Intro and Schedule – Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – FIA F3 World Cup


By Sergio Fonseca


A Good Harvest

After sixty-five years, the Macau Grand Prix is in good shape and showing no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, this year’s event is one of the strongest editions ever, with three FIA-endorsed World Cups and the most important motorcycle road racing in Asia.

No matter how good the event looks, however, a few defeatists will point at something. The 15-car grid of the GT race can be easily confused with signs of decline but you’ll understand by reading these pages that the reality suggests otherwise. We all know that quantity doesn’t mean quality and, as a matter of fact, things really look good this year! The new WTCR – World Touring Car Cup will show us the state of health of the new touring car racing pinnacle, something that the former WTCC never had; and certainly the series promoter is definitely happy with the final entertainment product to be presented to us.

With question marks hanging over the future of Formula 3 in the streets of Macau due to the FIA’s latest reshuffle of the category the grid is again up to good numbers, with local favourite team Theodore Racing making a strong return with a five-car entry – including Michael Schumacher’s son Mick and China’s biggest hope Guanyu Zhou.

Further down the pit lane, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has not lost its universal appeal despite last year’s tragedy. Safety comes first, of course, with event organisers working day and night behind the scenes to make the Circuito da Guia as safe as possible, but as you will learn here there are many limitations on a circuit of this nature.

For the locals, following a disappointing 2017, this year’s edition brings the return of Macau heroes to the highlight races. Macau’s most acclaimed driver – André Couto – makes his return to the event in the Guia Race, together with five other well known touring car drivers from the territory. On the other side of the paddock, Macau youngster Charles Leong is debuting in Formula 3 and is one to watch today and tomorrow – there are tons of talent in this kid!

Even if the drivers question the safety of joining two very different type of cars in the former CTM Cup race, the formula has been retained for this year, with interest undiminished. Eighty drivers battled for the thirty-six available places in this fan-favourite race, including forty-two from Macau. A contingent of twenty-four Macau SAR touring car drivers made the cut!

Added to the programme for 2018 is the inaugural Greater Bay Area Lotus Cup race. The public has never been a big enthusiast of one-make cups in the event . . . but the political message behind the concept was too strong to be ignored.

More than 1,000 media representatives are accredited for the Macau Grand Prix each year, and in 2017 they represented 268 different organisations from 21 countries and territories. More than 89 networks telecast the four-day event, while 34 million enthusiasts viewed the live streams and online videos.  These are impressive numbers.

Meanwhile, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee will hold a number of events to celebrate the event whilst not forgetting young people – and that’s the right bet. If the biggest annual sporting event of the territory wants to keep its place in the hearts of locals the next generation needs to understand and value the treasure they have inherited just as their parents’, grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ generations did.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!