High Life Issue #4

品 92 #4 2017 年 1 月 Long before he ever experienced the perils of the track’s narrow streets and unforgiving walls, he would travel to Macau as a spectator – taking in the city’s eclectic sights and sounds and dreaming of the day he, too, might take part. “It’s always been a nice place to come for the week,” Rosenqvist says. “For me, I’ve been here many times – even when I wasn’t here driving I was here watching so it’s been about 10 times now and I’ve seen a lot of Macau. “Obviously I don’t get to see as much of it now as I used to. In the evenings we have a couple of hours where we can switch off and enjoy it a little bit with some friends or the team but as the weekend builds up you tend to focus more on the racing. “But I would say that Macau is where my career really started. It was because of Macau that everything else has been possible and a lot of good memories have come along the way in Macau too. It will always be a special place. Even formy friends and family it is a tradition to come and watch this race. It’s a good one.” Rosenqvist holds his own special place in the history of the Macau Grand Prix. One of only nine drivers to havewon the racemore than once – having taken the chequered flag in 2014 and 2015 – he is also one of only six to have done so in consecutive years and very nearly became the first to win three in a rowwhen he finished second in 2016. “The main reason I keep coming back is just to have fun,” he says. “I think many people would say there is a risk coming back – you can only lose – but I love this race. It’s been a big part of my career and it’s always very special to be here. “I think that the best drivers have come here because it’s such a gamble for them. That’s what makes it so good to win. You know you need to be very good, you need to have a lot of luck and a good car – there are so many factors and so much you need to survive during the week to get to the final goal of winning the race. “Both of my victories here, I was so mentally exhausted after the race. There is a huge push from the media side, a lot of buzz going around here during the week and a lot of noise. There isn’t really anywhere to hide. All of those things together; to finally get that trophy is an unbelievable feeling.” Macau is where my career really started. It was because of Macau that everything else has been possible