F3 racers say circuit remains a challenge

From left: Drivers Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott, Zhou Guan Yu and Maximilian Günther

The SJM Theodore Racing Team presented its line-up of four young drivers who will be racing in its ninth Macau GP Title campaign yesterday at Grand Lisboa.

The partnership between SJM and Theodore Racing will continue this year at the 64th running of the Macau Grand Prix, and the team will feature Maximilian Günther, Callum Ilott, Zhou Guan Yu, and Mick Schumacher.

Speaking to the press, the racers were all in agreement that the Grand Prix circuit in Macau remains a challenge compared to tracks in Europe, citing the city’s narrow roads as a reason for this.

The German racer, Maximilian Günther, spoke about his return to the Macau Grand Prix, expressing his high hopes.

“I have had a good season in the FIA European F3 championship, finishing third overall and my aim is to continue this form here in Macau,” he told the press in an interview after the press conference.

According to the 20-year old driver, winning the city’s Grand Prix involves a “bit of luck.”

“Especially here in Macau with the whole track which is very dangerous and tricky […] but for sure I want to win it.”

Explaining his concerns regarding the track, he claimed that most challenging track segment for the young driver is the second part of the track, as the road gets tighter.

“You can never ever relax on this track because it’s important to be focused because as soon as you make just a tiny mistake, you will damage your car or crush it. It’s just amazing to drive here,” the German racer articulated.

Echoing those sentiments, Britain’s Callum Ilott, who took six wins in this year’s European Formula 3, remarked “Macau is the highlight of the season and I have been looking forward to this for months.  I am determined to get onto the rostrum and hopefully even win this event.”

Ilott, who is in the city for the third time, recalled that his first year in the Grand Prix in 2015 was a struggle, as he was unfamiliar with the city’s track, yet he noted that his results last year where he finished fifth in the F3 race, are a cause for optimism.

Questioned on his aim for the week, the 19-yeard old racer said, “In Macau you have to win […] but Macau is always a lottery.”

“This circuit is really special to drive. The feeling is amazing. As they say, if you’re fast in Macau, you’re fast anywhere,” he said.

According to him, Günther remains a strong opponent, along with Lando Nerris who won the F3 Championships in Europe.

Meanwhile Zhou Guan Yu, the first Chinese driver admitted to the Ferrari Driver Academy has shown his excitement for the upcoming tournament, which he considers his favourite event.

Hailing from Shanghai, Zhou took eighth place in the F1 Formula European Championship last year.

Finally, Macau Grand Prix rookie Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, only spoke during the press conference noting, “Following last year’s success in Formula 4, I graduated to Formula 3 with the team and it has been an enjoyable season.”

“Being a rookie at this high level of motorsport is clearly a steep learning curve but we have had some brilliant results in Europe,” he concluded.