Macau Grand Prix

Coordinates: 22°11′50″N 113°33′10″E / 22.19722°N 113.55278°E / 22.19722; 113.55278
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Macau Grand Prix
Guia Circuit
Race information
Number of times held68
First held1954
Most wins (drivers)Hong Kong John MacDonald (4)
Circuit length6.120 km (3.803 miles)
Race length91.800 km (57.042 miles)
Laps12
Last race (2023)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap
Macau Grand Prix
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese澳門格蘭披治大賽車
Simplified Chinese澳门格兰披治大赛车
Portuguese name
PortugueseGrande Prémio de Macau
The entry into the Lisboa corner, Guia Circuit

The Macau Grand Prix (Portuguese: Grande Prémio de Macau; Chinese: 澳門格蘭披治大賽車) is a motorsport road race for automobiles and motorcycles held annually in Macau. It is the only street circuit in which both cars and motorcycles participate.

The first Macau Grand Prix event was held in 1954, as a sports car event. In 1961, the title race became an open-wheel Formula Libre event. The event has also had a variety of support races in its duration. Production cars joined the event in 1957, which were superseded by touring cars in 1972. The event received world championship status from 2005 to 2014 as the final round of the World Touring Car Championship. In 1967, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was introduced.[1] In 2008, a GT3 race was added to the event, which became known as the FIA GT World Cup.

The highlight of the race weekend is the Macau Formula Three Grand Prix, featuring many national Formula Three champions and drivers from around the world, with the winner being awarded the FIA Formula 3 World Cup. Due to the challenging nature of the circuit, which consists of fast straights (a Formula Three car can reach a top speed of 275 km/h (171 mph) at the end of the straight[2]), tight corners and uncompromising crash barriers, the Macau Grand Prix is considered one of the most demanding circuits in the world. Many current or former Formula One drivers have participated in the event early in their careers and some of them have won the prestigious prize. Previous winners include Riccardo Patrese, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Ralph Firman, Takuma Sato, Lucas di Grassi, Edoardo Mortara, António Félix da Costa,[3] Felix Rosenqvist and Dan Ticktum.

History[edit]

The Macau Grand Prix was originally conceived in 1954 as a treasure hunt around the streets of the city,[4] but shortly after, it was suggested that the hunt's track could host a professional racing event for local motor enthusiasts.

Macau Tr2 racing at Malta Grand Prix

The race continued as an amateur race until 1966, when Belgian driver Mauro Bianchi entered the race in an Alpine A220 (chassis #1722).[5] Alpine Renault had also sent engineer Jean-Paul Castilleux to assist Bianchi with technical aspects of the car.[6] Bianchi's victory and exposure led to more professional racing teams entering the Grand Prix in the following years.

The motorcycle race was introduced in 1967, and in that year the first fatal tragedy struck the race: double champion Dodjie Laurel was killed when he lost control of his car and crashed. This raised the alarm for more safety improvements for the race. Teddy Yip was one of the main forces behind the Macau Grand Prix back in the 1970s and 1980s, leading this Grand Prix to be one of the world's most famous motor racing events. The Macau Grand Prix parties he hosted for many years at his home also became a central part of the social aspect of the Grand Prix.[citation needed] Prize money at this time was not substantial, with 1980 winner Geoff Lees receiving thirty-four dollars and 1981 winner Bob Earl receiving thirty-six.[7]

In 1983, it was decided by the organisers that since Formula Pacific was becoming obsolete, the race would be held as a Formula Three event. Initially, they wanted to run a F2 race, but as they were unwilling to make any large circuit modifications, which included cutting down trees, the organisers decided to adopt Formula 3 cars for the feature race and it was sanctioned by FIA as the F3 World Cup title race. At the same time, Yokohama Tire was officially designated as the sole supplier of control tires for the competitors.[8]

This decision has seen the reputation of the event in the motorsport world increase rapidly, with the event attracting the best young drivers from Europe and Japan. The first F3 race was won by a young Ayrton Senna. The race in 1990 was a memorable one, as Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen were involved in an incident when they were in first and second going into the final lap. At the main straight just after the Mandarin Oriental Bend, Häkkinen hit the back of Schumacher's car and crashed out when he attempted to overtake him.[9] Schumacher's car was able to continue with its rear wing damaged and eventually won the race with the best aggregate time. Other notable winners include Formula One drivers David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato. Since the introduction of F3 races, the Macau GP has gradually become a stepping stone for many F3 drivers to higher class motor-racing competitions such as the FIA Formula 2 Championship and Formula One. However, only three drivers in the field in the 2010s -- Valtteri Bottas in 2011, Max Verstappen in 2014, and Charles Leclerc in 2015—who have started this race have won a Formula One race, and 1995 was the last time a Macau Grand Prix winner won a Formula One race.

