Formula BMW
PAC: Series Macau race report
Brilliant season finale at Macau Grand Prix. Macau -- Mihai Marinescu (ROM/19/Motaworld) won the spectacular Formula BMW Pacific season-closer at the Macau Grand Prix today, claiming victory in the series' first ever race on the famous Guia ...
Published: Nov 17, 2008, 6:07 PM
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Brilliant season finale at Macau Grand Prix.
Macau -- Mihai Marinescu (ROM/19/Motaworld) won the spectacular Formula BMW Pacific season-closer at the Macau Grand Prix today, claiming victory in the series' first ever race on the famous Guia Circuit. Second was teammate Michael Christensen (DEN/18), and taking the final podium place was Japan's Kimiya Sato (19) with series regulars Eurasia Motorsport.
Aditya Patel (IND/20/Eurasia Motorsport) was the top-scoring rookie, finishing sixth in the race, ending his season on a high note, while the top finishing series regular was Gabriel Chaves (COL/Atlantic Racing Team), taking full points for his 4th place.
With the final race of the season complete, Ross Jamison (HKG/18/Meritus) is confirmed as the 2008 champion, despite making a costly error at Macau. Sean McDonagh, (USA/19/Team E-Rain) who finished ninth, is second in the championship, while 2008 Rookie Cup winner Simon Moss is also third overall in the Drivers Classification.
Off the grid, Christensen pulled ahead and snatched the lead from pole-sitter Marinescu. With the two top drivers safely away, it was Jamison and teammate Alexander Sims (18/GBR), starting from the second row, who ran into problems. Jamison attempted to get inside at Lisboa but ended up hitting the barrier, taking Sims along with him. Said a disappointed Jamison: "It's completely my fault and I screwed up Alex's race and I apologize for that." Jamison finished in 16th in the race, while Sims managed to work his way back up the grid and finish eighth.
Christensen and Marinescu continued to pull a gap at the front, the pair battling hard. At the start of the sixth lap, Marinescu saw his chance and reclaimed the lead. Though the two would trade places again at the beginning of the lap eight, the red flag came out the previous lap after Hong Kong driver Jim Ka To (24/ARAN Racing) crashed, which meant Marinescu would take the win.
"It was a good start but I was overtaken on the first corner by the other driver because of the slipstream," Marinescu said. "On the last lap, there was a yellow flag section and I knew I needed to overtake Christensen before that section, but later on the red flag came out. I really enjoyed the circuit and you need to be clever here."
Christensen was understandably frustrated with the result. "I had a good start, and the battle went well. I am a bit disappointed, but it's racing and there's nothing I can do."
Patel was once again delighted to be racing on a street circuit, and was happy with his result. "I stayed out of trouble and didn't want to get caught up in anything."
Chaves, who started from seventh on the grid, was pleased his result and with taking the full complement of the championship points, the first time he has done so this season. Nevertheless, he was slightly haunted by his error at Paiol in qualifying.
"It's much better than yesterday," Chaves said. "I made up two positions at the start , but I think I was too cautious in the corner where I crashed in qualifying. There was a bit of a lack of confidence, but it's something I can learn from. Overall this has been a good first year and I was two points away from third place in the Drivers Classification."
Formula BMW Pacific has impressed on its Macau debut, and the season-closer to the 2008 season was an ideal opportunity to show the depth of international fledgling talent in this fascinating series.
-credit: fbmw pac
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