MACAU GRAND PRIX | Trying to catch glimpses of the Guia Circuit, Formula 3 and GT cars

It’s been a while since I used a travel agent to plan a trip. But a major travel agent in Belgium posted a deal one can’t refuse in a newsletter in June 2023. Flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and three nights at the four-star Park Hotel Hong Kong in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon area. So I messaged Oriol in ‘panic’ and pressured him to decide quickly (as the deal was popular and the the offer limited in time and availability) to come along to this Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Being four days in Hong Kong, we used one of these days to Macau (also often spelled Macao) the other SAR. We were there in November 2023.

Macau is known for its casinos, for its film appearances (twice James Bond) and for the Macau Grand Prix. When I was a teen and all racing bar rallying had finished the season, you could count on the Macau Grand Prix as a pousse-café.

The first Macau Grand Prix event was held in 1954, as a sports car event. In 1961, the title race became an open-wheel Formula Libre event. The event has also had a variety of support races in its duration. Production cars joined the event in 1957, which were superseded by touring cars in 1972. The event received world championship status from 2005 to 2014 as the final round of the World Touring Car Championship. In 1967, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was introduced. In 2008, a GT3 race was added to the event, which became known as the FIA GT World Cup.

The highlight of the race weekend is the Formula 3 race, featuring many national Formula 3 champions and drivers from around the world, with the winner being awarded the FIA Formula 3 World Cup.

Due to the challenging nature of the circuit, which consists of fast straights – an F3 car can reach a top speed of 275 km/h (171 mph) at the end of the straight – tight corners and uncompromising crash barriers, the Macau Grand Prix is considered one of the most demanding circuits in the world.

Many current or former Formula 1 drivers have participated in the event early in their careers and some of them have won the prestigious prize. Previous winners include Riccardo Patrese, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Ralph Firman, Takuma Sato, Lucas di Grassi, Edoardo Mortara, António Félix da Costa, Felix Rosenqvist and Dan Ticktum.

Guia Circuit

The Guia Circuit, or Circuito da Guia, is a 6.120 km (3.803 mi) street circuit consisting of long straights and tight corners, and features the characteristics of a typical street circuit – narrow, bumpy and limited overtaking opportunities.

However, there are two special features that can rarely be found in other street circuits – variation in altitude (over 30 metres or 100 feet between highest and lowest point of the circuit) and an ultra long main straight that allows top speed of 260 km/h (160 mph) on F3 cars.

As a result, the circuit is seen as one of the most challenging circuits in the world in terms of both driving and tuning, as cars have to maintain competitive speed to overcome hill-climbing, twisty corners and long straights in a single lap.

The Guia Circuit was originally conceived in 1954 as the route for a treasure hunt around the streets of the city, but shortly after the event it was suggested that the hunt’s track could host an amateur racing event for local motor enthusiasts.

Layout

The layout of the Guia Circuit has not been modified since 1957, except the pit and paddock complex which has been relocated to the present location in 1993. The narrowest part of the track has a width of merely 7 metres, which is located at the Melco Hairpin.

The whole length of the circuit is safely bounded by Armco barriers painted in black and yellow stripes. There used to be a gravel trap near the Reservoir Bend but since the pit and paddock complex was moved to the present location, this feature has been removed.

Grandstands

There are two major grandstands. The main grandstand along the pit straight and the other one at the Lisboa Bend. The Lisboa Bend offers the only possible overtaking opportunity at the end of the main straight.

It is also notorious for massive pile-ups on opening laps due to its 90-degree turn configuration and its significant reduction in track width. In 2018 Sofia Flörsch from Germany had a major crash there.

Trying to get a glimpse

We weren’t going to pay for a seat on the grandstands, as we weren’t in Macau for the racing. Still, I was eager to catch some views of the track and / or the action.

But there are fences and screens everywhere and guards to prevent you trying to take photos. A lot has been said about Formula 1 screening (see the pun?) the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It’s not better in Macau. I’ve tried at several places.

Actually, we stumbled upon one spot. On the trail leading to the Guia Lighthouse, you can, thanks to elevation, catch a glimpse of what must be Maternity Bend.