Circuit[edit]

Architectural model of the Guia Circuit at the Grand Prix Museum

The 3.8 miles (6.2 km) Guia Circuit features a combination of fast straights and tight corners, with the circuit's minimum width being only seven metres. It is recognised as one of the most challenging circuits in the world.[10] The circuit has a Grade 2 (Restricted) FIA track license at the moment.[11]

Controversy[edit]

To keep the Grand Prix or not[edit]

The society of Macau is developing rapidly. During every edition of the Grand Prix, traffic in the outer harbour area becomes severely disrupted. In 2007, politician Stanley Au Chong-kit pointed out that the Macau Grand Prix should be suspended as it wastes money and brings negative impacts to locals. Meanwhile, affairs commentator Tam Chi Keung suggested to move the Grand Prix event to Cotai.[12][13][14][15] Later, in 2020, former president of the Macau SAR Sports Bureau Manuel Silverio also suggested to move the Macau Grand Prix to Cotai instead during an interview of TDM Canal. “It might be the appropriate time to use a new circuit. For instance, in Cotai, so that it can relieve a great amount of pressure for visitors and locals.” This suggestion never happened as he wasn’t the president of the bureau anymore. [16]

Holding the event under COVID-19 pandemic in 2020[edit]

Due to travel restrictions, foreign racers and riders were not able to attend the 67th edition of the Grand Prix, making the event downgraded to “Greater Bay Area only”. The Motorcycle Grand Prix was cancelled, and visitors to Macau were lower than expectations. However, the Macau SAR Government persisted in holding the Grand Prix using 250 million patacas which caused dissatisfaction among local people. The Macau SAR Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and the president of the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC) Ao Ieong U refused to answer questions from local media.

The Macau SAR Sports Bureau issued a press release stating that holding the Macau Grand Prix doesn’t only proves that the government is confident in pandemic prevention, and also the determination to promote post-epidemic economic recovery. Holding the Macau Grand Prix could show the demonstration of Macau’s anti-epidemic results to the world, restoring tourists’ confidence and intention to travel to Macau, and drive the tourism, hotel and catering industries. It also hoped to promote the recovery of the construction, transportation and automobile maintenance industries through the linkage effect of the Grand Prix, thus boosting the economy, creating jobs, increasing employment for citizens, and minimising the impact of the epidemic on society and people's livelihood. The Sports Bureau believed that holding the Macau Grand Prix is meaningful to Macau, therefore hoped the society and citizens to understand and fully support the event.[17]

Title race[edit]

The first title race was held in 1954 as a sports car race. In 1961 the title race switched to the Formula Libre till 1974, when Formula Pacific came into play. 1983 was a start of the new era with the introduction of the Formula 3 rules, which attracted drivers from European Formula 3 championships and the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. 2019 introduced the Dallara F3 2019 machinery, with the entrants—all of them from the FIA Formula 3 Championship—using equal cars and engines for the first time.

Dallara F3 2019 in the 70th Macau Grand Prix

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, the title race was run as a part of China's Formula 4 championship with exclusively local drivers and teams, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced travel restrictions on international FIA F3 drivers and teams.

