The 70th running of the Macau GP (+ Google calendar of schedule)
For the first time in 10 years the Macau GP is run over two weekends again, with the first races taking place this weekend. And the important FIA F3 World Cup and the FIA GT World Cup will race next weekend and also the Motorcycle Grand Prix.
I have made a Google calendar with the complete schedule, which you can find down below.
The Macau GP is one of the only two current national Grand Prix events that are not part of the Formula One World Championship, the New Zealand GP being the other one.
The first running of the race was held in 1954 as a club race for local motor enthusiasts. It initially started off as an endurance race where 15 entrants competed in a four hour race over 51 laps.
In 1960 the race was first entered on the international racing calendar, and was subject for the first time to the regulations published by the FIA for sports and grand touring cars.
In 1978 to celebrate the race's 25th anniversary, a "Race of Giants" was organised. Where drivers like Jacky Ickx, Sir Stirling Moss, Bobby Unser, Phil Hill and Sir Jack Brabham participated.
In 1983 the race was first run as the FIA Formula 3 World Cup. Which was won by a young Ayrton Senna.
In 1998 Peter Dumbreck won the closest ever Macau Grand Prix - and the closest motor race in history at that time - when he beat Ricardo Mauricio by just 0.003 seconds.
More history can be found here
As mentioned, the event will be run over two weekends. This is not the usual format but done for its 70th anniversary.
The past years the GT World Cup and The F3 World Cup weren't run because of Covid, this meant the main race was run with F4 cars. And mainly local drivers participated. This year F3 returns with an international field but Formula 4 stays.
In 1983 the race was first run as the FIA Formula 3 World Cup. The Formula 3 race used to be more of an all-star race for drivers from several Formula 3 championships or even from other high profile championships.
But recently the FIA has reduced the Formula 3 championships so FIA F3 is the only major one to exist. This means it can now basically been seen as a non championship round for the FIA F3 championships.
This year however, still several drivers have stepped down again to F3 to participate. Formula E Driver Dan Ticktum, is a two-time winner of the event and has returned. Richard Verschoor, Formula 2 driver and the last winner of the event back in 2019 returns. But also IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong joins the field.
Sophia Floersch also returns to the race to be there for the third time, during her debut she suffered a massive crash where she suffered a spinal fracture.
The Formula 4 SEA Championship runs from 11-12 November and will feature three female drivers. Vivian Siu, Miki Koyama and Bianca Bustamante. Vivian Siu is the only one of these to drive the complete F4 Sea championship this year. The Macau round however, is a non-championship round.
Formula 4 runs qualifying from 08:45 - 09:15 (CEST) on Saturday 11 November and their qualifying race from 01:00 - 01:25 (CEST). And they close the weekend with their main race from 08:40 - 09:20 (CEST)
Several regional TCR and GT series race on the streets of Macau during the two Macau weekends. The first TCR race at Macau was held in 1972, and this was rare as TCR cars rarely raced at street circuits. Currently it's the final round of the China TCR Championship.
Macau is a special event for motorcycle riders and has been since 1967. Their main race is on Saturday 18 November.
The Macau GT Cup was added in 2008, and has been one of the most important supporting races of the Grand Prix since then.
The FIA GT World Cup is a race for GT3-spec cars organised by the SRO. This year it will be the sixth edition of the FIA GT World Cup.
All entry lists can be found here.
Length: 3.8 miles (6.2 km)
Minimum width: 22.8 feet (7 m)
Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix Lap Record: 2:06.317 (Jüri Vips, 2019, FIA Formula 3)
Macau GT Cup Lap Record: 2:17.182 (Earl Bamber, 2019, Porsche 911 GT3 R)
Macau Guia Race Lap Record: 2:27.009 (Rob Huff, 2014, Lada Granta 1.6T)
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Lap Record: 2:23.616 (Stuart Easton, 2010, Kawasaki)
Every day is streamed on motorsport.tv, on the Macau GP Facebook page and their website.
The schedule can be found right here in local time
I have added all sessions to my Google Calendar
For any questions, my ask box is always open!
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