Hynes aims for historic win at Macau

The Manor Motorsport driver, who has won the British Formula Three Championship, the British Grand Prix support race and the Marlboro Masters this year, could become the first man to add a Macau win to that tally.

But Hynes will face an uphill struggle to master the tough track on his first outing against one of the strongest fields in the event's history.

'It's going to be hard to win this weekend, and I know I don't have experience around here, but I came and watched the race last year and I know what to expect,' he said.

'The weekend is always fantastic and I'm really looking forward to it.'

Hynes has been handed a further incentive with the organisers putting up a £60,000 prize to any driver winning both heats in Macau plus the two races in Korea next week.

Fellow Briton Darren Manning, this year's Japanese Formula Three champion, is among the pre-race favourites and is further boosted with the knowledge that his TOM'S team won the 1998 race with Peter Dumbreck.

Manning has raced at Macau twice before, his best result being a fifth placed finish last year, and the experience he has gained is likely to see him set the pace when practice begins on Thursday morning.

German champion Christijan Albers, local hero Andre Couto and Brazilian Luciano Burti are also on the list of pre-event favourites to follow in the footsteps of former winners Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.