After becoming on Sunday the only person to win the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice, Edoardo Mortara was asked if he felt frustrated that he was not being chased by Formula 1 teams. "Life is unfair," he said. "But compared with many others, I am very lucky."
Sunday marked the 57th year of the Macau Grand Prix. Founded by local amateur racers, it has grown into an important international event which marks out future champions. Previous victors include the legendary Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, and local driver Andre Couto.
In 1995, the then 18-year old made his debut at Macau in what was also his first race in the F3 category. That he battled for the lead with eventual winner Ralf Schumacher (who went on to a successful F1 career) was beyond extraordinary. As the sun set that night, Andre's school friends sang songs in Portuguese and the paddock cheered the youngster's dramatic arrival on the international racing scene. Determined to eventually win his home race, Andre returned five times until finally he took an emotional victory in 2000.
Tears are falling again 10 years later.
Last year, Andre's young son was diagnosed with leukemia. A campaign began both to save Afonso's life and to raise awareness of the desperate need for bone marrow donors. The deep affection with which Andre is held in motor sport was proven by the widespread assistance he received in promoting the cause. A website - saveafonso.com - helped educate people about how easy it is to save lives by becoming a bone marrow donor.
A match was found for Afonso and the transplant operation was carried out in May. We all looked forward to seeing him again in Macau to watch his father in the World Touring Car Championship race which supports the F3 GP.
Unlike the one about his father's quest for F3 glory at Macau, the story of Afonso's brave battle against leukemia does not have a happy ending. His body rejected the transplant and he succumbed to the illness three weeks ago.
It would surely have been easier for the Couto family to hide away from last weekend's Macau Grand Prix - and the memories of a healthy five-year-old Afonso there two years ago. But the media exposure Andre could generate for the cause of encouraging bone marrow donors was too valuable to be missed.
His race provided little succor (he was spun into the wall at the very first corner), but Andre's unbent and optimistic demeanor - following the dignified example his son had set in his final months - provided a positive lesson about how to react when life is unfair.
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