Courtney gutted over exit

The Australian TOM'S driver was just a handful of laps away from victory in F3's most prestigious race, but a puncture caused his car to slam into the barriers and crash out of the lead.

"I wasn't even pushing hard and holding a good gap, it is really frustrating," said Courtney. "There was a slice or something in the tyre...on that lap it felt very strange in the braking into Melco and the exit when I went to turn it didn't turn. The team found a little bit of debris in the right rear. There was stuff everywhere on the track."

Courtney will now go to Korea looking for a consolation victory after his Macau disappointment.

"We will go and have a play around in Korea, but it would be a lot better going there with the win," he said. "The circumstances didn't happen but everyone saw our pace this weekend. There was a lot of debris, as you come down the hill to tight second gear corners.

"At that point I didn't want anyone to stop the race, because I was in the lead. That is racing and it is unfortunate I was the one who got something in the tyre. Doesn't kill us, it makes us stronger I suppose."