Every November the city braces itself as the streets come alive with the breathtaking speed and ear piercing noise of the world-renowned Macau Grand Prix. And this year will be a double event spread over two weekends in celebration of the 60th anniversary of this very unique and thrilling motorsports meet.
This year’s Macau Grand Prix will be held on November 9 and 10, then continuing on from November 14 to 17.
The first weekend of the event will feature some familiar race categories such as the Hotel Fortuna MAC/HKG Interport Race and the CTM Macau Touring Car Cup, as well as some exciting new races including the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, the Audi R8 LMS Cup and the Formula Masters China Series.
NEW RACES, FAMILIAR FACES
The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series kicked off in Europe in 2009 and made its Asian series debut just last year. Its second year in Asia coincides with the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini. The enhanced Gallardo LP 570-4’s are taking to circuits in Shanghai, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, before heading to Macau for the grand final.
Making its return to the Guia circuit after a six year hiatus, local Porsche fans will be ecstatic to welcome back the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Local Macau driver Rodolfo Avila has had great success in this series, placing second overall in 2011, and third overall in 2012.
This year he is currently in third place, just in front of another familiar face in Macau, Japanese driver Keita Sawa, who won the GT Cup in Macau in 2009 and 2010. Avila however, has always struggled to find real form on his home track so will definitely be looking to change that trend this year.
Another debut event this year is the Formula Masters China Series, a brand new formula series aiming to develop young racers and add another element to the Chinese and Asian motorsport scene. In its inaugural year, the single-seater series features cars powered by Volkswagen 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated in-line 4-cylinder engines with output of 132 kW and 200Nm of torque at 6000 rpm.
Macau fans are familiar with seeing the Audi R8 tearing up the circuit in the annual Macau GT Cup, but this year there is an added treat with the arrival of the Audi R8 LMS Cup. The series kicked off last year in China and is the first Audi one-make series in the world. In 2013, the series has expanded across Asia, with additional races in South Korea, Malaysia, and now its grand final in Macau.
Once again the driver lineup includes drivers who have experience on the Guia Circuit – Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee (2012 Audi R8 LMS Cup champion) and former Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong of Malaysia. Only minimal adjustments are permitted under the series regulations, allowing pure racing talent to shine. The 2013 version of the R8 features improved aerodynamics and optimised engine mapping.
AND THEN THERE'S MORE
With appetites whetted by the first weekend, motorsports fans will be packing the stands and eyeing the grid again just a few days later for the next weekend of racing, which will include the traditional major events plus some more new additions.
The Star River-Windsor Arch Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Suncity Group Macau Roadsport Challenge, the FIA WTCC, the City of Dreams Macau GT Cup and of course the main event, the Star River-Windsor Arch Formula 3 Grand Prix will all take place on the second weekend, making for a superb line up of racing categories.
Two special races will also be held to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Macau Grand Prix: The Lotus Greater China Race and the Master Challenge.
The Lotus Greater China Race is an exclusive, one-make event, featuring a special limited edition Lotus Elise 1.6 Club Racer.
In the Master Challenge, some of the Macau Grand Prix’s best known former competitors as well as some of Asia’s most successful drivers, will all compete in Volkswagen Scirocco R racing cars, the same model used in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup China Series.
As usual, the headline Motorcycle GP, GT Cup, WTCC and F3 events will attract some of the very best drivers from all around the world, and with two full weekends of thrilling racing, the 60th Macau Grand Prix is definitely not to be missed.
www.grandprix.gov.mo
