GOLDEN JUBILEE CUP

Sunday November 9
Weather: Overcast and slightly damp track

SIMON HADFIELD GRABS HISTORIC VICTORY

Simon Hadfield secured a dominant victory in the Golden Jubilee Cup in Macau on Sunday - but he made life difficult for himself after twice nearly crashing on the opening lap of the event.

The Briton had stormed into the lead at the start from second on the grid to lead GP Anniversary Trophy winner Frank Sytner on the run down to Lisboa. As Sytner looked for a gap down the inside, Hadfield was determined to defend his line - and it almost cost him the race. With his brakes not fully adjusted to the dry, Hadfield's Lotus 30 got sideways and he came close to hitting the barriers.

After managing to hold off the challenge from Sytner at Lisboa, Hadfield then nearly threw it away at the Hospital sequence of corners and got completely off line. He scrabbled his car away from the barriers and was lucky to keep Sytner's Lola T70 Spyder behind him - even though the pair made light contact.

Hadfield said: "One of my mechanics, who has been here before, told me that if I was going to hit the barriers here I should do it sideways. I did that and got away with it."

Sytner was not finished in his bid to win, however, and charged past Hadfield across the start-finish line to lead at the end of the first lap. Sytner then opened up a slight advantage before Hadfield decisively dived past into Lisboa on the third lap - lightly brushing the tyre barrier on the exit of the corner.

From then on, with Sytner suffering a slight engine pick-up problem, Hadfield was in control as he steadily extended his advantage at the head of the field. Wrongly thinking he had a puncture he tried to pull out as much of an advantage as possible just in case he had to pit for new rubber - and at the chequered flag was 12.6 seconds in front. Denis Welsh followed up his third placed finish in the GP Anniversary Trophy with the same result this time out.

Hadfield spoke for many drivers when he praised the success of the weekend. "I have massively enjoyed it and it is one of the stand-out experiences of my career," he explained. "The people, the track and the atmosphere are wonderful."

Julian Bronson was the leading driver home from the category for cars built between 1950 and 1959. The Lister Costin driver claimed fourth place overall after a thrilling race long battle with Dane Jac Nellemann in the Lotus 17.

Issued on behalf of the Macau Grand Prix Committee by PR Plus Limited