ISSUE 3 | 2018 STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP PROMISES ELECTRIFYING NOVEMBER THE MACAU GRAND PRIX ORGANIZING COMMITTEE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT our days of non-stop action are set to electrify the Guia street circuit The field also includes a female driver, German Sophia Flörsch, who makes this month as drivers and riders arrive for the 65th running of the her Macao debut with Van Amersfoort Racing. Making his first appearance F Macau Grand Prix. The six-race programme includes three FIA on his “home” track is 17-year-old Macao driver Charles Leong Hon Chio World Cups: the Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – FIA F3 World of Hitech GP, who is currently fourth in the new F3 Asian Championship Cup; the SJM Macau GT Cup – FIA GT World Cup and the Suncity Group Certified by FIA. Macau Guia Race – FIA WTCR. This year marks the 52nd edition of the Far East Classic – the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, while two SJM Macau GT Cup – FIA GT World Cup support races showcase local and regional talent in the FOOD4U Macau Touring Car Cup and the new Suncity Group Greater Bay Area Lotus Cup. About to celebrate its 11th edition, the SJM Macau GT Cup is the official FIA GT World Cup for the fourth year and this year’s entry sees no fewer than Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix seven former Guia Circuit winners compete amongst a stellar entry which – FIA F3 World Cup also includes the participation of five manufacturers. Designated the official FIA F3 World Cup for the third consecutive year, the Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix continues its tradition as motorsport’s proving ground. The jewel in the Formula 3 crown, this year’s entry continues to reflect the Grand Prix’s tradition of inviting the category’s best and brightest talent from around the world to compete on the challenging Guia Circuit. Champions from both the FIA F3 European Championship and the Japanese Formula 3 Championship return to Macao this year. Mick Schumacher, whose father Michael won the race in 1990 before going on to become a seven-time F1 world champion, won the European F3 title last month and will race at Macao with SJM Theodore Racing by PREMA. Newly crowned Japanese F3 champion Sho Tsuboi of TOM’S makes his third visit to Macao. EDOARDO MORTARA WON LAST YEAR’S MACAU GT CUP – FIA GT WORLD CUP “Mr. Macao” Edoardo Mortara has won the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice and the Macau GT Cup four times, including last year. His Mercedes- AMG Team GruppeM Racing team mate at Macao is Maro Engel, a two-time Macau GT Cup winner. Augusto Farfus of BMW Team Schnitzer is a former Macau Guia Race winner, while Craft Bamboo Racing driver Darryl O’Young MICK SCHUMACHER DAN TICKTUM won the inaugural Macau GT Cup back in 2008. Oliver Jarvis returns to the Guia Circuit for the first time since his 2007 F3 Macau Grand Prix victory, Last year’s winner Dan Ticktum returns to defend his title with Motopark this time with KCMG, while Manthey-Racing features 2016 Macau GT Cup Academy as the European F3 runner-up vies to become just the fourth winner Laurens Vanthoor and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours champion driver to win the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice. The 28-strong grid Earl Bamber. also includes Robert Shvartzman, the top rookie and third overall in the FIA F3 European Championship, who makes his Macao debut as Schumacher’s The marques doing battle for the 2018 FIA GT World Cup for Manufacturers team mate. are Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche. MACAU GRAND PRIX GAZETTE ISSUE 3 | 2018 1 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race – FIA WTCR The Macau Guia Race will this year count as the season finale of the inaugural WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup, with the biggest names in touring car racing contesting an eagerly-anticipated triple-header. The star-studded entry includes winners from international, regional and domestic “tin-top” championships. Heading the line-up is Rob Huff who holds the record for the greatest number of wins at Macao – an incredible nine victories. MICHAEL RUTTER AT LAST YEAR’S MACAU GRAND PRIX ROB HUFF HAS NINE MACAO VICTORIES TO HIS NAME Huff will be joined by a number of fan favourites including two-time Guia Race winner Yvan Muller, FIA WTCR front runner Gabriele Tarquini, 2009 F3 Macau Grand Prix runner-up Jean-Karl Vernay and two-time DTM PETER HICKMAN JOHN MCGUINNESS champion Timo Scheider, who makes his Guia Circuit debut. Plenty of familiar faces return to the Guia Circuit, including Gary Johnson, Macao Grand Prix fans will be able to throw their support behind six Macao Didier Grams, Horst Saiger and Steve Heneghan, while the field also drivers. André Couto, the winner