PAC: Series Macau race report

Sainz Junior conquers Guia Circuit.

Macau, China - Carlos Sainz Junior (ESP/16/Eurointernational) conquered the notorious 6.2km Guia Circuit, with a lights-to-flag victory in the final Formula BMW race in support of the 57th Macau Grand Prix. Eurointernational swept the podium as Tomoki Nojiri (JPN/21) and Tom Blomqvist (GBR/16) finished second and third, respectively.

Dustin Sofyan (INA/16/Eurointernational) finished fourth overall, his highest Formula BMW Pacific finish ever, while Formula BMW Pacific Junior Kotaro Sakurai (JPN/15/Eurasia Motorsport) rounded out the top five.

The bumper field of 27 made for a superb series finale, with young talents from across Asia, Europe, Australia and South America gaining experience which could later prove invaluable to their future careers.

Pole-sitter Sainz Junior got away cleanly at the start, with Oscar Tunjo (COL/Meritus) and Drivers Classification and Rookie Cup winner Richard Bradley (SIN/19/Eurasia Motorsport) following behind. At the infamous Lisboa Bend, Bradley hit Tunjo and the Colombian, second in the Drivers Classification and Rookie Cup, was forced to retire. Bradley finished 17th, after a drive-through penalty. Sakurai was promoted to second, with Nojiri, Blomqvist and Sofyan behind.

On the first lap, after Calvin Wong (MAS/18/PETRONAS Mofaz Racing) hit the barrier at Paiol, the Safey Car was called out for two laps. Upon the restart, Sainz again got away cleanly and began to establish a gap, which he ultimately extended to 4.097 seconds. At Lisboa, Nojiri got by Sakurai. Blomqvist, Sofyan and Sakurai then engaged in a battle for third place, with Blomqvist and Sofyan getting by Sakurai on the penultimate lap, again at Lisboa.

Formula BMW Pacific Junior Jordan Oon (AUS/20/E-Rain Racing) worked his way up the grid from 14th to finish sixth overall. Oon has now clinched third in both the Drivers Classification and the Rookie Cup. Fellow Junior Jesse Dixon finished 12th overall.

Formula BMW Pacific Driver Quotes:

Carlos Sainz, Junior, 1st Round 15: "To be here and win it feels incredible. Yesterday, during the qualifying session I was able to do one lap okay and I think being on pole helped me today as there were some very risky moves from the ones behind me [at the start]. This is Macau and anything can happen, so I was happy to pass the first corner. I only know that I feel very happy to be first and with three Eurointernational cars in the top four, I think we had the best car out there today."

Tomoki Nojiri, 2nd Round 15: "The race was very active for me. I tried to push very hard in the race, but Carlos was much faster. Macau is a very good experience for me and I try to drive my best and I hope to be back here next year with Formula 3."

Tom Blomqvist, 3rd Round 15: "After yesterday's qualifying result, I made things a little bit more difficult for me during the race. I timed the slip stream right and managed to get by [Kotaro Sakurai, who was in third]. I would like to think [that Carlos and I are part of the future of motorsport], but you never know. You have to go out there, work hard and I hope it works out."

-source: fbmw pac