Formula 3 Euro Series

Mortara follows the footsteps of
Senna and Schumacher

Volkswagen exited the 2009 Formula 3 season on a high by celebrating a truly outstanding and impressive triumph. In the most prestigious of the international Formula 3 events, the Wolfsburg based brand celebrated a one-two. Italian Edoardo Mortara won the 56th Macau Grand Prix, with Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay finishing runner up. Both drivers contested the race at the wheel of Dallara-Volkswagen single seaters entered by French Team Signature.

“For many years now, the Macau Grand Prix has been regarded as the ultimate Formula 3 race,” praised Holger Spiess. “The winner of the race held in the former Portuguese colony attracts attention all around the world. Therefore, I just have to congratulate Edoardo Mortara and Volkswagen.” It goes without saying that the Spiess engineers also were on site to help the drivers finding the optimum engine settings and make sure that they succeeded in doing so.

With his triumph, the 22-year old winner tied in with the successful 1980s when Volkswagen won the Macau Grand Prix more often than not. In 1990, future Formula 1 Record Champion Michael Schumacher gave Volkswagen their last win to date – and even in those days, the winner also was attended to by Spiess engineers.

The 2009 edition of the Macau Grand Prix was the 56th and since 1983, the race has been held as Formula 3 event. The first Macau GP winner held in the Formula 3 format was – Ayrton Senna.

Edoardo Mortara and his Dallara-Volkswagen early proved to be the favourites for this year’s Grand Prix. And by winning the race, the Italian who had finished runner-up in 2008 upped the ante and succeeded in meeting the expectations.

“Volkswagen can look back on a fantastic year,” Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen beamed on the occasion of the presentation ceremony. “We have won two championships and the Macau Grand Prix – and the competitiveness of our engine has contributed to these achievements. I’m really proud of this success.”