After a gap of two years, the French SIGNATURE team is returning to the principality of Macau for the 61st Formula 3 Grand Prix. William Buller, who has already shone in the streets of the gambling capital in the past, will drive a Dallara 314 with Volkswagen engine on the 6.2 km Guia circuit, bearing the livery of the online casino Fun 88. With 14 entries, three wins and eight podiums, SIGNATURE is the only team to have claimed one-two finishes on three occasions (2003 Lapierre/Carbone, 2009 Vernay/Mortara, 2010 Mortara/Vanthoor), and hopes to do well on this big comeback.
Signature F3 : back on the world stage ...A few weeks ago, Philippe SINAULT’s team made its return to the extremely high-level FIA F3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, at the Italian circuit of Imola. On the pace from free practice onwards, William Buller was regularly setting times in the top five. He was less lucky in the races, forced to retire after contact at the start in race one, and with a gearbox problem in race two. However, he finished the weekend in fine style with a sixth-place finish in the final race, despite pressure from other competitors and the many safety-car periods. SIGNATURE knows Macao well, and hopes to shine and therefore continue their excellent record at this event, the real World Cup of the series.
The Macau Grand Prix SIGNATURE : a long love story ...After first taking part in 1998 with Tiago Monteiro, Philippe Sinault’s men have regularly figured in the top of the Macau classification : five wins in the qualifying race (2003 Carbone/ 2008 Mortara/ 2009 Vernay/ 2010 Mortara/ 2011 Wittmann), three overall wins in the Macau Grand Prix (2003 Lapierre/ 2009 Mortara/ 2010 Mortara) and eight podiums.
PHILIPPE SINAULT - SIGNATURE TEAM PRINCIPAL: « We are very happy to be returning to the Guia street circuit, as it was on these streets that part of SIGNATURE’s history was made. It was not part of our initial plans, but further to an invitation for the organizer, we had to be present, even with just one car. We have not got as many F3 laps on the counter this season as our rivals, but we are going to do everything to show that we are where we belong, just as we did a few weeks ago in Imola. William Buller knows Macau, having taken part four times, generally finishing in the top ten. He finished 6th in the 2011 edition. Furthermore, for this Grand Prix, we will be carrying the colours of a local partner, « FUN 88 », the online casino. We are very proud of this, and that is why we must do well in the final classification.. »
The team has been on site since the start of the week. The cars will run for the first time on Thursday, when an initial order should be seen. The programme includes two 40-minute free practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, two 40-minute qualifying session on Thursday and Friday, a ten-lap qualifying race on Saturday, and the fifteen-lap Macau Grand Prix on Sunday.
« Bets are on ! »Dallara-VW #31 – Driver : William Buller
THE RACE – LIVE :·Smartphone app : download the « Macau GP » app from the Apple Store for live streaming & timing, results and news.·Web Site : http://zjt.mjt.lu/link/zjt/tuqsiqk/2/mcqpQzDfTebG4IEiRJqAxg/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tYWNhdS5ncmFuZHByaXguZ292Lm1vL2NncG0vaG9tZS8
WEEKEND TIMETABLE :Thursday November 13th10.55/11.35 (03.55/4.35 in France) Free Practice 114.45/15.25 (07.45/7.25 in France) Qualifying Practice 1Friday November 14th11.10/11.50 (04.10/04.50 in France) Free Practice 214.05/14.45 (07.05/07.45 in France) Qualifying Practice 2Saturday November 15th13.45/14.35 (06.45/07.35 in France) Qualifying RaceSunday November 16th15.50/16.30 (08.30/09.30 in France) 61th MACAU F3 GPTime difference +7 hours