Macau Grand Prix (1964-)[edit]

  • Held races
    • 1954 - 1976: Macau Grand Prix
    • 1977 - 1982: Formula Pacific Championship
    • 1983 - 2003: Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix
    • 2004 - 2014: FIA Intercontinental Formula 3 Cup
    • 2015: FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup
    • 2016 - 2019: FIA Formula 3 World Cup
    • 2020 - 2022: Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix
    • 2023: FIA Formula 3 World Cup

Touring cars[edit]

Franz Engstler in action at the 2002 Guia Race

The first Guia Race for touring cars was held in 1972. The event was notable in that very few touring car races were held on street circuits at the time. From 2005 to 2014, the race became the final two rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. In 2015 and 2016, the category was replaced by the TCR International Series. WTCC then returned as the Suncity Group Macau Guia Race in 2017. From 2018 to 2019, the races were replaced by the new FIA World Touring Car Cup. Since then, Macau had never held any rounds of the WTCR anymore due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Macau Guia Race was replaced by the TCR Asia Challenge in 2022. The local pandemic was over at the beginning of 2023, which made international racers and teams be able to compete there again. The 2023 Macau Guia Race was held by the Kumho TCR World Tour.

Starting from 2008, the Macau Touring Car Cup was added in the calendar. It has been the final round of the China Touring Car Championship since 2022.

Macau Guia Race (1972-)[edit]

  • Held races (including title sponsors)
    • 1972 - 1993: Guia Race of Macau
    • 1994: Guia Race of Macau - Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship
    • 1995 - 1999: Guia Race of Macau
    • 2000: Guia Race - Asia Touring Car Series
    • 2001: STDM Guia Race
    • 2002 - 2003: SJM Guia Race
    • 2004: SJM Guia Race - Worldwide Touring Car
    • 2005: FIA WTCC LG - Guia Race of Macau - Presented by SJM
    • 2006: FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau - Presented by SJM
    • 2007: FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau
    • 2008: FIA WTCC Canon - Guia Race of Macau
    • 2009: FIA WTCC Marriott - Guia Race of Macau - Presented by SJM
    • 2010 - 2012: FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau Presented by SJM
    • 2013: FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau - Presented by Star River.Windsor Arch
    • 2014: FIA WTCC - Guia Race of Macau - Presented by Suncity Group
    • 2015 - 2016: Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T
    • 2017: Suncity Group Macau Guia Race - FIA WTCC
    • 2018 - 2019: Suncity Group Macau Guia Race - FIA WTCR
    • 2020: Macau Guia Race
    • 2021: Galaxy Entertainment Macau Guia Race
    • 2022: Wynn Macau Guia Race - TCR Asia Challenge
    • 2023: Macau Guia Race - Kumho TCR World Tour

Macau Touring Car Cup (2008-)[edit]

  • Held races (including title sponsors)
    • 2008 - 2013: CTM Macau Touring Car Race
    • 2014 - 2017: CTM Macau Touring Car Cup
    • 2018 - 2019: FOOD4U Macau Touring Car Cup
    • 2020: Macau Touring Car Cup
    • 2021: Melco Macau Touring Car Cup
    • 2022: MGM Macau Touring Car Cup - China Touring Car Championship
    • 2023: Macau Touring Car Cup - China Touring Car Championship

Motorcycles[edit]

Ian Lougher at the 2006 Macau Grand Prix

Macau is a special event for motorcycle riders. The Motorcycle Grand Prix has featured notable top-level riders, with winners of the race including MotoGP World Champion Kevin Schwantz, Superbike World Champion Carl Fogarty, notable MotoGP rider Ron Haslam and Isle of Man legends Michael Rutter, Michael Dunlop, and John McGuinness. Because of the street circuit nature, the course is closer to the legendary British open-road races than a regulation MotoGP circuit.

In 2014, the award-winning documentary Macau Gladiators by German director Andreas Knuffmann appeared.[18] The movie is about the 2013 edition of the Motorcycle Grand Prix and followed the Team of Frank Heidger with the German Didier Grams (8th place) and his Belgian teammate Marc Fistette (DNF).

Winners[edit]

