Teen F3 debutant Alex Lynn beats seasoned drivers in qualifying

The Macau Grand Prix is supposed to be the ultimate test of a Formula 3 driver's abilities, but teenage debutant Alex Lynn made it look easy yesterday on his debut at the Guia Circuit.

The 19-year-old from Essex is competing in F3 for the first time this season and had never been to Macau, but held off two vastly more experienced rivals to take pole in today's qualifying race.

The Fortec driver, who was fourth fastest in Thursday's first qualifying session, sailed to victory in yesterday's second session, improving his time by six-tenths of a second ahead of Carlin's Antonio da Costa, who has tested for F1 teams and is competing in his third Macau GP, and Prema Powerteam's Daniel Juncadella, last year's winner who is also on his third visit.

Lynn's only experience of the track was through digital renditions and trudging the streets on foot, but it did not show as he looked completely in command.

"Fortec put a lot of effort into all of us, we were on the simulator all the time, having meetings, going through video data every week," he said. "It was a pretty massive amount of prep, but I didn't come here with any expectations at all.

"I just clicked with the track, I'm not sure why. Yesterday afternoon we were pretty solid, and it's been a great day today."