Dan Ticktum will start on pole position for tomorrow’s FIA F3 World Cup Qualification Race after setting a benchmark pace in the final qualifying session.
Running was interrupted by several accidents, with a number of those having an impact on other drivers during flying laps.
Motopark Academy’s Ticktum made the best of the situation, however, as last year’s Macau GP winner produced a fantastic 2:09.910 lap time that couldn’t be matched.
Carlin’s Callum Illot claimed second and was one of the racers looking to improve again when red flags ended the session prematurely. The Ferrari Academy racer was lucky to avoid a stricken car through Police Corner, having to immediate avoiding action, but second still represented a good result for the F3 returnee.
A delighted Sacha Fenestraz will line-up third tomorrow as he exceeded his top five hopes. The Frenchman won on the streets of Pau earlier this season and the Carlin man converted that street fighter form here to Macau.
Joel Eriksson’s session ended in drama as he crashed into the already spun Threebond Racing car of Ukyo Sasahara while approaching the start/finish line. Thankfully for Eriksson, he had already clocked a lap good enough for fourth on the timesheets.
Guan Yu Zhou was the highest placed SJM Theodore Racing by Prema driver in fifth, with the home hero producing his best effort in the final moments.
Hitech GP’s Jake Hughes has been a front-runner throughout the weekend so far, and he eventually secured a top six berth at the end of the session.
Marino Sato made it three Motopark cars in the top seven, whilst a further trio of SJM Theodore Racing by Prema cars completed the next four positions.
Marcus Armstrong, Mick Schumacher and Ralf Aron rounded out the top ten, but all three endured mixed sessions. Armstrong’s running ended in the barrier, whilst Schumacher ran wide twice whilst on timed efforts.