VW Van Centre:
Volkswagen driver Mortara second in Grand Prix of Macau.
Volkswagen-powered driver Edoardo Mortara finished an outstanding second at the Grand Prix of Macau yesterday (Sunday) with Mika Mäki and Laurens Vanthoor finishing in the top six also to confirm an excellent result for Volkswagen drivers in the world's toughest and most prestigious Formula 3 race.
Italian Mortara, the 2008 Formula 3 Euro Series runner-up, put in an impressive performance throughout the 55th running of the invitation race in the former Portuguese colony. The Team Signature Dallara driver dominated qualifying, won Saturday's qualification race and in the feature race on Sunday was only narrowly beaten by the Japanese driver Keisuke Kunimoto (Toyota-Dallara).
For Finn Mäki, a newcomer at Volkswagen partner team Signature, the invitation race in Asia was an emotional roller coaster ride. It started with stomach problems, which prevented him from participating in first qualifying, reached a low point following a slip-up on the last lap of the qualification race and peaked with an excellent fourth place in the Grand Prix.
Seventeen-year old Belgian Vanthoor put in a flawless performance to finish sixth in his debut race for RC Motorsport. Congfu Cheng, the first Chinese driver ever to take the start on the legendary street circuit, was involved in an early accident before working his way to 13th. Italian Nicola de Marco, in the second RC Motorsport Dallara Volkswagen, took the chequered flag 19th. A total of 30 drivers representing 14 nations, and engines from four manufacturers, formed the grid.
Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director, said: ‘Congratulations to Keisuke Kunimoto, the Tom's Team and Toyota for winning in Macau. They didn't have things easy and we were a strong opponent. With Volkswagen drivers finishing second, fourth and sixth on our return to Asia we can be very happy. Overall, it was a great finish to a very successful Formula 3 season for Volkswagen, for which I would like to thank everybody who has contributed. We'll work very hard over the off season in order to claim more successes next year.’
Added Mortara: ‘It was an excellent weekend for Signature, Volkswagen and for me. To fight for victory on this extraordinary street circuit is something very special, and it goes without saying that I am disappointed about missing out on the win. At the start I lost three places and I really tried everything to get back to the front again. On the other hand lady luck was smiling on me, as I hit the barriers once and bent a trackrod on my car - the steering wheel was completely askew, but I was able to continue.’