It’s once again time for some of the best drivers in the world to converge on the city for the Suncity Group 62nd Macau Grand Prix. This year the event will welcome 228 competitors from a total of 31 countries and territories, including 49 drivers from Macau. There are four major race categories:
Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – FIA F3 Intercontinental Cup; Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 49th Edition; the SJM Macau GT Cup – FIA GT World Cup; and the new Macau Guia Race 2.0T
Best and Fastest
Formula 3 has become the most competitive breeding ground for future Formula 1 stars. Of this year’s 20 drivers in F1, 13 have tested their metal in Macau previously. This year marks the 33rd running of the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, and there will be a full 28-car field of the world’s very best up-and-coming talent, all determined to get their names up alongside the prestigious list of past winners. A total of eight Formula 1 World Champions have competed in the famous F3 race on the Guia Circuit including the legendary Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard, as well as today’s F1 superstars Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo. Here are few hot drivers to look out for this year.
Felix Rosenqvist
The 2014 Macau winner is returning this year as the newly-crowned FIA F3 European Champion, with SJM Theodore Racing by Prema Powerteam. He will be trying to follow in the footsteps of Edoardo Mortara to become only the second person to ever win the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice.
Antonio Giovinazzi
The Italian driver was European championship runner-up to Rosenqvist and will be racing with the Carlin Team.
Charles Leclerc
The winner of the European F3 rookie title this year makes his debut in Macau racing with the Dutch-based, Volkswagen-powered Van Amersfoort Racing team.
Nick Cassidy
The young New Zealander came an impressive third position last year in his first ever Macau Race. This year, he won the All Japan F3 Championship so will be a major contender in Macau.
Kenta Yamashita
Yamashita finished in second place in this year’s All Japan F3 Championship just behind Cassidy, and will join him as teammates racing with the successful TOM’s Team, who have won the Macau Grand Prix more times than any other outfit.
Daniel Juncadella
The Spaniard driver was the winner of the 2012 Macau Grand Prix and will be eager to get back on the podium this year.
Martin Cao
China’s Martin Cao was the 2014 British F3 champion. He failed to finish last year in Macau so will be looking for better fortunes this year.
Li Zhi Cong
Also representing China, Cong will race with Swiss team Jo Zeller Racing. He has never contested the Macau Grand Prix but has experience on the Guia circuit from Formula BMW Pacific and also finished fifth in the Macau GT Cup in 2013.
Pietro Fittipaldi
Racing for the Fortec Team, the Brazilian driver is the grandson of racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi, and is making his Macau debut this year.
Andy Chang Wing Chung
Joining Fittipaldi with Fortec is local Macau driver Andy Chang who has been competing in the F3 European Championships this year.
Jake Dennis
The Brit finished in third place overall in the F3 European Championships and will make his Macau debut driving for SJM Theodore Racing by Prema Powerteam.
Flying Scotsman
The year’s lineup for the 49th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix is another international field, including riders from Europe, America, Australia and South Africa. Amongst the 31 riders from 11 different countries and territories are no fewer than four previous winners, all of them some of the biggest names in international road racing.
Stuart Easton
The Scotsman returned to Macau last year after a three-year absence due to injury and won the race in great style. Returning this year he is a strong contender and will be looking for his fifth win.
Ian Hutchinson
The Yorkshireman won here in 2013 and will be hoping to repeat that feat.
Michael Rutter
The winner of more Macau Motorcycle GP titles than any other rider, the ever-strong Michael Rutter will be aiming for his ninth victory. He will be riding a BMW, a marque which is on the hunt for its first Macau win.
New Look
The Guia Race was first held in 1972 and since 2005 has been the season finale for the World Touring Car Championships. This year sees the beginning of an exciting new era in the road race with the inaugural TCR International Series. The TCR series allows for 2.0 litre turbo engines and advocates controlled costs with most parts of the car having to comply with the relevant Regulations. This results in races which are fair, highly competitive and create a level playing field for participating drivers and teams. Despite the new regulations, this year’s race will see some familiar faces on the grid bringing a wealth of experience and skill.
Rob Huff
The ‘king of Macau’, Huff has won here an incredible seven times, and will be out to add to that tally in a WestCoast Racing Honda.
Alain Menu
Three-time winner at Macau, Alain Menu returns, this time in a Top Run Motorsport Subaru STI TCR.
Jordi Gené
Runner up to David Coulthard here in the 1991 F3 Macau Grand Prix, Gene has had a subsequent successful 20-year touring car career and is a multiple TCR International Series race winner this season. He will make his return in a SEAT León.
Rodolfo Avila
Local racing hero Avila is currently in sixth position in this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and will be hoping for good results in front of his home town fans, driving with Asian Racing Team in a SEAT León.
Added Recognition
This year marks an important milestone for the Macau GT Cup, first run in 2008, as it receives recognition from the FIA and becomes the world’s first FIA GT World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix. The selection by the FIA of Macau as the venue for the race is recognition of Macau’s important position in the history of motorsport. The event will include five manufacturer entries: Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Each of the five manufacturers competing for the FIA World Cup title may run up to three cars. There will be 24 drivers on the starting grid from 14 countries and territories including five former race winners.
Maro Engel
The German driver cruised to his first GT Cup victory last year and returns once again as part of the Mercedes AMG Driving Academy manufacturer entry, this year driving the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.
Edoardo Mortara
Dubbed ‘Mr Macau’, the Italian has had great success in Macau winning back-to-back F3 GP’s and a hattrick in the GT Cup. Last year he could only manage third place and will be determined to regain the trophy in his Audi R8 LMS.
Renger van der Zande
Teaming up with Maro Engels once again, the Dutchman was second across the line last year and is sure to want to repeat the Mercedes AMG dominance of 2014.
Earl Bamber
Porsche is represented by 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Earl Bamber of New Zealand. Bamber came in eight in last year’s GT Cup and is entered with LKM Racing in his 997 GT3-R.
Chris van der Drift
Joining Bamber is fellow New Zealander and current Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship leader, Chris van der Drift. He is making his Macau debut.
André Couto
Another local driving hero and a regular at Macau in F3, touring cars and GT cars over the past 20 years, Couto will be representing the McLaren marques in a 650S GT3 for the FFF Racing Team. He recently won the GT300 Japan Super GT championship.
Darryl O’Young
Winner of the inaugural GT Cup in 2008, O’Young is teaming up with the Craft-Bamboo entry in Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
The Suncity Group 62nd Macau Grand Prix
Thursday November 19 – Sunday November 22
www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo
