The 2002 Macau Grand Prix (formally the 49th Macau Grand Prix) was a motor race for Formula Three cars that was held on the streets of Macau on 17 November 2002. Unlike other races, such as the Masters of Formula 3, the 2002 Macau Grand Prix was not a part of any Formula Three championship, but was open to entries from all Formula Three championships. The race was divided into two 15-lap aggregate legs: the first was held in the morning and the second took place in the afternoon. The overall winner was the driver who completed all 30 laps in the shortest amount of time. The 2002 event was the 49th running of the Macau Grand Prix and the 20th for Formula Three cars. The Grand Prix was won by ASM Formule 3 driver Tristan Gommendy, having finished second in the first leg which Paolo Montin of TOM'S won. Montin lost the lead to Fortec Motorsport's Heikki Kovalainen at the start of the second leg. He held it until Gommendy in the faster car caught and passed Kovalainen at Lisboa corner after a restart on lap 12 and maintained the lead to win the race. Kovalainen took second position and the outright podium was completed by Takashi Kogure for the Mugen x Dome Project team. Background and entry list The Macau Grand Prix is a Formula Three race considered to be a stepping stone to higher motor racing categories such as Formula One and has been termed the territory's most prestigious international sporting event. The 2002 Macau Grand Prix was the 49th running of the event and the 20th time the race was held to Formula Three regulations. It took place on the 22-turn Guia Circuit on 17 November 2002 with three preceding days of practice and qualifying. In order to compete in Macau, drivers had to compete in a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)-regulated championship race during the calendar year, in one of the seven national Formula Three championships that took place during the calendar year, with the highest-placed drivers given priority in receiving an invitation to the race. Within the 30 car grid for Macau, four of the five major Formula Three series were represented by their respective champion. Robbie Kerr, the British champion, was joined in Macau by French title winner Tristan Gommendy, Italian victor Miloš Pavlović and All-Japan Formula Three winner Takashi Kogure. The only