Wikipedia

2023 Macau Formula 4 Race

The 2023 Macau Formula 4 Race, originally named as 2023 Macau Asia Formula 4, is a racing event part of the 2023 Macau Grand Prix[a] held at the Guia Circuit. The event was run to Formula 4 regulations on 11 and 12 November, and was originally due to form part of the 2023 F4 Chinese Championship but this plan was cancelled. It was instead a non-championship round of the 2023 Formula 4 South East Asia Championship.

Background and entry list edit

 
Layout of the Guia Circuit

Negotiations for the Formula 4 (F4) junior single seater car category to be part of the 2023 Macau Grand Prix meeting took place between the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee and the Shanghai-based motor racing championship promoter Top Speed in early 2023.[1][2] There were plans to name the winner of the season-ending F4 Chinese Championship race the Macau Grand Prix victor if a higher single seater category did not form part of the Grand Prix meeting in 2023.[3] It was held as part of the revived 2023 Formula 4 South East Asia Championship instead of being part of the 2023 F4 Chinese Championship as had been the case in the previous three editions of the event,[2][3] and was an invitational, non-championship round.[4][5] The event took place on the 24-turn clockwise 6.120 km (3.803 mi) Guia Circuit in the streets of the Chinese special administrative region of Macau on 12 November following a day of practice and qualifying.[3][4][6] It was the fourth year in a row that Macau held a F4 race after the category was introduced to the event due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing the holding of the Formula Three round.[7][8]

Drivers invited to the race had to be at least 15 years or older (with their date of their birth being binding) and were required to be the holder of a International C or ASN national licence.[5][9] Entries to the race had to be filed between 21 August and 15 September and a maximum of 28 entries were allowed into the event.[9] The entry list of 23 drivers and 11 teams was published on 25 October.[10] Each driver competed in a Tatuus F4-T421 Gen 2 car that was powered by the updated Fiat Abarth F413T turbocharged engine and featured the Halo cockpit protection device.[2][5] Two-time Macau Grand Prix winner Charles Leong were among the drivers who were entered into the race.[8] Martinius Stenshorne, the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship runner-up, returned to F4 racing with the Pinnacle Motorsport/B-MAX Racing team.[11] There were three female drivers in Bianca Bustamante, Miki Koyama and Vivian Siu who competed in the race. Budgetary constraints prevented Andy Chang, the 2022 Macau Grand Prix winner, from entering the event.[12]

Practice and qualifying edit

A single 45-minute practice session for drivers to test their cars and become acquainted with the Guia Circuit took place on the morning of 11 November.[6][13][14] Freddie Slater of the SJM Theodore Prema Racing team lapped fastest with a time of 2:30.922 that he set 17 minutes into the session. Stenshorne, Leong, Arvid Lindblad, Jack Beeton, Raphaël Narac, Rashid Al Dhaheri, Kevin Xiao, Ethan Ho and Enzo Yeh followed in positions two to ten.[13] Thomas Leung crashed into the barrier and caused the session to be stopped after seven minutes so his car could be recovered. Liu Kai Shun collided with the wall at the Melco hairpin and broke his front wing. He was hit from behind by Tiago Rodrigues and the resulting traffic jam of three cars forced a second stoppage before it was cleared. A crash by Lindblad at Lisboa corner saw Hadrien David and Yeh drive onto the run-off area to avoid Lindblad's stopped vehicle. Practice ended early with eight minutes remaining after Beeton had earlier struck the Fisherman's Bend corner wall. The bottom of the barriers sustained heavy damage and had to undergo lengthy repairs while Beeton's car had difficulty being removed from the barrier before it was put onto a flatbed truck.[13][15]

The half an hour qualifying session that was held later that afternoon set the qualification race's starting order with each driver's fastest lap times. Drivers who failed to lap within 110 percent of the fastest entrant would not qualify for the event.[6][9] The start of the session was delayed by a quarter of an hour because of a slippery track in the final sector caused by an support race incident.[16] Lindblad took pole position for the qualification race with a lap time of 2:24.293 that he recorded on his last lap. He was joined on the front row by Slater whose best lap was 0.549 seconds slower and he was followed by David in third position. Leong took fourth with a lap time he set late in qualifying while Al Dhaheri secured fifth around the same time period. Beeton was sixth, Narac claimed seventh, Rodrigues qualified eighth and Stenshorne took ninth.[16][17] Ho completed the top ten qualifiers. Bustamente in 11th was the fastest driver not to qualify in the top ten places. Following her in the final places were Yeh, Liu Kai Shun, Koyama, Kai Daryanani, Xiao, Cheong, Chui Ka Kam, Ryuji "Dragon" Kumita, Marco Lau, Siu, Jaden Pariat and Leung.[16] Daryanani oversteered into the Lisboa corner wall and qualifying was stopped for five minutes after 12 minutes had passed. Stenshorne broke his front-right wheel in an accident in the track's final sector and stopping the session for six minutes. With nine minutes remaining, Narac broke his front wing against the Solitude Esses turn barrier and his car briefly went upwards as it embedded itself into the wall. Qualifying was stopped for 13 minutes because recovery vehicles had to return to their positions for future use, extending the recovery time of Narac's car.[16][17]

