WHETHER YOU ARE A FAN OF SINGLE SEATER, TOURING OR SPORTS CAR RACING, OR A MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST, THE 52ND MACAU GRAND PRIX PROGRAMME IS PACKED WITH HIGH SPEED THRILLS AND SPILLS GUARANTEED TO PROVIDE NON-STOP ENTERTAINMENT - A VERITABLE FESTIVAL OF SPEED.

MACAU FORMULA 3 GRAND PRIX -FIA INTERCONTINENTAL CUP OF FORMULA 3

Formula 3 is widely recognised as the stepping stone to the pinnacle of international motorsport - Formula 1 - and is the top junior category at national level.

The Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix is the single most important race in the Formula 3 season each year, a distinction which is the envy of circuits across the globe. Former Macau Grand Prix winners include great names such as Ayrton Senna, Michael and Ralf Schumacher, and David Coulthard.

The cars are state-of-the-art single seater machines, powered by two litre racing engines which reach speeds of over 260 kph installed in a highly technical carbonfibre monocoque single seater chassis - in many ways similar to a scaled down F1 car. The drivers are the champions of all the various Formula 3 series run around the world throughout the season, including the British, German, European and Japanese Formula 3 series. The leading drivers are invited by the Macau Grand Prix Committee to compete in the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, the pinnacle of international racing in this single seater category, and the official FIA Intercontinental Cup of Formula 3.

The teams and drivers compete on Macau¡¦s testing Guia Circuit at the end of their respective championships for a season-closer which decides the best Formula 3 driver in the world.

FIA WTCC LG - GUIA RACE OF MACAUb - PRESENTED BY SOCIEDADE DE JOGOS DE MACAU, S.A.

This weekend, Macau will be the scene for the final round of the all-new FIA World Touring Car Championship (see separate story). The 20-race, 10-round inaugural season has exceeded all expectations, and included stops in Italy, France, the UK, Mexico, Belgium, Germany, Turkey and Spain, before arriving here in Macau for the season grand finale.

The mighty Super 2000 touring cars are highly advanced technologically, but still recognisable as road-going vehicles, part of the tremendous appeal of the racing category. The cars are two-wheel drive, large scale production cars, modified by a 'Super 2000' kit, with two litre normally aspirated engines, with a maximum of six cylinders.

The format of the races is two rounds at each venue, with the grid for the second being determined by the results of the first. In the second race, the order of the top eight finishers in the previous race are reversed on the grid. A control tyre is used, with a maximum of 16 dry tyres per event. Each engine must be used for two consecutive events.

The system of "success ballasts", or weight handicaps, used in the FIA WTCC where drivers must carry additional weight depending on results, equalises performance to provide closer and more exciting racing right the way through the season.

39TH MACAU MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX - HOTEL FORTUNA

Macau remains the only major motorsport event in the world where motorcycle and car races are part of the same race programme, and adds to the unique nature of the event. As it approaches its 40th anniversary, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix remains a firm favourite with two-wheel racing fans across the globe.

Because the Grand Prix is held after the conclusion of the European and North American racing seasons, it affords the opportunity for riders to attend without conflict with other championships.

The world¡¦s greatest road racing specialists travel to Macau each year for arguably the toughest race of the season. Many of the riders, who regularly compete in the Isle of Man TT races, regard Macau as the ultimate test in two-wheel racing. Other riders include those who compete in domestic superbike championships, while some race at an international level in series such as the World Endurance Championship and the BMW Championship which supports the MotoGP in Europe.

The riders from the USA are primarily competing in the AMA national Championships.

The Grand Prix is by invitation, and includes competitors from across Europe, the USA and Asia. Motorcycles of unlimited capacity which conform to FIM or AMA (governing bodies) regulations, four stroke prototypes and Supersport 600 machines are eligible to enter.

MACAO 2007 - 2ND ASIAN INDOOR GAMES CUP

The Macao 2007 - 2nd Asian Indoor Games Cup is open to national licence holders from Hong Kong, competing in Group N 2000cc cars, and is run over 10 laps of the Guia Circuit.