of the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix in includes Portugal’s André Pires. Several newcomers are set to make their 2000, will be joined by fellow Macao drivers Filipe de Souza, Lam Kam San, Guia street circuit debuts this year including: Britons Craig Neve, Davey Rui Valente, Kevin Tse and Lo Kai Fung. Todd, Dominic Herbertson, Paul Jordan, Rob Hodson, Daley Mathison and Phillip Crowe. Joining them are Andrew Dudgeon from the Isle of Man, Raül Torras of Spain and Finn Erno Kostamo. Support Programme Two support races promise plenty of thrills and spills. The long-running Macau Touring Car Cup returns this year with new race sponsor FOOD4U and, for the second year, continues the two-class format it introduced in 2017. The 36-strong field qualified for the Macao showcase via the Macao Motorsport Festival held over the summer, and cars will compete in either the 1600cc Turbo or 1950cc and over categories. This year’s entry features drivers from Macao, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Japan. The Suncity Group Greater Bay Area Lotus Cup makes its debut on the CURRENT FIA WTCR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER GABRIELE TARQUINI Macau Grand Prix programme this year. With the aim of further promoting motorsport activity and knowledge exchange within the Greater Bay Suncity Group Area, 21 drivers from across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao will Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 52nd Edition compete in identical Lotus Exige V6 Cup R380 cars. Recognised as one of the world’s premier international road races, the Against the glittering backdrop of the city-wide Grand Prix carnival, Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has been held since 1967. This year the entry the biggest names in motorsport will be joined by world champions of includes three former winners who, between them, have an incredible 11 tomorrow as they do battle on the iconic Guia street circuit. Get in on the Macao victories. action at the Suncity Group 65th Macau Grand Prix! The 28-strong line-up is truly international, bringing the world’s top road racers together for a combination of experience and up-and-coming talent. Eight-time winner and the “Two-Wheel King of Macao” Michael Rutter is back and on the hunt for a ninth win. Rutter races with the new Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing Team and will be joined on the squad by Peter Hickman, winner at Macao in 2015 and 2016. Having missed the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix last year due to injury, 2001 Macao champion and 23-time Isle of Man TT race winner John McGuinness makes a welcome return to the SAR. Joining McGuinness on the Tak Chun Group by PBM team is Martin Jessopp, a multiple Macao podium finisher. 2 MACAU GRAND PRIX GAZETTE ISSUE 3 | 2018 GET INVOLVED YOUR GUIDE TO THE SUNCITY GROUP 65TH MACAU GRAND PRIX THE ANNUAL SUPERCAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW AT TAP SEAC SQUARE t’s time to celebrate the 65th edition of the legendary Macau Grand Prix, Residents have also had the chance to showcase their creative side with and with tons of fun events and activities taking place across Macao so a creative photo collection activity for the 65th Macau Grand Prix. Entries residents and visitors can get involved! opened on the official Macau Grand Prix WeChat page in October, with many fans enjoying the opportunity to relive some of their favourite Grand On the weekend of November 3 and 4, a mini Grand Prix Carnival at Tap Prix moments. Seac Square was a festival suited to the entire family. Entry to the carnival was free of charge, and a variety of entertainment and Grand Prix-themed Tickets for this year’s Macau Grand Prix are still on sale, with seats activities made brushing up on your Grand Prix knowledge both fun priced from just MOP50. Residents and visitors will also have plenty of and enjoyable. opportunities to catch the action live while they’re out and about during the event, with giant screens placed all around Macao. Make sure to The BOC Series Charity Event: Celebrating the 65th Macau Grand Prix – Guia check the official Macau Grand Prix website at www.macau.grandprix. Circuit Fun Run saw 2,000 local residents take to the 6.2km Guia street gov.mo for details or download the official app so you can keep right circuit and, for the first time ever, run the iconic track. The fun run took up to speed. place the morning of Sunday, November 11, giving local racing fans a truly unique Macau Grand Prix experience. The Macau Food Festival is always a favourite with local residents and visitors. Bringing together cuisines from the world over, it’s the perfect Following the Grand Prix Carnival, Tap Seac Square continued to be the complement to the 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy and Grand Prix week.