Qualifying classification edit

Pos. No. Driver Team Time Gap
1 23   Arvid Lindblad   SJM Theodore PREMA Racing 2:24.293 —
2 27   Freddie Slater   SJM Theodore PREMA Racing 2:24.842 +0.549
3 2   Hadrien David   R-ace GP 2:24.883 +0.590
4 11   Charles Leong   SJM Theodore PREMA Racing 2:25.239 +0.946
5 14   Rashid Al Dhaheri   PREMA Racing[b] 2:25.983 +1.690
6 45   Jack Beeton   AGI Sport 2:26.573 +2.280
7 1   Raphaël Narac   R-ace GP 2:27.219 +2.926
8 7   Tiago Rodrigues   Asia Racing Team 2:27.530 +3.237
9 34   Martinius Stenshorne   PINNACLE Motorsport 2:27.738 +3.445
10 68   Ethan Ho   Team KRC 2:28.563 +4.270
11 19   Bianca Bustamante   BlackArts Racing 2:28.733 +4.440
12 77   Enzo Yeh   Asia Racing Team 2:29.319 +5.026
13 72   Liu Kai Shun   PINNACLE Motorsport 2:29.765 +5.472
14 8   Miki Koyama   Super License 2:30.150 +5.857
15 88   Kai Daryanani   PINNACLE Motorsport 2:30.184 +5.891
16 96   Kevin Xiao   Asia Racing Team 2:30.602 +6.309
17 4   Marcus Cheong   Asia Racing Team 2:33.814 +9.521
18 16   Chui Ka Kam   CHAMP Motorsport 2:38.325 +14.032
110% time: 2:38.722
19 30   "Dragon"   B-Max Racing Team 2:39.683 +15.390
20 53   Marco Lau   H-Star Racing 2:44.202 +19.909
21 28   Vivian Siu   CHAMP Motorsport 2:47.384 +23.091
22 5   Jaden Pariat   BlackArts Racing No Time +-:--.---
23 22   Thomas Leung   H-Star Racing No Time +-:--.---
Sources:[18]

Qualifying race edit

The qualifying race to set the main race's starting order began at 08:00 local time on 12 November and was scheduled to last eight laps.[6][9]

Qualifying race classification edit

Pos No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid
1 23   Arvid Lindblad   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 7 25:39.046 1
2 27   Freddie Slater   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 7 +0.758 2
3 11   Charles Leong   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 7 +1.628 4
4 14   Rashid Al Dhaheri   Prema Racing 7 +2.663 5
5 45   Jack Beeton   AGI Sport 7 +3.405 6
6 68   Ethan Ho   Team KRC 7 +5.913 10
7 1   Raphaël Narac   R-ace GP 7 +53.246 7
8 7   Tiago Rodrigues   Asia Racing Team 7 +53.699 8
9 19   Bianca Bustamante   BlackArts Racing 7 +54.869 11
10 77   Enzo Yeh   Asia Racing Team 7 +55.712 12
11 8   Miki Koyama   Super License 7 +56.977 14
12 96   Kevin Xiao   Asia Racing Team 7 +57.537 16
13 16   Chui Ka Kam   CHAMP Motorsport 7 +59.950 18
14 4   Marcus Cheong   Asia Racing Team 7 +1:01.616 17
15 22   Thomas Leung   H-Star Racing 7 +1:05.809 22
16 30   "Dragon"   B-Max Racing Team 7 +1:09.367 19
17 28   Vivian Siu   CHAMP Motorsport 7 +1:35.309 21
18 53   Marco Lau   H-Star Racing 7 +1:58.554 20
NC 34   Martinius Stenshorne   PINNACLE Motorsport 7 +1:42.043 9
Ret 2   Hadrien David   R-ace GP 5 Accident 3
Ret 88   Kai Daryanani   PINNACLE Motorsport 2 Accident 15
Ret 29   Liu Kaishun   PINNACLE Motorsport 1 Accident 13
Fastest Lap: Arvid Lindblad, 2:40.400, 85.3 mph (137.3 km/h), on lap 6
Sources:[19]