Year Motorcycle GP Winner Bike Tyres Report
1967 Japan Hiroshi Hasegawa Yamaha RD56
1968 Japan Hiroshi Hasegawa Yamaha 250
1969 Hong Kong John MacDonald Yamaha
1970 Indonesia Benny Hidayat Yamaha YR1
1971 Japan Akiyasu Motohashi Yamaha
1972 Japan Ikujiro Takai [ja] Yamaha TR3
1973 Japan Ken Araoka [ja] Suzuki RG500
1974 Japan Hiroyuki Kawasaki [ja] Yamaha
1975 Japan Hideo Kanaya Yamaha
1976 United Kingdom Chas Mortimer Yamaha
1977 United Kingdom Mick Grant Kawasaki KR750
1978 Japan Sadao Asami Yamaha TZ750
1979 Japan Sadao Asami Yamaha TZ750
1980 Japan Sadao Asami Yamaha TZ750
1981 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Honda RS1123
1982 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Honda RS1123
1983 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Honda NS500
1984 United Kingdom Mick Grant Suzuki RGB500
1985 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Honda RS500 Dunlop
1986 United Kingdom Ron Haslam Elf-Honda 3 [fr; de] Dunlop
1987 United Kingdom Ron Haslam ROC Elf-Honda 4 [fr; de] Michelin
1988 United States Kevin Schwantz Suzuki RGV500 Michelin
1989 United Kingdom Robert Dunlop Honda RC30
1990 United Kingdom Steve Hislop Honda RC30
1991 Belgium Didier de Radiguès Suzuki RGV500 Dunlop
1992 United Kingdom Carl Fogarty Harris Yamaha 500 Dunlop
1993 United Kingdom Steve Hislop ROC Yamaha 500
1994 United Kingdom Steve Hislop Harris Yamaha 500
1995 United Kingdom Mike Edwards ROC Yamaha 500 Michelin
1996 United Kingdom Phillip McCallen Yamaha YZR500 Michelin
1997 Switzerland Andreas Hofmann [de] Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R Michelin
1998 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Honda RVF750 RC45
1999 United Kingdom David Jefferies Yamaha YZF-R1
2000 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Yamaha YZF-R1 Dunlop
2001 United Kingdom John McGuinness Honda CBR954RR Dunlop
2002 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Ducati 998 Dunlop
2003 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Ducati 998 Dunlop
2004 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Honda CBR1000RR Michelin
2005 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Honda CBR1000RR Michelin
2006 United Kingdom Steve Plater Yamaha YZF-R1 Dunlop
2007 United Kingdom Steve Plater Yamaha YZF-R1 Dunlop
2008 United Kingdom Stuart Easton Honda CBR1000RR Pirelli
2009 United Kingdom Stuart Easton Honda CBR1000RR Pirelli
2010 United Kingdom Stuart Easton Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Pirelli
2011 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Ducati 1098 Pirelli
2012 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Honda CBR1000RR Pirelli
2013 United Kingdom Ian Hutchinson Yamaha YZF-R1 Dunlop
2014 United Kingdom Stuart Easton Kawasaki ZX-10R Metzeler
2015 United Kingdom Peter Hickman BMW S1000RR Dunlop
2016 United Kingdom Peter Hickman BMW S1000RR Metzeler
2017 United Kingdom Glenn Irwin Ducati 1199RS Metzeler
2018 United Kingdom Peter Hickman BMW S1000RR Dunlop
2019 United Kingdom Michael Rutter Honda RC213V-S [de; nl] Metzeler
2020

2021
Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic[19][20]
2022 Finland Erno Kostamo [fi] BMW S1000RR Metzeler
2023 United Kingdom Peter Hickman BMW M1000RR Dunlop
Source:[21]

GT (Grand Touring)[edit]

The Macau GT Cup was added in 2008.

The FIA GT World Cup is a race for GT3-spec cars, organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) and the Automobile General Association Macau-China (AAMC). The event was confirmed by the FIA at the World Motor Sport Council in Geneva on 20 March 2015.[22]

Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 in the 2010 Macau GT Cup

Macau GT Cup (2008-)[edit]

  • Held races (including title sponsors)
    • 2008 - 2010: Macau GT Cup
    • 2011: Windsor Arch Macau GT Cup
    • 2012 - 2013: City of Dreams Macau GT Cup
    • 2014: Macau GT Cup
    • 2015 - 2019: SJM Macau GT Cup - FIA GT World Cup
    • 2020: Macau GT Cup
    • 2021: Sands China Macau GT Cup
    • 2022: Galaxy Entertainment Macau GT Cup
    • 2023: Macau GT Cup - FIA GT World Cup

Greater Bay Area GT Cup (2018-)[edit]

