Tough races, supercharged machines, determined drivers and lots of memorable victories at the Diamond Jubilee Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix celebrated its 60th anniversary last month with six full days of spectacular motor racing, involving 350 drivers from 38 countries and territories competing in 13 race categories. For the 111,000 motor sports enthusiasts who attended, it was indeed a week of unparrelled action.
The first weekend started under grey skies and drizzling rain, but it was not enough to stop the drivers from taking to the Guia circuit for some serious competition. Highlights included great battles in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Audi R8 LMS Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series, and Formula Masters China Series.
The sun came out for the second weekend allowing for perfect dry racing conditions for the Macau GT Cup, Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, the final leg of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and of the course the Formula 3 Grand Prix.
It was certainly a successful weekend for the British, with Alex Lynn taking an impressive victory in the F3 race, Robert Huff winning the second WTCC race, and the entire podium of the Motorcycle GP standing proudly beneath the Union Jack.
On the bikes, Ian Hutchinson fought hard against fellow Brit and Macau champion Michael Rutter to take a convincing win, denying Rutter is ninth Macau victory. Gary Johnson completed the English dominance on two wheels, coming in third.
Also demonstrating the UK’s F3 prowess, 18-year-old Jordan King was the best-placed rookie at the end of the event and even recorded the fastest lap of the race, with 2 minutes 11.547 seconds.
Finally, Italian Edoardo Mortara proved without any doubt that his title of ‘Mr Macau’ is well deserved as he took the checkered flag in both the Audi R8 LMS Cup race on weekend one, and the GT Cup race on weekend two.
A Win for Lynn
After winning the 10-lap qualification lap and taking pole position for the main event, Alex Lynn went on to dominate the 31st Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, holding off last year’s winner Antonio Felix da Costa who still managed an impressive second place. “I can’t really put it into words. I’ve dreamed of winning this race ever since I left here finishing in third [last year]”, said Lynn after the race. “All I wanted to do was come back here and win and I can’t believe I’ve actually done it”. Lynn was racing with the Theodore Racing team, the team that was started by the famous local racing figure Teddy Yip (aka 'Mr Macau Grand Prix') in the 1970’s. The team name made a special return to Macau to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's Macau victory. Crossing the line just 1.17 seconds behind Lynn, Da Costa, who was a late confirmation for this year’s event, started from fourth on the grid but fought hard to work his way forward and benefitted from the retirement of Felix Rosenqvist in just the first lap. Finishing in third place was Brazilian Pipo Derani, improving on his sixth position last year.
Top 3 Brits
Returning from an 18-month layoff due to injury, 34-year-old Yorkshireman Ian Hutchinson rode a brilliant race in the Motorcycle Grand Prix, leading compatriots Michael Rutter and Gary Johnson across the line. “It’s probably one of the most special wins I’ve ever had with what’s gone on in the last few years”, said Hutchinson. Rutter was looking for his ninth Macau win, but got caught up in traffic in the final lap. He was quick to acknowledge Hutchinson’s great performance: “It’s definitely one of the toughest races [I’ve had] here. I tried as hard as I could. I led for a bit and tried to make a bit of a gap, but wasn’t surprised when he past me. I made up a bit of ground but to be fair to Ian, he looked dead smooth”.
WTCC
Newly-crowned FIA WTCC champion Yvan Muller dominated the first race in Macau, confidently stamping his mark on the end of a great season for the Frenchman. No stranger to the Macau circuit, and driving a Chevrolet for the final time before switching to Citroen next year, Muller had no trouble taking the checkered flag ahead of Tiago Monteiro and Rob Huff. Huff went on to win the second race, which was heavily interrupted and saw two multiple-car pile-ups causing significant delays. The win was enough to bump him up to fourth position overall for the season. “It was always going to be tough so I’m very happy with the results. I seem to click around here, it just works,” said Huff.
Mortara unstoppable
Showing his dominance once again in Macau, Edoardo Mortara won the Macau GT Cup for the third year in a row behind the wheel of his Audi R8 LMS. However, it was a tougher race than previous ones for the Italian, who started in second position on the grid behind Maro Engel’s Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 R. After a crash involving several cars in the first lap brought out the safety car, Mortara dropped back to fourth. Engel then looked set for a win until a flat front tyre put an end to his race in lap 8. Alex Imperatori then moved into first place in his Porsche 911 GT3 R, but Mortara was on the move and finally took over the lead on the penultimate lap. Imperatori then dropped back to third to finish behind Danny Watts in his MacLaren MP4-12C. “When people say it’s easy for me to win here, I think today you see how difficult it is. This is probably the nicest victory I have had here and one I will never, never forget,” said Mortara.
The father-daughter team of Charoensukhawatana Nattavude and Charoensukhawatana Tanchanook of Thailand made history on the Macau Guia circuit by taking first and third places respectively in the nine-lap Cotai Strip Resorts Lotus Greater China Race. The win was Nattavude’s fourth in Macau, having triumphed in both car and motorcyle racing here. Tanchanook also becomes the first female driver to ever take a pole position in Macau.
It was a very pleasing race day for local driving hero Andre Couto who came second in the Audi R8 LMS Cup, despite wet conditions and an unfamiliar car. Teaming up with another Macau champion, Edoardo Mortara, the pair crossed the finish line in first and second for the Brothers Racing Team. After some disappointing performances in Macau in recent years driving in the WTCC races, Couto was happy to finally make it back on to the podium in front of his hometown fans, the first time since his F3 victory in 2000. “I’m very satisfied with second place and I’m very happy to be on the podium with Edoardo. We have both won in Formula 3 in Macau so this is a good souvenir photo opportunity”.
Other winners
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Earl Bamber (NZL)
Audi R8 LMS Cup – Edoardo Mortara (ITA)
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series – Max Wiser (ITA)
Formula Masters China Series – Akash Nandy (MAL)
Macau CTM Cup – Andy Yan Cheuk Wai (HK)
Hotel Fortuna MAC / HKG Interport Race – Billy Lo Kai Fun (HK)
Scirocco R China Masters Challenge – Duncan Huisman (NLD)
Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge – Sun Tit Fan (MAC)
