Macau Grand Prix: High-speed Far East street circuit resembles Monaco GP
- Published
Seven-time World Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton in action at the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix in 2004
Think of Formula 1 legends such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and David Coulthard racing around a demanding narrow street circuit surrounded by uncompromising crash barriers and high-rise buildings and you naturally think of the Monaco Grand Prix.
They, along with other well known drivers such as Mika Hakkinen, Ralf Schumacher and Riccardo Patrese, have however also competed at what many regard as a Far East version of the European circuit which comprises similarly fast straights and tight corners.
The 3.8-mile Guia course hosts both two and four wheel motorsport as part of the Macau Grand Prix, an annual standalone event which returns to a full quota of races this year after disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The races in southern China did not take place in 2020 and 2021, while prohibitive quarantine regulations meant that a number of leading competitors, particularly in the motorcycling section, did not take part in 2022.
The FIA Formula 3 and GT World Cup races are back for the first time in four years as part of a busy schedule, the event being staged over two weekends for the first time, starting on 11 November.
Also featuring are the Macau 70th Anniversary Challenge, Macau Guia race, the TCR World Tour final and the Macau Touring Car Cup.
Despite not being part of the glamour F1 calendar, the Guia course is regarded as one of the most iconic circuits in motorsport.
The race is remarkable for its longevity, in light of the fact that that few Grand Prix events are hosted on a track whose layout has been unchanged for 70 years.
The Monaco Grand Prix is staged on a challenging 3.34-kilometre track and is renowned for its tight corners with very little room for error. At 6.2km, the similarly narrow and unforgiving Guia circuit is longer and has more turns, 24 as opposed to Monaco's 19.
The natural hazards presented by a course of the nature of Macau have been highlighted by the deaths of five racecar drivers, plus nine motorcycle fatalities, the most recent being Englishman Dan Hegarty in 2017.
Motorcycle road racers regularly compete
Michael Rutter has won the Macau motorcycle grand prix a record nine times
Despite the course more resembling a short circuit with walls rather than a traditional public roads course, the meeting regularly attracts some of the top motorcycle 'road' racers, who regularly compete in events like the Isle of Man TT and North West 200.
Previous winners of the two-wheel category have also included former 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz, four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty and ex-grand prix competitor Ron Haslam.
English rider Michael Rutter, accomplished on both roads and short circuit courses during a lengthy career, holds the record for the most wins with nine victories, while road racing greats like Peter Hickman, John McGuinness, the late Robert Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson have all stood on the top step of the podium at the traditional November speed spectacular.
Rutter joins 13-time TT winner Hickman and event newcomer Josh Brookes in forming a strong looking FHO Racing BMW line-up for this year's event. The team is owned and managed by Macau entrepreneur Faye Ho.
The addition of two-time British Superbike champion Brookes to the starting grid is a notable coup for the meeting, the Australian having already raced at both the TT and NW200.
The Australian is part of an invitation-only field for the 55th edition of the two-wheel section of the race, which also includes his compatriot David Johnson and a significant number of UK and Irish riders, including NW200 race winner and TT podium finisher Davey Todd, another TT rostrum finisher in Paul Jordan.
Last year's winner, Finland's Erno Kostamo, returns on a BMW, along with 2022 runner-up, Germany's David Datzer.
Hickman will start as pre-race favourite as he aims to turn the tables on Rutter, who was classified as the winner of the controversial 2019 race, which was declared a result based on the positions after just one lap following a second red-flag stoppage.
Free practice for the motorcycling event is scheduled for Thursday 16 November, followed by qualifying on 17 November and the 12-lap race on 18 November.