SUPPLEMENT THU 19.11.2015 PREVIEW World’s top carmakers take a shot at first-ever FIA GT World Cup PREVIEW World’s top carmakers take a shot at first-ever FIA GT World Cup Renato Marques IVE of the world’s most famous ma- nufacturers have signed on to race Fin the inaugural FIA GT World Cup. Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes- Benz and Porsche will be represented on the grid as manufacturers’ teams, and will battle it out right here in Macau for the first- ever FIA GT World Cup title. In his statement, Mr Christian Schacht, presi- dent of the FIA GT Com- mission, expressed his ex- citement to see the cars on Maro Engel track, saying: “This is the result of two success sto- ries: the FIA GT3 concept used in the majority of GT championships all over the world; and the legen- dary Macau Grand Prix.” Of course, a car without a driver is only half comple- Edoardo Mortara te, and the drivers’ entry list shows the successful Bamboo Racing will as a last-minute replace- combination highlighted Recently crowned GT represent Aston Mar- ment for Briton William by Mr Schacht, with some tin, with former Macau Buller on the FFF Racing of the finest tried-and-tes- champion in Japan, local GT Cup winner Darryl Team, partnering with lo- ted GT drivers in Europe racer André Couto will drive O’Young racing alongsi- cal hero and former Macau and the Asia-Pacific ste- de two experienced WEC F3 champion André Cou- pping up for the first FIA a McLaren drivers, Stefan Mücke to (recently crowned GT GT World Cup. Among and Richard Lyons. champion in Japan) and them will be five previous time winner on the Guia Der Zande, already pro- Brit McLaren also does Portugal’s Alvaro Parente, winners on the Guia cir- Circuit, “Mr. Macau” ved his value during last not want to go down wi- another very experienced cuit in various categories. Edoardo Mortara is lined year Macau GT Cup, fi- thout a fight, and has lined driver and long-time racer Germany’s Maro Engel, up to chase his sixth vic- nishing second. This year, up a set of experienced dri- for McLaren. Renger Van Der Zande winner of the Macau GT tory in a brand-new Audi he will be aiming for no- vers for the Guia Circuit. Germany’s Porsche is Cup last year, will return R8 LMS. thing less than the top Frenchman Kevin Estre, bringing all the artillery, ner Earl Bamber of New with the Mercedes AMG Engel’s teammate at step of the podium. an experienced FIA Endu- starting with 2015 Le Zealand. Bamber has Driving Academy. A five- Mercedes, Renger Van Hong Kong’s Craft- rance driver, is competing Mans 24 Hours win- entered as part of LKM Felix Rosenqvist Jake Dennis Lance Stroll II thu 19.11.2015 PREVIEW Racers visit some of World’s top carmakers take a shot at first-ever FIA GT World Cup the city’s landmarks cing for the title, there will be other entries to look out for. We cannot forget the three Ferrari entries: Thailand’s Pa- sin Lathouras on the AF Corse team, and also Sin- gapore’s Mok Weng Sun, Aston Martin, Audi, McLaren, Mercedes- Participants met with enthusiastic primary school students ROUND 40 Macau Grand Prix racers visited Benz and Athe territory’s iconic A-Ma Temple yesterday Porsche will afternoon, before heading to a brief meeting with enthusiastic primary school students at the Macau Maro Engel be officially Science Centre. The legion of top racers visited the temple as a represented way to mark a decade since the region’s historic center was entered into UNESCO’s World Herita- who will be competing in ge list. After that, the group headed for the center, the colors of Clearwater where they handed out autographed posters to Racing. schoolboys from two Portuguese schools. Not racing for the title Their appearance in the city also attracted a but always competitive, curious crowd. Local racer Chang Wing Chung, Bentley will field former who will be participating in the Formula 3 (F3) two-time Macau GT Cup event, told the media that he could not wait to take winner Keita Sawa of Ja- to the circuit. pan, his GT Asia Series “I hope I can go faster this year and get into the teammate Adderly Fong top ten,” said the secondary school teenager, who of Hong Kong, and Jacky finished 19th out of 21 last year. Yeung, also of Hong Kong Daniel Juncadella, the 2011 winner of the F3 – all signed in by Absolute race is Chang’s teammate this year for Fortec Racing. Out of the factory Motorsport, a group with a wealth of experience teams, two more Audis in this region’s races, and Chang