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THE MACAU GRAND PRIX
Originally conceived in 1954 as an amateur
event for local motoring enthusiasts, the Macau Grand Prix is
today a race meeting to which the world's leading riders and
drivers vie for entries. Each November, Macau wakes up with
a jolt as more than 300 racing drivers and riders, as well as
thousands of motor sports fans, descend on the territory for
the world's only street circuit race meeting which features
both car and motorcycle races.
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Macau Formula 3
Grand Prix, which sees a field of 30 national championship drivers
competing to take the chequered flag. For these young super
stars of tomorrow, a win at Macau can guarantee the driver a
place in a top Formula 3000 team or, in the case of exceptional
talent, an immediate invitation to move in to the pinnacle of
motor racing, Formula 1. |
The late Ayrton Senna's win here in 1983,
the first year Formula 3 ran at Macau, put the Grand Prix firmly
on the world-wide motor racing calendar. F1 World Champion Michael
Schumacher quickly established himself as the hottest property
in F1 after his win in 1990, while David Coulthard's victory
the following year brought him to the attention of the F1 fraternity.
More recently, 1999 runner up Jenson Button jumped from the
Macau podium straight to Formula 1, and three-time Macau Grand
Prix competitor Alex Yoong just made his F1 debut.
That Macau's Guia Race for touring cars is unique there is no
doubt. Very few races for this category take place on street
circuits, and none other can boast an entry from so many different
national series for a one-off festival of international touring
car racing. This years event will run to Super Production regulations,
and the 2001 race will see many of the world's front-running
cars and drivers line up on the grid. |
For two-wheel fans the Macao Motorcycle
Grand Prix, now in its 35th year, is always a memorable event.
Like its F3 counterpart, the Motorcycle Grand Prix regularly
features a host of Grand Prix and Street Specialist superstars
such as Kevin Schwantz, Carl Fogarty, Didier de Radigues and
Ron Haslam.
In spite of its growth as a motor sports event of international
standing, Macau has not forgotten its roots and there is a full
compliment of support races to cater for the strong interest
in motor sport from local enthusiasts. |
THE GUIA CIRCUIT
Length: 3.8 miles (6.2 km)
Minimum width: 22.8 feet (7 m)
Characteristics: A street circuit with an exhilarating combination
of long, fast straights
and sharply twisting corners. It is recognised as one of the
most
demanding circuits in the world.
Formula 3 Lap Record:
2:13.253 (Narain Karthikeyan, 2000/Dallara F300 Mugen Honda)
Motorcycle Lap Record: 2:30.295 (David Jefferies, 2000/1000cc
Yamaha)
Guia Race Lap Record: 2:29.253 (Steve Soper, 1997/BMW 320i)
2001 TRACK TRIVIA
Number of races : 10 (2 motorcycles
/ 8 cars)
Number of competitors : 303
Number of Macau racers in Formula 3 : 3
Number of Macau racers in Moto Grand Prix : 2
Number of staff : 977 (374 Pit Marshall, 152 Firemen, 112
Medic Staff, 303 Policemen, 36 Marine Policemen)
Number of media : 898 (218 from 30 TV organisations, 680 jornalists
from 19 countries)
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