Macau GP | Theodore expands its team to three cars

SJM Theodore by Prema returns to Macau to defend the Grand Prix title it won last year.  It has expanded its team to three cars to create the largest Theodore entry in 25 years.
The trio of SJM Theodore by Prema entries for the 2014 event, which utilize Mercedes-Benz powered Dallara Formula 3 cars, will be driven by Frenchman Esteban Ocon, Antonio Fuoco of Italy and Canada’s Nicholas Latifi.
Lotus F1 Junior Team driver Ocon was crowned champion of the FIA European Formula 3 Championship last week, while Fuoco, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, stands in the fifth place overall. Latifi is in tenth place before the race in Hockenheim this weekend.
Theodore Racing has been synonymous with the Macau Grand Prix since its founder Teddy Yip, known as “Mr Macau Grand Prix”, first competed as a driver in 1956, going on to enter or sponsor racing teams until 1992, amassing a record total of six Macau Grand Prix victories.  His son, Teddy Jr, revived the team name last year for what proved to be a triumphant return, as British driver Alex Lynn scored the seventh Macau Grand Prix victory for Theodore.
According to a press release issued yesterday by Theodore Racing and the team’s title sponsor Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), of the 26 drivers who competed at Macau for Theodore from 1978-92, no fewer than 25 went on to become Formula 1 drivers.  Four of Theodore’s drivers also went on to become future World Champions: Keke Rosberg, Alan Jones, Mika Hakkinen and the legendary Ayrton Senna.
Speaking about the strengthened partnership between SJM and Theodore, Ambrose So, chairman of the board of directors of SJM, said, “SJM is delighted and honoured to expand sponsorship of the Theodore Racing Team.  With a local heritage that parallels SJM, Theodore Racing is a Macau institution with a winning tradition.”
Mr Teddy Yip Jr. said: “We are delighted to return to Macau with our partner SJM. Following on from the Macau GP victory last year we return with an expanded three-car team.  My father ran drivers who went on to become F1 World Champions, and I hope in time the drivers we run will do the same.  Two of them are already contracted F1 junior drivers and certainly on paper all three of them have the talent to do so.”