Revving up Rosenqvist: Felix da Costa and Daniel Juncadella target Macau Grand Prix champion

The battle lines are being drawn before next week’s Macau Grand Prix as two ex-champions plot to dethrone Felix Rosenqvist, the Swedish sensation who is preparing to chase a historic three-peat of victories in the marquee Formula Three event.

In what is being heralded as the hottest field ever assembled, the 63rd staging of the famous race will see Rosenqvist – the 2014 and 2015 champion – line up against Antonio Felix da Costa (2012 champion) and Daniel Juncadella (2011 champion) in a field brimming with international ­talent.

The trio of Macau champions have been lighting a fuse under each other over the past few weeks with some good-natured banter on Twitter as both Da Costa and Juncadella look to turn the heat on their rival.

“He is a quick driver, with lots of talent and loves the sport,” said Da Costa. “We are going to have to step it up a bit.”

For the 25-year-old Portuguese driver, next week marks a return to Formula Three racing after a break of more than three years – time Da Costa has spent racing in the Formula Renault, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and the Formula E ­championships.

In 2012, he held off Rosenqvist in the race to the chequered flag and Da Costa said he had kept close tabs on his rival’s exploits since, as the Swede collected those two Macau titles as well as last year’s FIA European Formula Three Championship. The pair has also been part of this season’s Formula E circuit as well.

“I see a lot of me in him,” said Da Costa, who will line up again for Carlin’s Volkswagen in Macau. “We are going back to Macau for the love of the sport. Back in 2012, I was winning every race. I can’t really tell you why – it was like the opposite feeling of this year and I could do no wrong. I was just winning everything.