Mortara: Win will reinvigorate career

The Italian took the gamble of returning to F3 for Macau this year after a difficult season in GP2 - and he knew that nothing less than victory would be good enough to get his career back on track.

And having delivered a brilliant win, after overhauling team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay just three laps from the chequered flag, Mortara said he hoped the triumph would silence those who had doubted him after his struggles in GP2.

"I am feeling so, so emotional because I had such a difficult season this year, with so many up and downs," said Mortara. "I came here because VW phoned me to ask me to do the race, and I am sure some people were not 100 per cent sure that I was able to do it.

"Actually, today, I proved that I am still competitive. After such a difficult season to be on top again is unbelievable. It shows that you should keep fighting, and I am really proud of this victory especially after this difficult season."

Mortara admitted that he had to dig deep to find the speed needed to beat Vernay - with the Signature duo in a class of their own at the front of the field.

"I think Jean-Karl drove an unbelievable race today," he said. "I am not saying this because I won, but he is in his first year here and I really struggled so much to overtake.

"I was 120 per cent on every corner of every lap, and I think he made a mistake. This allowed me to close a little bit the gap and get a little bit closer on the race track. This was his only mistake of the weekend and it cost him the victory because I was really pushing hard and I couldn't overtake him.

"He drove an excellent race, we had exactly the same car and he showed today that he is a fantastic and really talented driver - because it was really difficult for me today.

"I have the experience, it is my third Macau, it is his first Macau. He is sad, but I was sad last year, and I am the first one who can understand him, but if he is coming back he will win for sure."

Mortara has not finalised his plans for next year, and is unsure of what he will be doing because he does not have a full sponsorship package in place yet.

"[Before] I came here, like I said before, I think everybody was thinking that I was pretty much dead," he said. "So re-opening my career with a victory in Macau will for sure help me.

"Nothing is done because it is a lot a question about money now. We will see next year if I have the chance to race in a professional way. I will probably take my chance. I will work with my management to sort things out and I am sure we will try to take the best option. We will see."