Mortara on top again in practice

Edoardo Mortara kept up his strong start to the Macau Grand Prix weekend when he topped the times once again in Friday's final free practice session ahead of qualifying.

The Signature-Plus driver, who has been fastest in every session so far this weekend, made the most of a tow from another car down the long straight into Mandarin Bend before setting his best lap ten minutes into practice.

With his car fully repaired after his accident in first qualifying, Mortara admitted to being a little surprised to be fastest overall having spent the session mainly focusing on his race setup.

"Everything was okay," he said. "We just wanted to prepare for the race this morning, so I was not expecting to be first at the end. It looks good for qualifying, the car feels fine and I am happy.

"At the moment, I am not thinking about my rivals too much - all I am thinking about is the lap time. I am expecting a big fight for pole position this afternoon, with a lot of drivers up there going for the top spot."

Mortara's closest rival was once again TOM'S driver Carlo van Dam, and the Japanese F3 champion has closed the gap from three tenths yesterday to 0.117s this morning.

Van Dam was thankful that a braking mistake heading into Lisboa late in the session did not result in him hitting the barriers. Instead, he just went up the escape road and harmlessly came to a stop.

"We've made some good steps with the car, but it is hard to say exactly where we are because the tyres we are using are now quite old," he said. "That was why I pushed a little too hard and made that mistake under braking. But everything looks like it is heading in the right direction."

Italian Kei Cozzolino was third fastest for the Now Motor Sports team, with British F3 champion Jaime Alguersuari fourth quickest - but hitting trouble late on when he crashed at San Francisco Bend, badly damaging the left hand side of his car and ripping off his rear wing.

Alguersuari's accident brought out the second red flag of the session, with practice being stopped earlier after 20 minutes when Nicola de Marco's stranded RC Motorsport car was judged to have been left in a dangerous position after he spun at Fishermen's Bend.

There was more disappointment for Mika Maki, who returned to action for the first time since his sizeable accident in first practice. He suffered a puncture and spent much of the session in the pits.

Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Edoardo Mortara Signature D/V 2:13.054 2. Carlo van Dam TOM'S D/T 2:13.171 +0.117 3. Kei Cozzolino Now D/T 2:14.171 +1.117 4. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 2:14.245 +1.191 5. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M 2:14.351 +1.297 6. Roberto Merhi Hitech D/M 2:14.542 +1.488 7. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 2:14.616 +1.562 8. Marcus Ericsson Carlin D/M 2:14.709 +1.655 9. Renger van der Zande Prema D/M 2:14.714 +1.660 10. Roberto Streit Double R D/M 2:14.775 +1.721 11. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 2:15.082 +2.028 12. Sam Bird Manor D/M 2:15.120 +2.066 13. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 2:15.383 +2.329 14. Keisuke Kunimoto TOM'S D/T 2:15.474 +2.420 15. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 2:15.515 +2.461 16. Franky Cheng Signature D/V 2:15.520 +2.466 17. Daniel Campos-Hull HBR D/M 2:16.015 +2.961 18. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 2:16.049 +2.995 19. Kazuya Oshima Manor D/M 2:16.352 +3.298 20. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 2:16.918 +3.864 21. James Jakes ART D/M 2:17.031 +3.977 22. Mika Maki Signature D/M 2:17.102 +4.048 23. James Winslow Ombra D/H 2:17.399 +4.345 24. Jon Lancaster Manor D/M 2:17.516 +4.462 25. Laurens Vanthoor RC D/V 2:17.832 +4.778 26. Koki Saga Le Beausset D/T 2:18.284 +5.230 27. Michael Ho Double R D/M 2:18.824 +5.770 28. Basil Shaaban HBR D/M 2:19.267 +6.213 29. Massaki Matsushita PTRS/Ombra D/H 2:19.480 +6.426 30. Nicola de Marco RC D/V 2:19.835 +6.781

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Matsushita gets grid penalty

Japan's Masaki Matsushita will be forced to start from the back of the grid for Macau's qualification race on Saturday after being punished for missing a weigh bridge check during Thursday's first qualifying session.

The PTRS by Ombra driver, who crashed in the final moments of the session before being collected by provisional pole position man Edoardo Mortara, was ruled to have ignored a red light at the entrance to the pitlane requiring him to stop for routine checks.

