Macau Grand Prix

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia


The Macau Grand Prix is an event held in November in the streets of Macau. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held; every year the event gathers more than 300 among racing drivers and riders.

Since 2005, the double header Guia Race for touring cars is also the final race of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

One of the highlights of the weekend is the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, in which 30 national F3 champions take part. Due to the challenging nature of the circuit, which ranges from fast straights to tight hairpins, this Grand Prix is known as one where the most talented drivers emerge. Many Formula One drivers won here earlier in their careers; among them, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Takuma Sato.

Contents

History

The Macau Grand Prix was originally conceived in 1954 as a treasure hunt around the streets of the city, but shortly after it was suggested that the hunt's track could host an amateur racing event for local motor enthusiasts. The race continued as an amateurish race until 1966, when Belgian driver Mauro Bianchi entered the race with a car by Renault Sport, mostly to promote Renault's image in Hong Kong; this led to more and more professional teams to enter the Grand Prix.

The motorcycle race was introduced in 1967, and in that year the first fatal tragedy struck the race: double champion Dodjie Laurel was killed when he lost control of his car and crashed, resulting in safety improvements for the race.

The first Guia race for touring cars was held in 1972. Macau's Guia Race for touring cars is a particular race for this category, as very few races with these cars are held on street circuits. In 2005 the race was upgraded by holding the last race of FIA World Touring Car Championship.

In 1983, it was decided by the organisers that since Formula Atlantic was becoming obsolete, the race would be held as a Formula 3 event. Initially, they wanted to run a F2 race, but as they were unwilling to make any large circuit modifications, which included cutting down trees, the organisers settled for F3. This was considered the right decision, given the fact that now the best young drivers from Europe and Japan are entering the race. The first F3 race was won by a young Ayrton Senna. The 1990 race was a memorable one, as Michael Schumacher took out Mika Häkkinen in a controversial race after the two collided on the final lap when Häkkinen attempted a risky over take; both would become Formula One world champions. Other notable winners are Formula One drivers David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato.

Macau is a special event for motorcycle riders too. Like its F3 counterpart, the Motorcycle Grand Prix has featured many famous Grand Prix riders such as Kevin Schwantz, Carl Fogarty, Ron Haslam and Michael Rutter. In 2005, french rider Bruno Bonhuil suffered a fatal crash.

Teddy Yip was one of the main forces behind the Macau Grand Prix, leading the Grand Prix to be one of the most known motor racing events in the world outside Formula 1. The Macau Grand Prix parties he hosted for many years at his home also became a central part of the social aspect of the Grand Prix. One of the bends on Macau's famous Guia Circuit is named after him "Teddy Yip Bend".

Today

The Macau Grand Prix currently consists of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, the World Touring Car Championship Guia Race and the Macau F3 Grand Prix. The winner of the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix is awarded the FIA Intercontinental Formula 3 Cup. In addition, there are the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race, the Formula Renault 2000 race, the Macau Cup and the Scooter race.

The Guia Circuit

Characteristics: A street circuit with a challenging combination of fast straights and sharp corners. It is recognised as one of the most demanding circuits in the world.

