2000      » Motorsport Extra         » Formel 3