Matsushita was summoned to see the stewards after qualifying and it was decided that he will be dropped down the grid the number of places that will put him at the back of the grid for Saturday's qualifying race.

Mortara on top again in practice

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Maki declared fit for qualifying day

Mika Maki will take part in today's practice and qualifying sessions for the Macau Grand Prix after missing yesterday afternoon's running.

The Finn has been suffering from suspected food poisoning this week and had to sit out Thursday's qualifying session following a crash after just four laps of the morning practice.

He complained of abdomen pains after his accident and was sent back to his hotel to rest. But he returned to the circuit this morning and has been declared fit to drive.

"I had a bad stomach from Wednesday onwards, some food poisoning we think," said Maki. "It was getting worse yesterday but I tried to drive anyway. In the session it was quite bad and I ended up thinking more about being ill than driving and this is how you have a crash.

"The doctors gave me some medicine and I slept a lot yesterday. This morning I am a lot better and I will try to catch up - I just have to stay out of the walls this time!"

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Hartley keen to end season on a high

British Formula 3 race winner Brendon Hartley believes victory in this weekend's Macau Grand Prix would go some way to make up for his frustrations this season.

Hartley finished third in the British F3 Championship this year, taking five wins, but thinks he did not do a good enough job with Carlin Motorsport teammates Jaime Alguersuari and Oliver Turvey finishing ahead of him.

And that is why he is hoping his experience from Macau last year will pay off this weekend so he can end his season on a high.

When asked whether victory in Macau would make up for his British F3 season, he told autosport.com: "I think it would to be honest. I think I could go home to New Zealand a bit happier.

"Although I had a pretty good season it was not really good enough. There were too many mistakes and a few bad races. Winning this race would definitely make up for it.

"It is the best race of the year and if you win it you get globally recognised as a good driver, so it's a fantastic. It's a big deal winning here, as there is so much history to this place."

Hartley faces one of the most competitive Macau GP fields this year. As well as the threat posed by his teammates, other strong contenders are expected to be Japanese F3 champion Carlo van Dam and Euro Series front-runners Edoardo Mortara and Jules Bianchi.

"It is going to be tough," admitted Hartley. "To be perfectly honest I am not really a confident person, but I am feeling pretty good about the race.

"I did pretty well at Bucharest this year, which is another street circuit. I was pretty fast there and won a race. I am just really excited to hop in the car tomorrow morning and see what happens.

"In my opinion it is the best track in the world and I am just getting a bit excited about it, a bit anxious. I have pretty high expectations and I definitely want to be on the podium this weekend. I don't see why it is not possible. It is a bonus to have driven here before. I can't wait to get out there to be honest."

And Hartley thinks the fact he does have that year's experience here could provide him with a vital edge over the many rookies in the field.

"It is going to be easier this year because last year when I raced here it was only my second race in an F3 car, with no testing at all.

"I will be a lot more confident this year. And confidence is a big key around this track. If you are confident with the car it is a big factor because you have to be within millimetres of the wall and there is no room for error, so experience could be a big thing."

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Mortara quickest in first practice

Formula 3 Euro Series runner-up Edoardo Mortara kicked off his Macau Grand Prix weekend in perfect style by topping first practice on Thursday morning.

The Signature-Plus driver swapped the leading time with a host of other drivers throughout the session before edging himself clear in the final minutes.

He set his best time of 2:14.333 on his final lap - just edging out Renger van der Zande and Roberto Streit - and reckoned he could have gone faster.

"I made a mistake on my last lap so I could have been a little quicker, but anyway I am happy," said Mortara.

"The challenges of Macau are so particular and it's more important here to be fastest at the end, not at the beginning, but our package is working well and I feel good."

Japanese F3 champion Carlo van Dam was fourth fastest for TOM'S, with James Jakes fifth for ART and Stefano Coletti the fastest Macau rookie in sixth for Prema Powerteam.

There were mixed fortunes for Carlin Motorsport duo Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley, two men who have been tipped to be in the hunt for victory this weekend.

British Formula 3 champion Alguersuari was pleased with his first experience of the Macau track to end up seventh fastest.

"It was good," he said. "I really enjoyed it and I know there is plenty of room to improve as I made a mistake on my last lap."

Hartley had to sit out the second half of the session after suffering a gearbox problem. He had been near the top of the timesheet early on, but dropped down the order as other drivers improved.

