NOVEMBER 16, 2003

Courtney wins Heat 1 in Macau

James Courtney has won the first heat of the Macau Grand Prix after the traditional first lap accident took care of many of his challengers. These included Pierre Kaffer, Nico Rosberg, Alvaro Parente and Paolo Montin.

James Courtney has won the first heat of the Macau Grand Prix after the traditional first lap accident took care of many of his challengers. These included Pierre Kaffer, Nico Rosberg, Alvaro Parente and Paolo Montin. Initially it was Ryan Briscoe who took advantage of the situation but he spun and poleman Fabio Carbone broke a front wing and so it was Nicolas Lapierre who took the lead on his first visit to Macau. Courtney was soon challenging for the lead and moved ahead and began to pull away with ease. As the race went on Lapierre came under pressure from third-placed Richard Antinucci but the Frenchman held off the challenge. Carbone finished fourth followed by other survivors with Lewis Hamilton fifth from 17th on the grid and Robert Kubica sixth. Briscoe finished but was a distant 15th and he has no almost chance of winning.