HOTEL FORTUNA TROPHY

First run in 1958 as the ACP Trophy, this event has varied over the years from eight to 30 laps. Up to 40 national licence holders from Macau compete in Group N 2000cc cars, and the event is sponsored by Macau¡¦s Fortuna Hotel.

CTM CUP

Specifically organised for homologated Super Production cars, and open to drivers with international licenses issued by their respective motor sports governing associations, the race was first run in 1991, and each year attracts a field of up to 40 drivers from across the region.

2005 ASIAN FORMULA RENAULT CHALLENGE

Formula Renault is the world¡¦s most popular class for junior single seater drivers making the transition from karting to single seater car racing. There are Formula Renault championships in Brazil, Italy, Holland, Denmark, North America and Asia. The Asian series includes some of the most skilled youngsters in the region, all driving identical Formula Renault machines.

The Formula Renault car has a carbonfibre chassis and is powered by a two-litre, 16-valve engine producing 182bhp.

PORSCHE INFINEON CARRERA CUP ASIA

The Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia made its debut in the region at the start of 2003, and immediately earned a loyal and enthusiastic audience with its superb on-track action and nail-biting competition.

From its inception, the grand finale of the season has been played out on Macau¡¦s Guia Circuit, as the field of ace sportscar drivers do battle for the title. So popular has the series become in just three short seasons that this year it has not only attracted some of Asia¡¦s finest racing drivers, but also the reigning British GT Champion, while several other European formula and touring car drivers have lined up on the grid in one-off appearances.

The Porsche Carrera Cup is widely regarded as the pinnacle of one-make GT racing internationally, and the Asian series provides an opportunity for motorsport fans to see Sports Car racing at its very best. The drivers compete in identical, ready-to-race Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars prepared by Porsche, making the Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia a true test of driver skill.

3RD MACAU GRAND PRIX COMMITTEE SCOOTER CUP

Introduced in 2003, the Cup is held specifically to enable Macau residents, who have given such tremendous support to the Grand Prix for over half a Century, an opportunity to join the on-track action. The race is divided into three groups; 125cc, four stroke engines, and 70cc and 50cc classes. There are prizes awarded for first, second and third place overall, with a trophy for the winner of each class. The race allows a maximum of 60 scooters to take the start and is an exciting addition to the race programme.

RULE CHANGES MAKE FOR SMOOTHER SAILING

Procedural changes in the event of a car race stoppage, introduced for the running of the 52nd Macau Grand Prix, will keep the on-track action flowing throughout the event this year. The changes follow the latest Formula 1 regulations, on which all the Sporting Regulations for the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix are based.

If the Clerk of the Course decides that the race must be stopped, the red flag will be shown at all points around the circuit, indicating to drivers they must stop racing immediately. Previously, drivers would then proceed to the pits slowly, wait while the track is cleared and for officials re-start the race. The start procedure would then begin again, with grid formation, a warm-up lap, and the re-start.

The new regulations begin when the red flags are shown. Instead of returning to the pits, drivers will slowly proceed in order until indicated to stop at a location decided by the race officials, which will be the nearest practicable point. The point where they stop will be known as the "red flag line". The cars line up in single file behind the line in the order they were in when the red flags were shown.

Team personnel may then work on the cars, and race officials will give ten minutes' notice of the restart, after which the race will resume behind the Safety Car, which will lead the field for one lap before pulling off.

The new procedure will result in considerable time savings, benefiting the teams, television broadcasters and spectators with uninterrupted on-track action.

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: 2:11.929 (Loic Duval, 2005/Dallara Mercedes-HWA)
Motorcycle Lap Record: 2:28.233 (Michael Rutter, 2003/998cc Ducati)
FIA World Touring Car Championship Lap Record: 2:33.757 (Andy Priaulx, 2005/BMW 320i)
Guia Race Lap Record (pre-2005): 2:29.536 (Steve Soper, 1997/BMW 323i)