Mika Maki brought out a red flag just before the halfway point of the session when he crashed heavily at Fishermen's Bend. Other drivers to hit trouble were Kazuya Oshima and Walter Grubmuller, who both hit the wall at Maternity Bend.

Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Edoardo Mortara Signature D/V 2:14.333 2. Renger van der Zande Prema D/M 2:15.081 +0.748 3. Roberto Streit Double R D/M 2:15.454 +1.121 4. Carlo van Dam TOM'S D/T 2:15.745 +1.412 5. James Jakes ART D/M 2:15.780 +1.447 6. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 2:16.893 +2.560 7. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 2:17.165 +2.832 8. Roberto Merhi Hitech D/M 2:17.214 +2.881 9. Jon Lancaster Manor D/M 2:17.469 +3.136 10. Sam Bird Manor D/M 2:17.689 +3.356 11. James Winslow Ombra D/H 2:17.872 +3.539 12. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 2:17.932 +3.599 13. Kei Cozzolino Now D/T 2:18.234 +3.901 14. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 2:18.432 +4.099 15. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 2:18.464 +4.131 16. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 2:18.508 +4.175 17. Franky Cheng Signature D/V 2:18.593 +4.260 18. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M 2:19.096 +4.763 19. Michael Ho Double R D/M 2:19.107 +4.774 20. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 2:19.483 +5.150 21. Daniel Campos-Hull HBR D/M 2:19.508 +5.175 22. Keisuke Kunimoto TOM'S D/T 2:19.958 +5.625 23. Kazuya Oshima Manor D/M 2:20.311 +5.978 24. Marcus Ericsson Carlin D/M 2:20.338 +6.005 25. Laurens Vanthoor RC D/V 2:20.443 +6.110 26. Mika Maki Signature D/M 2:20.475 +6.142 27. Koki Saga Le Beausset D/T 2:20.839 +6.506 28. Basil Shaaban HBR D/M 2:21.263 +6.930 29. Nicola de Marco RC D/V 2:21.526 +7.193 30. Massaki Matsushita PTRS/Ombra D/H 2:24.645 +10.312 D/V = Dallara Volkswagen, D/M = Dallara Mercedes, D/T = Dallara Toyota, D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda

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Maki ruled out of first qualifying

Mika Maki will be forced to miss this afternoon's first qualifying session for the Macau Grand Prix following his sizeable accident in first free practice.

The Signature-Plus driver clouted the wall heavily on the exit of Fishermen's Bend halfway through practice, badly damaging his car and bringing out a session-stopping red flag.

He was taken to the track's medical centre for precautionary checks and, after complaining of abdomen pains, he has been advised to rest overnight at his hotel.

A medical statement issued by Macau Grand Prix organisers confirmed that he would need to pass a medical examination tomorrow morning before being allowed back in the car.

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Mortara quickest in first practice

Bianchi wants to emulate grandfather

Frenchman Jules Bianchi is hoping to make some Macau Grand Prix history this weekend by following in the footsteps of his grandfather and winning on the famous streets.

Mauro Bianchi triumphed in the 1966 Macau Grand Prix, driving an Alpine-Renault T66, and 42 years on, grandson Jules is now one of the leading contenders for victory.

Speaking on the day before first practice gets underway for the end-of-season blue riband event, Jules Bianchi admitted that his grandfather's exploits had brought an extra-special motivation in his quest to claim victory.

"I would really like to win at Macau because my grandfather won here more than 40 years ago," he told autosport.com. "It is really sentimental, you know. But I prefer not to think about the victory too much now, I will do my best and then we will see what happens."

The ART driver won the Masters of F3 at Zolder this year, and two Euro Series races en route to third place in the championship behind Nico Hulkenberg and Edoardo Mortara.

His form, and ART's status as one of the best F3 teams, means Bianchi is among the pre-event favourites for this weekend's race. However, he is keen to play down expectations - claiming his rookie status at Macau will leave him with some catching up to do.

"I think there are a lot of people who know the track really well, and there are a lot of good drivers, so I don't think I am the favourite for this race," he said. "I will work to finish first in the race and then we will see after that.

"For sure it is quite open, but there are some strong teams here. TOM'S are very good, but we have worked a lot for Macau after Hockenheim so we are well prepared. Let's see."

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