Exciting driver supported by the famous Vaillante team after a 34-year absence from the legendary street circuit!
French-Argentinian racer Sacha Fenestraz is raring to go with just hours until he makes his Macau Grand Prix debut.
Hot on the heels of his brilliant Formula Renault Eurocup title win last month, comes his next exciting challenge.
And he will get behind the the wheel of the F3 car with Carlin whose livery will be instantly recognisable to everyone - the Vaillante team is back on the streets of Macau!!
The 18-year-old said: “I feel that I’ve been living a waking dream in the last few weeks. Winning the Eurocup Formula Renault title was the culmination of an enormous amount of work carried out by the Josef Kaufmann Racing and ADD Motorsports teams.
"We never gave up and I made it a point of honour to finish the season with a victory.
"Taking part in the Macau Grand Prix is another dream that’s shared by all single-seater drivers. It’s a transition between now and the 2018 season.
"I’ve already had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 3 car prepared by the Carlin team in testing and then in an FIA European Championship meeting at the Nürburgring. I liked driving this car very much and I can’t wait to tackle the Macau circuit.
"Finally it’s a great honour to carry the Vaillante colours. It’ll give the Argentinean crowd the opportunity to discover one of the most fabulous sagas in the history of motorsport!”
Sacha Fenestraz’s own wonderful story transcends two continents. He was born in France, grew up in Argentina and then came back to Europe to live his passion for motorsport - making waves this season when he took the Formula Renault Eurocup title, joining an impressive list of winners that includes drivers like Felipe Massa and Pierre Gasly, as well as Valterri Bottas and Stoffel Vandoorne!
During the 2017 season, Sacha turned into a winning machine for the Josef Kaufmann Racing team, taking nine pole positions - equalling the record set in 2004 in the category - as well as seven wins, enhancing his reputation as one to watch for the future.
But before even thinking about next season, Sacha turns his mind to Asia for the Macau Grand Prix! Here he will be up against the F3 elite on a circuit reserved for drivers who are real hard-chargers, so the Franco-Argentinean is taking on a huge challenge.
The 6.2-km Guia circuit includes fast curves taken at over 260 km/h, as well as narrow twisty sections where passing is impossible. The format of the event is also very special with two qualifying sessions followed by a qualifying race whose classification decides the grid positions for the Grand Prix.
Sacha Fenestraz: "I have been doing a lot of simulator work and I feel ready - I want to get out there now!"
Luckily, Sacha will have several aces up his sleeve. His Dallara-Volkswagen will be prepared by Carlin, who helped Lando Norris win the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title this year.
The British outfit has trained some of the greatest of the current crop of drivers and Sacha has been able to get used to its working methods in the last few months. Fenestraz and Norris have been firm friends since last season and they are both part of the ADD Motorsports management team: they have already agreed to work together to progress as quickly as possible on this very special layout.
In addition, Sacha will be able to take advantage of all the experience of the Vaillante team, which has decided to bet on him as one of the biggest hopes in French motorsport. The No.5 Dallara will be easily recognisable at first glance as it will carry the famous tri-colour livery.
Michel Vaillant is a comic strip hero created by Jean Graton in 1958 - in fact, he is probably the driver with the greatest set of results in the history of motorsport!
While he is able to shine in every branch of motorsport, he also has values and human qualities. He's humble, loyal and courageous - and has ignited passions and inspired many to follow in his footsteps.
Sacha added: "I don't have any expectations, I just want to get a decent qualifier in and try to stay on the track - and then try to build on it session by session.
"If things go well, I'd like to be in the Top 10 or 15, but we're not thinking about places or results.
"I have been doing a lot of simulator work and I feel ready - I want to get out there now!"
ends
Michel Vaillant:
“Thirty-four years after Steve Warson and Paul Belmondo’s one-two, Vaillante is absolutely delighted to be back at the Macao Grand Prix. Personally speaking I don’t have great memories of this race as I was tagged by a Leader when I was trying to take first place. But Steve and Paul’s result was very important for the development of Vaillante on the Chinese market. So we’re very happy to team up with Carlin for the 2017 race and we’re all going to give Sacha Fenestraz the benefit of our experience. He’s a young, extremely talented driver and we hope that his ease on city circuits will help him to compensate for his status as a rookie. I’d like to add that it’s a bit ironic for Vaillante to be taking on Theodore Racing. In 1983, we were partners but this time we’ll be rivals on the track. May the best man win!”
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