... with Kane and PromatecmeLola will be represented at the 52nd Macau Formula Three Grand Prix for the first time ever this weekend as Steven Kane and the Promatecme UK team look to re-create the form that has seen them win in the British F3 series and show impressively in the Marlboro Masters event at Zandvoort back in June.
If Steven Kane were to win in Macau, Lola will be the first manufacturer since TOMS with Rickard Rydell in 1992 to defeat Dallara.
The sinuous, challenging street circuit just off the Chinese mainland is widely regarded as the most difficult street circuit in the world. Steven Kane will be making his first visit to the Macanese peninsula, but he believes that his style and the Lola’s characteristics should suit the 3.8 mile circuit with its famous corners such as Lisboa, Maternity, San Fransisco and Fishermans.
“I have actually never raced on a street circuit before so it will be interesting from the very start of the weekend as it is all somewhat of an unknown for me,” said the Ulsterman. “I had never seen Zandvoort until I got there this year and we qualified in 4th place so I don’t think it will be a major problem for me to learn the track.”
Kane, who scored three pole positions and an overall win in this years British Formula Three International Series, and an overall win in this years British Formula Three International Series, despite the fact he only joined the championship 24 hours hours before the first meeting and with no testing, is also relishing having an upgraded Neil Brown prepared Mugen-Honda engine for Macau.
“We will have the new evolution engine for Macau and I think it will compete with the Mercedes there,” said Kane. “The guys at Neil Brown Engineering do a terrific job and are always highly motivated to win, so in terms of straightline speed we should be in the reckoning. The Lola proved at Mondello that it is a versatile car and not like everyone believes just quick on low downforce tracks.”
Kane also believes that being out and out quick is not the only pre-requisite to getting a top result at Macau.
“I know that during the race there are a lot of incidents so the race strategy is going to be vital here. In some ways it I a complete unknown for me, so it is difficult to predict what will happen. But I am sure this is always the case at Macau.”
UK have a long history of entering cars at the Macau Grand Prix with drivers such as Jenson Button, Enrique Bernoldi, Ernesto Viso and Nicolas Minassian having raced at the Guia track. Team boss Chris Weller has a wealth of experience of the circuit and along with Lola’s Chief F3 engineer, Adam Airey the team are set fair to challenge at the front on Lola’s first appearance in Macau.
For 2006 Lola will have a significantly updated car racing in both the UK and in Europe targeting more wins in a renewed push for title success.
Qualifying for the 52nd running of the Macau Grand Prix takes place on Thursday and Friday with the 10 lap qualification race on Saturday afternoon and the feature 15 lap Grand Prix at 15.45 local time on Sunday.
Lap record - 2m12.801 (Lewis Hamilton, 2004/ASM Dallara Mercedes-HWA)
TV Times Eurosport – Sunday 20th November 07.00 – 08.30 (Live) - Sunday 20th November 15.00 – 16.00 (Highlights)
British Eurosport – Sunday 20th November 11.45 (Delayed coverage)
WINNERS OF THE FORMULA THREE MACAU GRAND PRIX
1983 - Ayrton Senna ( BRA ) Ralt Toyota 1984 - John Nielsen ( DKK ) Ralt RT3 VW 1985 - Mauricio Gugelmin ( BRL ) Ralt RT30 VW 1986 - Andy Wallace ( GBR ) Reynard 863 VW
1987 - Martin Donnelly ( IRL ) Ralt RT31 Toyota 1988 - Enrico Bertaggia ( ITA ) Dallara 388 Alfa 1989 - David Brabham ( AUS ) Ralt RT33 VWSpiess 1990 - Michael Schumacher ( GER ) Reynard 903 VW 1991 - David Coulthard ( GBR ) Ralt RT35 Mugen-Honda 1992 - Rickard Rydell ( SWE ) Toms 032F Toyota
1993 - Jorg Muller ( GER ) Dallara 393 Fiat 1994 - Sascha Maassen ( GER ) Dallara F394 Opel 1995 - Ralf Schumacher ( GER ) Dallara Opel-Spiess 1996 - Ralph Firman ( GBR ) Dallara Honda Mugen/NB 1997 - Soheil Ayari ( FRA ) Dallara 396 Opel-Spiess 1998 - Peter Dumbreck ( GBR ) Dallara 398 Toms-Toyota 1999 - Darren Manning ( GBR ) Dallara F399 Toms-Toyota 2000 - André Couto ( MAC ) Dallara F399 Opel-Spiess
2001 - Takuma Sato ( JPN ) Dallara F301 Honda-Mugen
2002 - Tristan Gommendy (FRA) Dallara F302 Sodemo-Renault 2003 - Nicolas Lapierre (FRA) Dallara F302 Renault - Sodemo
2004 - Alexandre Premat (FRA) Dallara Mercedes - HWA