Winners

Year F3 GP Winner F3 Chassis - Engine Driver's F3 Championship Guia TC Winner Car MC GP Winner Bike
1980 Template:Flagicon Hans Joachim Stuck BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Sadeo Asami Yamaha TZ750
1981 Template:Flagicon Manfred Winkelhock BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Honda RS1123
1982 Template:Flagicon Helmut Greiner Porsche Carrera RSR Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Honda RS1123
1983 Template:Flagicon Ayrton Senna Ralt-Toyota Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Hans Joachim Stuck BMW 635 CSI Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Honda NS500
1984 Template:Flagicon John Nielsen Ralt RT3-Volkswagen Template:Flagicon German F3 Template:Flagicon Tom Walkinshaw Jaguar XJS Template:Flagicon Mick Grant Suzuki 500
1985 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Gugelmin Ralt RT30-Volkswagen Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Gianfranco Brancatelli Volvo 240 Turbo Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Honda RS500
1986 Template:Flagicon Andy Wallace Reynard 863-Volkswagen Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Johnny Cecotto BMW M3 Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Elf Honda 500
1987 Template:Flagicon Martin Donnelly Ralt RT31-Toyota Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Roberto Ravaglia BMW M3 Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Roc Elf Honda 4
1988 Template:Flagicon Enrico Bertaggia Dallara 388-Alfa Romeo Template:Flagicon Italian F3 Template:Flagicon Altfrid Heger BMW M3 Template:Flagicon Kevin Schwantz Suzuki 500RGR
1989 Template:Flagicon David Brabham Ralt RT33-Volkswagen Spiess Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Tim Harvey Ford Sierra RS 500 Template:Flagicon Ron Haslam Honda NSR500
1990 Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher Reynard 903-Volkswagen Template:Flagicon German F3 Template:Flagicon Masahiro Hasemi Nissan Skyline GT-R Template:Flagicon Steve Hislop Yamaha YZF750
1991 Template:Flagicon David Coulthard Ralt RT35-Mugen-Honda Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Emanuele Pirro BMW M3 Evolution Template:Flagicon Didier de Radigues Suzuki 500
1992 Template:Flagicon Rickard Rydell TOM'S 032F-Toyota Template:Flagicon All-Japan F3 Template:Flagicon Emanuele Pirro BMW M3 Evolution Template:Flagicon Carl Fogarty Yamaha
1993 Template:Flagicon Jörg Müller Dallara 393-Fiat Template:Flagicon German F3 Image:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Charles Kwan BMW M3 Evolution Template:Flagicon Steve Hislop ROC Yamaha 500
1994 Template:Flagicon Sascha Maassen Dallara F394-Opel Template:Flagicon German F3 Template:Flagicon Joachim Winkelhock BMW 318is Template:Flagicon Steve Hislop Harris Yamaha
1995 Template:Flagicon Ralf Schumacher Dallara-Opel-Spiess Template:Flagicon German F3 Template:Flagicon Kelvin Burt Toyota Corona EXIV Template:Flagicon Mike Edwards ROC Yamaha 500
1996 Template:Flagicon Ralph Firman Dallara-Honda Mugen/NB Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Frank Biela Audi A4 Quattro Template:Flagicon Philip McCallen Yamaha 500
1997 Template:Flagicon Soheil Ayari Dallara 396-Opel-Spiess Template:Flagicon French F3 Template:Flagicon Steve Soper BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Andreas Hofmann Kawasaki ZR-7
1998 Template:Flagicon Peter Dumbreck Dallara 398-TOM'S-Toyota Template:Flagicon All-Japan F3 Template:Flagicon Joachim Winkelhock BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Honda RVF750 RC45
1999 Template:Flagicon Darren Manning Dallara F399-TOM'S-Toyota Template:Flagicon All-Japan F3 Template:Flagicon Michael Bartels Audi A4 Quattro Template:Flagicon David Jefferies Yamaha YZF-R1
2000 Template:Flagicon André Couto Dallara F399-Opel-Spiess None Template:Flagicon Patrick Huisman BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Yamaha YZF750R
2001 Template:Flagicon Takuma Sato Dallara F301-Honda-Mugen Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Duncan Huisman BMW 320i Template:Flagicon John McGuinness Honda CBR954RR
2002 Template:Flagicon Tristan Gommendy Dallara F302 Sodemo-Renault Template:Flagicon French F3 Template:Flagicon Duncan Huisman BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Ducati 998
2003 Template:Flagicon Nicolas Lapierre Dallara F302 Renault-Sodemo Image:European flag.svg F3 Euroseries Template:Flagicon Duncan Huisman BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Ducati 998
2004 Template:Flagicon Alexandre Prémat Dallara-Mercedes-HWA Image:European flag.svg F3 Euroseries Template:Flagicon Jörg Müller BMW 320i Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Honda RC51
2005 Template:Flagicon Lucas di Grassi Dallara-Mercedes-HWA Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Augusto Farfus Jr. Alfa Romeo 156 Template:Flagicon Michael Rutter Honda CBR1000RR
Template:Flagicon Duncan Huisman BMW 320i
2006 Template:Flagicon Mike Conway Dallara-Mercedes-HWA Template:Flagicon British F3 Template:Flagicon Andy Priaulx BMW 320si Template:Flagicon Steve Plater Yamaha YZF-R1
Template:Flagicon Jörg Müller BMW 320si

Other significant competitors

Trivia

  • The Guia course was the setting for the motorcycle race for the 1989 Hong Kong movie All About Ah Long.
  • 19 out of 22 Formula One drivers from 2007 had participated in Macau F-3 GP.

References

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.wheelsofitaly.com/wiki/index.php/Macau_Grand_Prix"