Young Malaysian Formula 3 driver, Jazeman Jaafar, is racing close to home this weekend, competing in the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, the final round of the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy.  The 58th running of the prestigious Macau event promises to be one of the most hotly fought race weekends of the year, with a host of Formula 3 champions and a grid of over 30 cars.

PETRONAS-supported Jaafar will be making his second appearance at the event, the final race weekend of the season for the youngster, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week.  On his first outing at this demanding 6.2 kms temporary street circuit, Jaafar had a strong race, finally finishing in 14th place of the 25-car field.

The Formula 3 race at the Macau Grand Prix has been staged every year since 1983 and at that inaugural event it was the legendary Ayrton Senna who was crowned champion. Since this time an illustrious roll call of famous drivers have claimed victory including Michael Schumacher in 1990 and David Coulthard the following year.

Jaafar is keen to follow in the footsteps of these Formula 1 personalities and says of the forthcoming race, “This is probably one of the most challenging races of the season, with its very unique track and the most competitive grid of drivers, which includes champions from various F3 championships as well as representatives from other series.  With so many cars on a tight street track, it makes it difficult to have a clear track in the practice and qualifying sessions and, of course, getting a good grid slot is very important for a street race.

“I’m running with my British F3 team, Carlin, so I am with my racing ‘family’ and have an established rapport with the team, the crew and engineers.  We have two practice sessions and two qualifying sessions, with a 10 lap ‘qualification’ race on Saturday and the main Feature race on Sunday, over 15 laps. I’m looking to improve on my seventh place standing in the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy and hope to score as many points as I can for this.”

This year Jaafar has completed a highly successful second season of racing in the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series.  His consistently strong finishes over the course of the season, including 22 top tens from his 30 starts, placed Jaafar sixth in the final Drivers’ Championship standings, an impressive accomplishment for the teenage race driver.