Macau Grand Prix Car Show at Tap Seac Square
November has been racing month in Macau for many years, with the 71st edition of the Macau Grand Prix (GPM) coinciding with the celebration of 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China and 25 years since Macau returned to the motherland.
An estimated 400,000 people are expected to travel to the city to watch the Macau Grand Prix
The decades have passed and the GPM has grown from an event for local motorsport enthusiasts in 1954, the year it was founded, to a worldwide event with hundreds of thousands watching live and millions more watching on television.
At the same time, various supporting events have been created, such as the Family Carnival and the Auto Show in Tap Seac Square, providing a unique experience for all sports enthusiasts.
Cars and Motorcycles were exhibited in Tap Seac Square at the Auto Show
Cars and Motorcycles were exhibited in Tap Seac Square at the Auto Show
Jonathan Chui, a visitor from Hong Kong: “The cars [at the Guia Race] are identical to those we see every day and I can imagine myself racing them, even though I know it will never happen”
The Macao Government Tourist Office expects around 400,000 people to travel to Macau for the GPM. One of them will be Jonathan Chui, a lawyer in Hong Kong who has been coming to Macau at this time of year since he was a child to watch the races. First with his parents, then with friends, and now with his wife and son.
His favorite race has always been the Guia Race, because “the cars are identical to everyday ones and I can imagine myself racing, even though I know it will never happen”.
Other enthusiasts come from further afield. This is the case of Edward and Elisabeth Miles, who make a point of never missing a GPM, except during the Covid-19 pandemic. Edward is a mechanical engineer and was part of a motorcycle team that came to Macau to compete for 8 consecutive years.
Since 2014, the couple has continued to visit Macau to watch the races, with a particular interest in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Almost sold out
Luís Gomes, coordinator of the GPM Organizing Committee and president of the Macau Sports Bureau
There are 180 drivers, with 25 locals, “a higher number than in 2019”, says Luís Gomes, coordinator of the GPM Organizing Committee
This year’s edition features seven races: the inaugural FIA FR World Cup; the FIA GT World Cup; the Guia Macau Race – Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Event of Macau, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, the GT Cup – Grand Bay Race (GT4); the Macau Roadsport Challenge and the Macau Roadsport – Macau SAR Establishment Cup.
All this will take place over four days, from November 14 to 17, with the first two days filled with free practice and qualifying races, and the last two with competitive races, each with its own format, according to the regulations of each event.
Click here and have access to the full program of the 71st Macau Grand Prix
There are 180 drivers, with 25 locals, “a higher number than in 2019”, according to Luís Gomes, coordinator of the GPM Organizing Committee and president of the Macau Sports Bureau. The success of the event is already being felt, with tickets “almost all sold out”, according to Luís Gomes.
Despite the difficulty in acquiring tickets at this time, the coordinator of the Committee guarantees that between 200 and 300 tickets have been set aside so that the public can buy them on site, and there are vending machines for this purpose.
MGTO expects around 400,000 people to travel to Macau for the GPM.
As usual, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee invited local students to watch the event on site, “allowing them to experience the fascinating atmosphere of the races up close”.
For those who couldn’t get a ticket, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee set up big screens to broadcast the event in various locations, including: Senado Square, Iao Hon Market Garden, Carlos da Maia Roundabout (Largo dos Três Candeeiros), Carmo Market, Friendship Square, Lok Yeong Fa Yuen Building Leisure Area and Tap Seac Square, allowing residents and visitors to follow along.
During the month of November, there will be a traveling exhibition of photographs of the races at various schools in Macau, with information panels about the Grand Prix and its history.
In addition, in order to further promote motorsport culture and encourage Macao residents to participate in the Grand Prix, the “71st Macao Grand Prix Photo Contest” will be held, with entries open from November 18 to December 30.