  • Held races (including title sponsors)
    • 2018: Suncity Group Greater Bay Area Lotus Cup
    • 2019: Suncity Group Greater Bay Area GT Cup
    • 2020: Greater Bay Area GT Cup
    • 2021: MGM Greater Bay Area GT Cup
    • 2022: Melco Greater Bay Area GT Cup
    • 2023: Greater Bay Area GT Cup (GT3 & GT4)

Winners[edit]

Year Winning Driver Winning Manufacturer Car
Macau GT Cup
2008 Hong Kong Darryl O'Young not applicable Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
2009 Japan Keita Sawa Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
2010 Japan Keita Sawa Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
2011 Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Audi R8 LMS GT3
2012 Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Audi R8 LMS GT3
2013 Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Audi R8 LMS GT3
2014 Germany Maro Engel Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3
FIA GT World Cup
2015 Germany Maro Engel Germany Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3
2016 Belgium Laurens Vanthoor Germany Audi[23] Audi R8 LMS
2017 Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Germany Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG GT3
2018 Brazil Augusto Farfus Germany BMW BMW M6 GT3
2019 Switzerland Raffaele Marciello Germany Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG GT3
Macau GT Cup
2020 China Ye Hongli not applicable Mercedes-AMG GT3
2021 Hong Kong Darryl O'Young Mercedes-AMG GT3
2022 Germany Maro Engel Mercedes-AMG GT3
FIA GT World Cup
2023 Switzerland Raffaele Marciello Germany Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG GT3
Source:[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chan, Pedro (19 November 2016). "Hickman wins Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix". www.atimes.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. ^ Takuma Sato's demonstration of a hot lap around the Guia Circuit, Macau Grand Prix Committee official website Archived 2006-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Chan, Pedro (20 November 2016). "Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa clinches second Macau victory". www.atimes.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Fernando Macedo Pinto, one of the founders of the Macau Grand Prix" (in Portuguese). Blog Macau Antigo. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  5. ^ Smith, Roy (2010). Alpine & Renault: The Sports Prototypes, Volume 1, 1963–1969. Veloce Publishing Limited. pp. 108–110. ISBN 978-1-84584-191-1.
  6. ^ Smith, Roy (2010). Alpine & Renault: The Sports Prototypes, Volume 1, 1963–1969. Dorchester, Dorset, England: Veloce Publishing Limited. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-84584-191-1.
  7. ^ Lerner, Preston (25 November 2021). "Bob Earl: America's only Macau Grand Prix winner". Motor Sport magazine. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ^ "HISTORY of MACAU GP|YOKOHAMA TIRE|59th. MACAU GRANDPRIX [30th. Official Tyres supplier of MACAU F3]".
  9. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Hakkinen Vs Schumacher Macau Grand Prix 1990". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Lewis Hamilton column: Racing has become more strategic". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS UPDATED ON : 2023-10-22" (PDF). FIA. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ 風火台 2007-11-22 (Part 1 of 4), retrieved 2023-12-24
  13. ^ 風火台 2007-11-22 (Part 2 of 4), retrieved 2023-12-24
  14. ^ 風火台 2007-11-22 (Part 3 of 4), retrieved 2023-12-24
  15. ^ 風火台 2007-11-22 (Part 4 of 4), retrieved 2023-12-24
  16. ^ "Suggestion to move the GP to Cotai". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  17. ^ "2.5億大賽車疫下堅持舉辦惹爭議 體育局︰意義重大冀社會理解支持|論盡媒體 AAMacau". aamacau.com. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  18. ^ Macao Gladiators, facts about the movie.
  19. ^ Alladin, Unus (8 November 2020). "Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix cancelled as pandemic bites hard on showpiece two-wheel race". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  20. ^ Barstow, Ollie (29 October 2021). "Macau Grand Prix Motorcycle Race Left Off 2021 Schedule Again". Visordown. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Motorcycle Grand Prix Winners". Macau Grand Prix Committee. pp. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  22. ^ "GT World Cup in Macau confirmed". Motorsport.com. Smith, Sam. March 21, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  23. ^ "FIA GT World Cup won by driver on his roof". 20 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Macau GT Cup Winners". Macau Grand Prix Committee. pp. 2, 3. Retrieved 23 June 2023.

Notes[edit]


External links[edit]

22°11′50″N 113°33′10″E / 22.19722°N 113.55278°E / 22.19722; 113.55278