Edoardo Mortara has set his sights on the top step of the podium for this weekend's Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix. The 22-year-old Italian has been racing in the highly respected GP2 Series throughout 2009 but will aim for glory on his return to Formula 3 action with the Volkswagen-powered Signature team.

Mortara has raced at the prestigious Macau event twice previously but has been prevented from taking the elusive win, something that he hopes to rectify this weekend. He dominated the 2008 event, establishing himself as the driver to beat right from the outset, but a damaged front-right suspension wishbone after brushing a wall during the main race left him an agonising 1.1 seconds adrift of the win.

Macau is the jewel in the Formula 3 crown and is the race that all drivers want to win. A challenging street circuit, similar in its unforgiving nature as Monaco in Formula 1, drivers have to negotiate tight corners and high speed straights while avoiding the suffocating crash barriers around the lengthy 6.2km course.

Many current or former Formula 1 racers have celebrated victory around Macau, including such legends as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, adding greater kudos to the event.

Returning to the Signature team, the selected team for car manufacturer Volkswagen, Mortara is looking to keep his promising career on track with a team who are happy to see him back. Philippe Sinault, the team principal of Signature said: "All of us at Signature are looking forward to working with Edo again. We have always shared a fantastic working relationship with mutual benefits and we have always been competitive around the tough streets of Macau. We are very much hoping it will be third time lucky for us this weekend."

Three questions to Edoardo Mortara

After a year in GP2, why have you decided to step back to Formula 3?

"I do not view Formula 3 as a step back from GP2 at all. My priority is to compete in the series or the events which I feel best suit my ability and give me the best opportunity to progress my career. Macau is an extremely competitive, challenging race weekend and a real milestone in any racing driver's career, so I am proud to have the chance to compete again this weekend."

Are you pleased to be rejoining the Signature team with Volkswagen power?

"I am really looking forward to renewing my partnership with Signature and with Volkswagen for this year's Macau race. We have a good relationship and I think we all gel very strongly as a team. To represent the Signature team again as the official entrants for Volkswagen in this prestigious event is a great honour for me and I am determined to deliver the strongest possible result possible for them as well as myself."

What are your ambitions for the weekend?

"I have taken part in the last two Macau events and been competitive both years, but I have not yet been able to secure the all-important victory. We came close last season but not close enough, so we have to aim to win this weekend. It is a tough event and there will be some strong competition, but I hope we can draw on our past experiences to make this one the best yet."