Asian Motor Sports

Formula 3 Euro Series runner-up Edoardo Mortara kicked off his Macau Grand Prix weekend in perfect style by topping first practice on Thursday morning.

The Signature-Plus driver swapped the leading time with a host of other drivers throughout the session before edging himself clear in the final minutes.

He set his best time of 2:14.333 on his final lap - just edging out Renger van der Zande and Roberto Streit - and reckoned he could have gone faster.

“I made a mistake on my last lap so I could have been a little quicker, but anyway I am happy,” said Mortara.

“The challenges of Macau are so particular and it’s more important here to be fastest at the end, not at the beginning, but our package is working well and I feel good.”

Japanese F3 champion Carlo van Dam was fourth fastest for TOM’S, with James Jakes fifth for ART and Stefano Coletti the fastest Macau rookie in sixth for Prema Powerteam.

There were mixed fortunes for Carlin Motorsport duo Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley, two men who have been tipped to be in the hunt for victory this weekend.

British Formula 3 champion Alguersuari was pleased with his first experience of the Macau track to end up seventh fastest.

“It was good,” he said. “I really enjoyed it and I know there is plenty of room to improve as I made a mistake on my last lap.”

Hartley had to sit out the second half of the session after suffering a gearbox problem. He had been near the top of the timesheet early on, but dropped down the order as other drivers improved.

Mika Maki will be forced to miss this afternoon’s first qualifying session for the Macau Grand Prix following his sizeable accident in first free practice.

The Signature-Plus driver clouted the wall heavily on the exit of Fishermen’s Bend halfway through practice, badly damaging his car and bringing out a session-stopping red flag.

He was taken to the track’s medical centre for precautionary checks and, after complaining of abdomen pains, he has been advised to rest overnight at his hotel.

A medical statement issued by Macau Grand Prix organisers confirmed that he would need to pass a medical examination tomorrow morning before being allowed back in the car.

Macau GP: Thursday practice times

1. Edoardo Mortara Signature D/V 2:14.333
2. Renger van der Zande Prema D/M 2:15.081 +0.748
3. Roberto Streit Double R D/M 2:15.454 +1.121
4. Carlo van Dam TOM’S D/T 2:15.745 +1.412
5. James Jakes ART D/M 2:15.780 +1.447
6. Stefano Coletti Prema D/M 2:16.893 +2.560
7. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 2:17.165 +2.832
8. Roberto Merhi Hitech D/M 2:17.214 +2.881
9. Jon Lancaster Manor D/M 2:17.469 +3.136
10. Sam Bird Manor D/M 2:17.689 +3.356
11. James Winslow Ombra D/H 2:17.872 +3.539
12. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 2:17.932 +3.599
13. Kei Cozzolino Now D/T 2:18.234 +3.901
14. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 2:18.432 +4.099
15. Jules Bianchi ART D/M 2:18.464 +4.131
16. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 2:18.508 +4.175
17. Franky Cheng Signature D/V 2:18.593 +4.260
18. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M 2:19.096 +4.763
19. Michael Ho Double R D/M 2:19.107 +4.774
20. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 2:19.483 +5.150
21. Daniel Campos-Hull HBR D/M 2:19.508 +5.175
22. Keisuke Kunimoto TOM’S D/T 2:19.958 +5.625
23. Kazuya Oshima Manor D/M 2:20.311 +5.978
24. Marcus Ericsson Carlin D/M 2:20.338 +6.005
25. Laurens Vanthoor RC D/V 2:20.443 +6.110
26. Mika Maki Signature D/M 2:20.475 +6.142
27. Koki Saga Le Beausset D/T 2:20.839 +6.506
28. Basil Shaaban HBR D/M 2:21.263 +6.930
29. Nicola de Marco RC D/V 2:21.526 +7.193
30. Massaki Matsushita PTRS/Ombra D/H 2:24.645 +10.312

D/V = Dallara Volkswagen, D/M = Dallara Mercedes, D/T = Dallara
Toyota, D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda