The young guns are making their big return to the streets of the Guia circuit this weekend for the traditional Macau Grand Prix. A year after Luke Browning’s victory and the return to normal after three editions marked by the Coronavirus pandemic, this 71st edition presents some differences.
The first and not least: changing cars. After having had the best years of this classic, the Formula 3 gave way to the Regional Formula. A desired choice for “ making the event even more accessible than ever, opening it up to a wide range of drivers competing regionally. »
France arrives in force
This indirectly had an impact on the teams involved. If some regulars like Prema or MP Motorsport have responded, this is not the case for Trident or Rodin Motorsport (formerly Carlin). Title holder, Hitech GP will also not be there.
On the other hand, France is well represented with 3 teams expected among the 11 entered: ART Grand Prix, R-ace GP and Saintéloc Racing for a total of 8 cars. Cocorico!
In addition to this strong presence, the quality of the respective line-ups suggests that France could once again triumph in the streets of Macau, both in terms of teams and drivers. Because the 2024 edition of the Grand Prix appears more open than ever.
ART Grand Prix will be able to rely on James Wharton, 2024 FRECA vice-champion and author of a great end to the season with Prema, or even Evan Giltaire, 2023 F4 France champion and capable of distinguishing himself over a weekend.
For its part, R-ace GP has decided to once again place its trust in Tuukka Taponen and Enzo Deligny, two of its drivers in FRECA this year. Finally, the Vendée team should use the experience of Ugo Ugochukwu, already present in Macau last year, to hope to play up front.
« We have an excellent driver line-up: Taponen, Deligny, UgoThibaut de Mérindol, boss of R-ace GP, told us. We will definitely be a bit lacking in experience, as we have never been to Macau and it is a specific tour. We tried to prepare it as best as possible. This is also why we are happy to have Ugo with us, because he took part in this race last year in F3. It is the drivers who are at the center of the game. We are going there with the greatest possible ambitions. I hope we will be able to play at the forefront, or even win. I have no doubt that we know how to do. »
Finally, Saintéloc Racing is mainly counting on Théophile Naël whose first season in FRECA this year was very encouraging, including a victory at the Red Bull Ring.
Be careful, however, not to get carried away too quickly because the other teams are also arriving well armed, like Prema who has called on the services of Dino Beganovic, expected in F2 in 2025, but also Freddie Slater, who will compete in the FRECA with them next year, and Alex Dunne, who almost created a surprise during his first participation in the Grand Prix in 2023. Without forgetting other experienced drivers like Oliver Goethe (MP MP Motorsport), Noel León (Pinnacle Motorsport ), and those a little more discreet like Rikuto Kobayashi (TOM’S Formula), currently 3rd in Super Formula Lights.
Nevertheless, France has arguments in its favor to dream of a first French victory since 2010 and Edoardo Mortara with Signature (now Signatec). As for the drivers, we have to go back to 2004 and Alexandre Prémat, winner with ASM (known as ART Grand Prix). So maybe!
READ ALSO > The program for the 2024 Macau Grand Prix
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