James Courtney and company will attempt today to take the road travelled by such illustrious names as reigning Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and the late Ayrton Senna when they start on the grid for the F3 race at the golden jubilee Macau Grand Prix. Schumacher won this same race in 1990 when he was just starting out in his career. Likewise, Senna, who won the inaugural Formula Three race in Macau, back in 1983.
Today, it is the turn of Courtney and his peers. With a dream in their eyes and a steely resolve, the 30 drivers in the showpiece event - the FIA F3 Intercontinental Cup - will take part in the race split into two legs of 10 and 15 laps. If inspiration is what they want, they can just look at the Formula One car of Eddie Jordan's F1 team, Jordan Grand Prix, which has been brought to Macau this week for a first-time F1 demonstration.
Driven by Ralph Firman, the 1996 F3 winner, the canary yellow F1 car has caught the imagination of the crowds as it struggles around the hairpin bends in the mountain and hammers through the straights. And it is in these straights that the F3 race will be decided today. This is the drivers' consensus.
'It is a long race with plenty of chances to overtake on the long straights. I think the straights will decide the race. There will be plenty of passing,' said pre-race favourite Courtney who will start in third spot on the grid behind leader Fabio Carbone and Ryan Briscoe. Australian Courtney had dominated the early qualifying rounds and free practice but lost his provisional pole slot to Brazilian Carbone after his Toyota-Tom's team tinkered with his gear box before the final qualifying session. The change slowed his car.
'It was disappointing. But changes have been made and I'm confident I can do well. My aim is to stay out of trouble during the first leg and try to finish in front of the grid. As long as I'm in the top six at the end of the first leg, I think I can win the race,' Courtney predicted.
Carbone admitted the race would be difficult. 'It is great to start from pole position, but qualifying and the actual race are two different things. Still, I have a perfect car and I'm happy to be in the position I'm in.'