The 2001 Macau Grand Prix (officially the 48th Macau Grand Prix) was a motor race for Formula Three (F3) cars that was held on the streets of Macau on 18 November 2001. Unlike other races, such as the Masters of Formula 3, the 2001 Macau Grand Prix was not a part of any F3 championship, but was open to entries from all F3 championships. The race was divided into two 15-lpa aggregate legs lasting held in the morning and the afternoon, with overall winner being the driver who completed all 30 laps in the shortest possible time. The 2001 edition was the 48th running of the Macau Grand Prix and the 19th for F3 cars. The Grand Prix was won by Carlin Motorsport driver Takuma Sato, having begun the first leg from second place. Sato overtook pole position starter Björn Wirdheim of Prema Powerteam at the start of the first leg and he pulled way to win to start the second from first. He led every lap of the second leg to claim victory in his second appearance in Macau and he was the first Japanese driver in history to win the Macau Grand Prix outright. Second place went to Mugen x Dome Project's Benoît Tréluyer and Wirdheim completed the overall podium in third place. Background and entry list The Macau Grand Prix is a Formula Three (F3) 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 2001 Macau Grand Prix was the 48th edition of the event and the 19th time it was held to F3 regulations. It took place on the 22-turn Guia Circuit on 18 November 2001 with three preceding days of practice and qualifying. Following an accident in which driver Frans Verschuur's brakes failed, which meant he penetrated the Lisboa corner tyre wall, and ploughed into a truck, killing a mainland Chinese tourist and injuring three other people during the warm-up session for the 2000 Guia Race of Macau, race organisers installed two rows of steel barriers and enhanced safety by replacing its canvas and repaired the area's asphalt road surface. 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 F3 championships that took place during the