'I am really pleased to be the first from my country in 20 years to win here and it feels good'
Lucas Di Grassi weaved the Brazilian magic back into the Macau Grand Prix when he became the first man from his country to win the blue riband race in 20 years yesterday.
Joining an elite company headed by the late, great Aryton Senna, who won in 1983 - Macau's first Formula Three race - the 21-year-old Sao Paolo native out-fought Poland's Robert Kubica to win the 52nd edition of the race on the narrow and twisting 6.2-kilometre Guia circuit. Third was Germany's 18-year-old Sebastian Vettel ahead of another Brazilian, Joao Paolo de Oliveira.
'I really love my country,' said Di Grassi who decked himself in the green-and-gold colours of his country after steering his Manor Motorsport Dallara Mercedes-HWA to victory at the end of the 15-lap race.
'I am trying to rebuild the Brazilian spirit. Senna won in 1983 and [Mauricio] Gugelmin won in 1985. I am really pleased to be the first from my country in 20 years to win here and it feels very good. France won it too many times [three years straight]. We needed to break their domination and I did it today.
'I knew it was going to be either me or Robert [Kubica] to break the domination. I managed to do the job. I really don't know why it took so long for a Brazilian to win here. Maybe there weren't enough Brazilians. I had the opportunity and I won it. This is my biggest win so far in my career,' he said.