Veterans rule in the FIA F3 World Cup
2016 FIA F3 World Cup - Macau Grand Prix - Race report
Experience counted in the FIA F3 World Cup as 2012 Macau F3 winner Antonio Felix da Costa (Carlin) and last year’s victor Felix Roseqnvist (Prema) sprinted clear of their teenage rivals.
Sergio Sette Camara (Carlin), 18, was third after seizing the lead from the second row of the grid in a perfectly judged slipstreaming and braking duel into Lisboa corner at the end of the main straight.
Camara lost the lead on lap seven on the first of only two safety car restarts when pole sitter da Costa blasted past him into Lisboa and then quickly moved away to break the slipstream tow.
Rosenqvist, 25 like da Costa , started from the third row and spent a relatively incident free race working through to third position before pouncing on Camara also into Lisboa with just two laps of the 15 lap event remaining.
“I learned so much from both Antonio and Felix today , “ a delighted Camara said. “ Their race craft and their ability to put qualifying-pace laps together without tiring is amazing”.
Da Costa ,brought back to Macao by his 2012 winning team owner Trevor Carlin , declared the inaugural FIA F3 World Cup would be his last F3 event at the circuit.
"I had a point to prove and I’ve done it , “ da Costa said. “ When I next come back to Macao it will be in the GT cars.”
Callum Ilott (Van Amersfoort) who had been so impressive throughout the FIA F3 World Cup build up was swamped at the start from the front row and was able to claim fifth behind Japanese champion Kenta Yamashita (Threebond with T-Sport).