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At 60, Macau GP shows no signs of slowing down
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It started as a motorized treasure hunt, but then grew to become one of the world’s most respected races, nurturing some of Formula One’s greatest champions along the way.
And as it celebrates its 60th edition, the Macau Grand Prix is showing no signs of slowing down. Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel are just a few of the drivers who have braved the twisting, hilly street circuit.
It is Asia’s version of the famous Monaco Formula One track, complete with the casinos, and it is recognized as one of the toughest challenges in racing.
Central Macau shuts down during grand prix week, this year spread over a fortnight to commemorate the 60th race since its humble beginnings in 1954.
Roads are fenced off and barriers go up to form the 6.2-kilometer Guia circuit, mixing long, harborside straights with chases up and down Macau’s steep, narrow back streets.
“The track is a freak of nature and it’s a miracle. If God ever built a racetrack, it would be the one in Macau,” former driver and TV commentator Matthew Marsh said.
Macau, an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong, is the culmination of the Formula Three season, bringing together the best drivers from the category’s various series around the world. Brazil’s Senna won the inaugural Formula Three race in 1983, and Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton also went from Macau to winning the F1 world championship.
Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas are others among the current F1 drivers who have raced in Macau, testament to its enduring place in the sport. But Macau also features, uniquely, motorcycle racing, as well as touring car and sportscar series such as the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, coordinator of the grand prix committee, said the race had grown with the city on its journey from sleepy backwater to world-leading gambling hub.
“The Macau Grand Prix, like the city, continues to grow and develop,” said Antunes, adding that it remains the “place to spot the brightest talent.” It is “the only time the drivers from the various national and regional F3 championships compete against each other,” he added.
This year’s program features six days of racing culminating in the Formula Three race on Sunday.
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