believed that the will participate, driven by top racer could offer him insights into the com- Taiwan’s Jeffrey Lee and petition. Renger Van Der Zande Hong Kong’s Philip Ma. Stuart Easton, who is the defending champion All of the ingredients in the motorcycle race after triumphing last year, Racing’s team. He will be thikorn Inthraphuvasak Derdaele of Belgium. seem to be prepared for said he has fully recovered from his broken leg partnering with Porsche from Thailand and a ta- In addition to the five a fantastic first-ever FIA sustained during the first British Superbike Cham- Carrera Cup Asia’s Vut- lented newcomer, Dylan main manufacturers ra- GT World Cup. pionship at Brands Hatch in July. Renato Marques JM Theodore Racing is Theodore Racing ready for record battle Shoping for a record eigh- th Macau Grand Prix victory this year. It was the team’s Felix Rosenqvist, as well as year I return as the reigning likely to challenge the team dore line-up is Lance Stroll, principal, Mr Teddy Yip Jr, of two prominent newco- champion and also a Cham- leader. And although he is a a rookie who obtained fifth who made the announcement mers, Brit Jake Dennis and pion of the F3 European newbie in Macau, he proved place overall and a race win as part of the team’s official Canadian national Lance Championship and I think I his capabilities by finishing in his maiden season in Eu- presentation to the media at Stroll. have every possible tool to third place in the European ropean F3. Stroll, who has a the Grand Lisboa Hotel. The Swedish Rosenqvist, F3 Championship this year. contract with Ferrari throu- “Last year, we arrived racing in Macau for his sixth “I’m hugely excited to be gh its Driver Academy, ex- in Macau as champions consecutive year, will be the in Macau this year for what pressed his feelings about following our successful re- team leader. He achieved his The city and will be my first attempt. Ha- his first impression of Macau turn to racing in Macau in best result in 2014 with a win ving arrived yesterday, the saying, “Like Jake, this is my 2013 with Alex Lynn. This after having finished 2nd in racetrack look city and racetrack look in- first visit to Macau and alrea- year, we return to Macau 2012. credible and the people are dy I can see a fantastic place driven to capture a record “I have raced at the Macau incredible. very accommodating. I had and what this amazing street eighth title with a perfect Grand Prix for a number of three pole positions and two circuit has to offer. This year three-car line-up to help us years and I am extremely Jake Dennis victories at a street circuit is my first in Formula 3 and to achieve this success,” Mr pleased to return this year earlier this year so I am fee- I had my first race victory at Yip Jr said. to a place where I achieved succeed again,” Rosenqvist ling confident going into the the season finale last month. The team’s line-up this year success before, this time as said. weekend. It feels great to be With SJM Theodore Racing, hinges on the success of Ma- an SJM Theodore Racing by Partnering with the top part of the SJM Theodore I believe I can continue this cau reigning champion and Prema driver, a privilege I star will be two rookies. Bri- Racing team,” Dennis said. form and challenge for a very Lance Stroll 2015 European F3 Champion am hugely thankful for. This tish national Jake Dennis is Completing the SJM Theo- strong result.” III thu 19.11.2015 Renato Marques PREVIEW ELD every year since H1967, the Macau Motorcy- cle Grand Prix is one the most captivating races in the Grand Returns and surprises for Prix program. The almost fifty-year-old event has drawn the world’s 49th Motorcycle GP attention, especially among in- ternational motorcycle road ra- cing fans and participants. This year, as has become a habit, the entry list presents a broad mix of motorcycle racers from across the globe, inclu- ding the best riders from the European road racing cham- pionship. Among the 32 riders from 11 different countries and territo- ries listed to participate are four former winners and competition record-holders: Stuart Easton, Ian Hutchinson, Michael Rutter and John McGuinness. Michael Rutter Stuart Easton folowed by Lee Johnson Easton returns in top form on the hunt for his fifth Macau year’s edition, at least in part Circuit in the past, and is back Macau’s CF Racing Team 32 win, partnering with Ian Hut- Stuart Easton motivated by his three wins at after two years of absence.