After his sensational win at the 2017 Macau GP, the 2018 FIA European Formula 3 Championship runner up Dan Ticktum returns to defend his crown.
Lining up alongside the Briton, will be Motopark team-mate Jüri Vips who will also be in Red Bull Junior Team colours.
As the returning champions all eyes will be on Motopark.
Most of the eyes will very much be on Ticktum, who after a strong season in the F3 championship will want to follow up it up with another Macau victory.
“I think it is the biggest race outside of F1, for me it is the best race on the calendar and I am very much looking forward to it,” said Ticktum.
“Of course you could say that I’ve got the pressure on me because I am the returning winner but I don’t look at it like that. I’m approaching it with a calm mind. I know what to expect, it’s my third year and I know that you just have to approach it with the plan to chip away at it piece by piece. If you rush in you are likely to do something silly.”
“Last year it was all a bit of a disaster until the final race, things ran against us all the way.”
Prior to winning the race on Sunday, the weekend was not up to Ticktum’s usual standard. Fourth in qualifying 1, sixth in qualifying 2 and eighth in the qualifying race meant the Briton was not in a strong position going into the main race.
In the closing laps long time race leader Sergio Sette Camara came under pressure from Ferdinand Habsburg with the pair making contact and handed the race lead to Ticktum.
He found himself in the position to inherit the lead after a tense four-wide battle into Lisboa with Lando Norris, Maximilian Günther and Ralf Aron.
“But I know that you never give up, keep putting everything into it every time you get in the car. In the end it came back to us and that is the way it goes in Macau, it can turn around so quickly, never give up on it,” concluded Ticktum.
For Vips, he will be going in blind as he has never been there before but will be preparing by watching videos, running in the sum and learning as much as possible before taking to the track.
“There is nothing better than having a fast teammate,” enthused Vips who was fourth in the F3 European Championship for Motopark. “With Dan’s win last year and the team’s experience at Macau I should have everything I need. I certainly have a good feeling about it.”
“I do like street circuits, Pau was great. Not so much the results as qualifying was a bit of a mess but I certainly came away with a very good feeling. I think the track suits me and I think Macau will too. I believe anything is possible,” concluded Vips.
Action gets underway 15 November at 9.55 local time for Free Practice 1, with Qualifying 1 following at 14.20.
Free Practice 2 and Qualifying 2 take place on 16 November, the Qualifying Race on 17 November with the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday 18 November.