Final race edit

The 12-lap final race began later on 12 November at 15:40 local time.[6][9]

Final race classification edit

Pos No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid
1 23   Arvid Lindblad   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 12 37:28.517 1
2 11   Charles Leong   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 12 +0.274 3
3 14   Rashid Al Dhaheri   Prema Racing 12 +0.992 4
4 45   Jack Beeton   AGI Sport 12 +1.177 5
5 68   Ethan Ho   Team KRC 12 +2.666 6
6 7   Tiago Rodrigues   Asia Racing Team 12 +3.560 8
7 2   Hadrien David   R-ace GP 12 +3.807 20
8 77   Enzo Yeh   Asia Racing Team 12 +4.236 10
9 27   Freddie Slater   SJM Theodore Prema Racing 12 +4.527 2
10 88   Kai Daryanani   PINNACLE Motorsport 12 +5.812 21
11 16   Chui Ka Kam   CHAMP Motorsport 12 +6.571 13
12 4   Marcus Cheong   Asia Racing Team 12 +7.334 14
13 30   "Dragon"   B-Max Racing Team 12 +29.607 16
14 28   Vivian Siu   CHAMP Motorsport 12 +2:02.952 17
Ret 1   Raphaël Narac   R-ace GP 10 Accident 7
Ret 96   Kevin Xiao   Asia Racing Team 9 Accident 12
Ret 34   Martinius Stenshorne   PINNACLE Motorsport 8 Accident 19
Ret 72   Liu Kai Shun   PINNACLE Motorsport 7 Accident 22
Ret 22   Thomas Leung   H-Star Racing 7 Accident 15
Ret 53   Marco Lau   H-Star Racing 3 Accident 18
Ret 19   Bianca Bustamante   BlackArts Racing 0 Accident 9
Ret 8   Miki Koyama   Super License 0 Accident 11
Fastest Lap: Arvid Lindblad, 2:24.791, 94.5 mph (152.1 km/h), on lap 10
Sources:[20]

Notes edit

  1. ^ officially the 70th Macau Grand Prix (Portuguese: 70º Grande Prémio de Macau,Chinese: 第70屆澳門格蘭披治大賽車)
  2. ^ Car #14 competed as PREMA Racing with an Italian license and cars #11, #23 and #27 competed as SJM Theodore PREMA Racing with a Hong Kong license.

References edit

  1. ^ Simmons, Marcus (9 March 2023). "F3 could headline Macau 'junior single-seater festival'". Autosport. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Marques, Renato (30 August 2023). "F4 SEA to replace F4 Chinese Championship in this year's GP". Macau Daily Times. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Wood, Ida (25 February 2023). "The 2023 Macau GP is being planned to take place over two weekends". Formula Scout. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Macau Grand Prix invitational highlight of revitalized F4 South East Asia Championship". Formula 4 South East Asia Championship. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Formula 4 Driver Guide 2023 – Macau GP Support Race" (PDF). Eurasia Motorsport. July 2023. pp. 2, 4–7, 9. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "70th Macau Grand Prix – Official Programme" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee. November 2023. pp. 09, 15–16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^ "F4's retention in GP programme gains support". Macau Business. MNA International. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b Marques, Renato (10 November 2023). "Added excitement anticipated for this year's F4 race". Macau Daily Times. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e "70th Macau Grand Prix - 11th-12 November 2023 - Macau Formula 4 Race - Sporting Regulations" (PDF). Automobile General Association Macao-China. 12 October 2023. pp. 3, 5–6, 23, 32–33. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  10. ^ Wood, Ida (25 October 2023). "Prema to go up against top Asian teams in F4 SEA's Macau races". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  11. ^ Wood, Ida (7 November 2023). "FREC runner-up Martinius Stenshorne to enter Macau's F4 races". Formula Scout. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  12. ^ "70º Grande Prémio | Corrida de Macau de Fórmula 4: A prata da casa" [70th Grand Prix | Macau Formula 4 Race: The silver of the house]. Hoje Macau (in Portuguese). 10 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Wood, Ida (11 November 2023). "Slater fastest, Lindblad crashes in F4 SEA practice on streets of Macau". Formula Scout. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  14. ^ Dias, Erico (12 November 2023). "Here are the highlights from day one of the 2023 Macau Grand Prix". Macao News. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Macau Grand Prix Gets Underway with Free Practice". Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d Wood, Ida (11 November 2023). "Red Bull junior Lindblad claims F4 pole in chaotic Macau qualifying". Formula Scout. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Lindblad scores pole for first Macau Formula 4 Race". Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Macau Formula 4 Race - Qualifying - Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Macau Formula 4 Race - Qualifying Race - Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Macau Formula 4 Race - Final Race - Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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