António Felix da Costa
António Felix da Costa, who won the 2012 Macau Grand Prix, will return to the Guia Circuit with the British team Carlin.
The 25-year-old Portuguese driver made four Macau appearances between 2010 and 2013, of which three were with Carlin. This month, he participated in the inaugural Hong Kong race of the recently-established FIA Formula E championship.
Judging from statements he made on several occasions, the Guia Circuit tops da Costa’s list of circuits to race in.
“Macau is a special place, it’s just pure driving. The adrenaline rush you feel when you’re driving between those walls is a feeling you don’t get anywhere else. There is no aim as such in going back for me; I’m just doing it for the love of the sport, so when I got the call from Trevor [Carlin] a few weeks ago I couldn’t say no,” he said, cited by Motorsport and Autosport.
When interviewed by the Times in 2013, da Costa hinted at his eventual return: “Macau is one of the most famous races in the world and there’s no better match than a F3 car and Macau’s racetrack. If you put a F1 it wouldn’t be as fun. It’s hard to say no when you get the chance to come here.”
After the 2012 victory in Macau, the Portuguese racer was among those expected to step up to the Formula One. However, the move was “blocked” by drivers like Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Junior, who ascended to the major category. Consequently, Felix da Costa spent the past three years in the DTM and Formula E, In both categories he won races.
Costa is the third Macau GP winner confirmed for the 2016 edition, following announcements that Daniel Juncadella and Felix Rosenqvist will be in Macau this year.
The race will be held between November 17 and 20.
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