Mortara Triumphs in Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix

Marcus Ericsson (1) makes a poor start, as Mortara (16) passes him on the outside on the long way to Lisboa Corner, chasing Jean-Karl Vernay (14)

Edoardo Mortara took a hard-fought victory in the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday after triumphing in a race-long duel with Signature team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay.

The Italian had started from third on the grid, but a good start allowed him to move past front-row starter Marcus Ericsson and pole position man Vernay on the run down to Lisboa.

The race was stopped a few moments later, however, when the track was blocked following a multiple-car collision caused when Daniel Ricciardo crashed into the wall at the Solitude Esses and was clipped by a number of other cars.

At the restart, Mortara got away cleanly but his advantage was not enough to prevent Vernay getting into his slipstream and overtaking him into Lisboa.

Lap 1: Edoardo Mortara leading Jean-Karl Vernay, Valtteri Bottas, Marcus Ericsson, Sam Bird and the rest

From there, the Signature pair were locked in a very tight battle for the lead – although it seemed Vernay had done enough as Mortara could not get close enough in the final corners of the lap to get a slipstream down the main straight.

However, coming out of the Melco Hairpin on lap 11, Vernay made a mistake – which allowed Mortara to close up on him and swoop past into the lead into Lisboa on lap 12.

From there, Mortara was able to pull away and take the victory – which came on the same day that fellow Italian Gabriele Tarquini became FIA World Touring Car Champion.

(L to R) Jean-Karl Vernay, Kris Nissen (VW Motorsport boss), Edoardo Mortara and Sam Bird

“It feels fantastic," said the delighted Mortara. “So many things are going through my head I don’t know where to start. I feel so emotional. After such a difficult season this year, it is unbelievable. I am proud of this victory."

Briton Sam Bird finished third, having moved up the field from seventh on the grid. He was fifth in the early stages of the race, but took fourth from Ericsson on lap 12. He then moved up another place on the final lap when third place runner Valtteri Bottas slowed with a wheel problem. Ericsson finished fourth, with Bottas fifth.

Results

POS

NO ENGINE DRIVER NAT TEAM TIME LAPS GAP BEST
1 16 VW Edoardo MORTARA ITA Signature 53:07.769 15 0.000 2:10.732
2 14 VW Jean-Karl VERNAY FRA Signature 53:08.915 15 1.146 2:10.792
3 5 MB Sam BIRD GBR ART Grand Prix 53:18.751 15 10.982 2:10.995
4 1 Toyota Marcus ERICSSON SWE Tom's 53:22.757 15 14.988 2:11.279
5 4 MB Valtteri BOTTAS FIN ART Grand Prix 53:26.957 15 19.188 2:11.086
6 2 Toyota Takuto IGUCHI JPN Tom's 53:29.175 15 21.406 2:12.008
7 17 MB Renger van der ZANDE NED City of Dreams Raikkonen Ro'son 53:29.828 15 22.059 2:11.786
8 11 VW Mika MAKI FIN Hitech Racing 53:36.774 15 29.005 2:12.545
9 23 Toyota Yuji KUNIMOTO JPN NOW Motor Sports 53:41.117 15 33.348 2:12.529
10 3 MB Jules BIANCHI FRA ART Grand Prix 53:43.530 15 35.761 2:12.228
11 25 MB Victor GARCIA ESP Fortec Motorsport 53:54.692 15 46.923 2:13.795
12 21 MB Carlos HUERTAS COL Manor Motorsport 53:54.880 15 47.111 2:12.931
13 15 VW Laurens VANTHOOR BEL Signature 53:55.805 15 48.036 2:12.276
14 24 Toyota Koki SAGA JPN Le Beausset Motorsports 54:02.734 15 54.965 2:13.649
15 30 VW Stef DUSSELDORP NED Kolles & Heinz Union 54:13.406 15 1:05.637 2:14.634
16 9 VW Henry ARUNDEL GBR Carlin 54:18.468 15 1:10.699 2:15.055
17 22 MB Roberto MERHI ESP Manor Motorsport 51:11.902 14 1 LAP 2:11.836
18 18 MB Alexander SIMS GBR City of Dreams Raikkonen Ro'son 51:43.910 14 1 LAP 2:12.291
. . . DNF . . . . . .
19 10 Honda Kei COZZOLINO ITA Toda Racing 42:43.722 10 D.N.F. 2:13.574
20 31 VW Alexandre IMPERATORI SUI KCMG by Kolles & Heinz Union 53:58.371 3 N.C.F. 2:15.206
21 6 VW Daniel RICCIARDO AUS Carlin 0 D.N.F. .
22 8 VW Max CHILTON GBR Carlin 0 D.N.F. .
23 29 MB Daniel ZAMPIERI ITA Prema Powerteam 0 D.N.F. .
24 28 MB Stefano COLETTI MON Prema Powerteam 0 D.N.F. .
25 7 VW Brendon HARTLEY NZL Carlin 0 D.N.F. .
26 27 MB Jake ROSENZWEIG USA Fortec Motorsport 0 D.N.F. .
27 20 MB Michael HO MAC Champ M'sport Manor M'sport 0 D.N.F. .
28 26 MB Daniel MCKENZIE GBR Fortec Motorsport 0 D.N.F. .
. No. Engine Fastest Laps Nat Team Time Lap Speed .
1 16 VW Edoardo MORTARA Signature 2:10.732 10 104.71mph .
2 5 MB Sam BIRD ART Grand Prix 2:10.995 10 104.50mph .
3 1 Toyota Marcus ERICSSON Tom's 2:11.279 7 104.28mph .
4 10 Honda Kei COZZOLINO Toda Racing 2:13.574 7 102.49mph

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