The Macau 60th Grand Prix is just days away from the red lights going out, and after I was finished with a long day at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Singapore, I packed my bag and flew off the next morning to Hong Kong and boated it over to Macau.
Tomorrow (Saturday 9th) the drivers will get half an hour to test the track before their qualifying. Some drivers walked or cycled the entire track alongside the everyday traffic and most would have only had time to have watched numerous cycles of other drivers footage (for the first timers). What looks flat on camera, will translate to a proper degree of hill climbs.
I don’t think I realise the full scale of how lucky I am to be here and part of this 2 week occasion, working and watching alongside the men and women of this incredibly dangerous street circuit that has claimed the lives of many looking for the glory, if not for their team, but most definitely for themselves. It’ll kick in tomorrow!
Our team DORR McElrea Racing, will have its first year on the Guia circuit and the number one advice for a first timer is break 50m early and to cruise around the circuit and learn it for another year! Whats great with the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, most of the drivers have close friendships and Yuey Tan , will be picking up serious advice from Macau & Hong Kong’s most well known drivers Roldolfo Avila and Darryl O’Young, who have driven this circuit a number of times.
Famed for a circuit used by both cars and motorcycles, it has had many current and former Formula One drivers and many of the guys racing the motorbikes book a one way ticket. The 6.2km circuit has claimed the lives of drivers and bikers, with the racing passion running through their veins. Some may say courageous , others believe it to be a lack of self- preservation. At least for me, I believe what ever the outcome, it would have been worth every year for every male and female who could only have dreamed to be on the street circuit of Macau. RESPECT.
Joining the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Invitational round of the Macau 60th Grand Prix 2013 , is French racing and rally driver Sebastian Loeb. One of the most successful WRC rally drivers, he retired in 2012. Once upon a time setting his sights on an F1 drive, before losing a grant for an FIA Super Licence, 2014 will see Loeb in the World Touring Car Championship series.
The Macau 60th Grand Prix trailer:
Table from http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo
15 of the 22 drivers registered in the 2013 FIA Formula 1 World Championship have raced at Macau
| Adrian Sutil | 2006 | 3rd Place |
| Daniel Ricciardo | 2009 | – |
| Giedo van der Garde | 2004 | – |
| Jean-Eric Vergne | 2010 | – |
| Jenson Button | 1999 | 2nd Place |
| Jules Bianchi | 2009 | – |
| Lewis Hamilton | 2004 | – |
| Mark Webber | 1997 | 4th Place |
| Max Chilton | 2009 | – |
| Nico Hulkenberg | 2007 | – |
| Nico Rosberg | 2004 | – |
| Paul di Resta | 2006 | – |
| Romain Grosjean | 2007 | – |
| Sebastian Vettel | 2005 | 3rd Place |
| Valtteri Bottas | 2009 | – |