The FIA World Cup races join the

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1 ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2016 Macao Races into Record Books The Suncity Group 63 rd Macau Grand Prix has become the only race meeting on the planet to host two FIA World Cups. Designated the FIA GT World Cup for the second consecutive year, the SJM Macau GT Cup joins the iconic Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, which becomes the official FIA F3 World Cup for Macao s own Andy Chang Wing Chung who is racing on his home circuit for the third time. Audi, Porsche, Mercedes and Lamborghini will fight it out for the FIA GT World Cup as the manufacturers who have registered for the governing body of motorsport s end-of-season shoot-out for GT3 machinery. Each fields two cars as per the regulations. They will be joined on the grid by teams running Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes and Porsche GTs. ANTICLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE RIGHT: SPAIN S DANIEL JUNCADELLA, WINNER IN 2011; 2012 WINNER ANTÓNIO FÉLIX DA COSTA OF PORTUGAL; TWO-TIME AND DEFENDING CHAMPION FELIX ROSENQVIST The FIA World Cup races join the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition, celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year, and the Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T as the four headline events on the seven-race programme. The Grand Prix has an impressive line-up of international drivers and riders to match the most prestigious programme in its history. The entry for the newly-designated FIA F3 World Cup contains a tantalizing combination of proven Guia Circuit champions and exciting new talent. Returning to the scene of their victories are three former winners: two-time and defending champion Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden; António Félix da Costa, whose 2012 victory made him the first Portuguese winner of the race since Eduardo de Carvalho won the inaugural event in 1954; and Spaniard Daniel Juncadella, winner in While the trio will have the advantage of experience on the demanding 6.2km street circuit, there are plenty of talented newcomers ready to upset the form book. For the second running of the SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup, Mercedes returns with the same team and drivers that won the inaugural event last year. Factory drivers Maro Engel of Germany, winner of the Macau GT Cup for the past two years, and Dutchman Renger van der Zande drive the two cars for the Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy team. New for 2016 is the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which replaces the successful Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Foremost amongst them are 19-year-old Maximilian Günther, second in the FIA F3 European Championship this year. Third in the series was Briton George Russell who teams up with fellow Macao rookie Nikita Mazepin of Russia and Juncadella on the three-car Hitech GP team. Joel Eriksson of Sweden took the Rookie title in Europe this season, while Jann Mardenborough and Sho Tsuboi were second and third in the Japanese F3 championship this year. China is well represented on the grid by Ferrari Junior Zhou Guanyu and Ye Hongli, both of whom make their debuts this year, and TOP: MERCEDES STAR MARO ENGEL; ABOVE: MR. MACAO EDOARDO MORTARA Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER

2 Three-time race winner and double F3 Macau GP winner, the man dubbed Mr. Macao, Edoardo Mortara returns with Audi. The Italian is joined by Belgian Laurens Vanthoor in the two Audi R8 LMS GT3s registered for the World Cup entered by Audi Sport Team WRT from Belgium. Porsche takes on the challenge of Macao with a pair of 911 GT3-Rs entered by the factory Manthey Racing, which won the 2015 FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers. New Zealander Earl Bamber, who won last year s Le Mans 24 Hours for the German marque, is joined by Frenchman Kévin Estre on the team. Lamborghini is competing for the FIA GT World Cup title for the first time in 2016, although it previously won the Macau GT Cup with Japanese driver Keita Sawa in 2009 and 10.The Italian manufacturer is represented by Macao regular FFF Racing, which competes in the GT Asia Series. Factory driver Mirko Bortolotti races one of the Lamborghini Huracán GT3s and André Couto, the only Macao driver to win the F3 Grand Prix, the other. The Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T celebrates its 45 th running in 2016, and has a fascinating international line-up of entries for the occasion. Having tasted victory on his Macao debut last year with a victory in Race 2, Switzerland s Stefano Comini returns in 2016 hoping to repeat his success, and is joined at Leopard Racing Team by talented Frenchman Jean Karl Vernay, runner-up in the 2009 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. BELOW: WINNER LAST YEAR, STEFANO COMINI RETURNS TO MACAO ANTICLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MICHAEL RUTTER; STUART EASTON; PETER HICKMAN; JOHN MCGUINNESS James Nash, entered in a SEAT, is another strong contender and is joined on the Craft Bamboo Racing team by Pepe Oriola of Spain and Sergey Afanasyev of Russia. Fellow Russian Mikhail Grachev, who scored a podium finish in Macao in Race 2, will compete in a Honda with WestCoast Racing alongside team mates Gianni Morbidelli of Italy and Tiago Monteiro of Portugal, both Macao regulars. China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) front runner and winner of the 2014 CTM Macau Touring Car Cup, Hong Kong s Andy Yan Cheuk Wai is entered in a Volkswagen, while the Liqui Moly Team Engstler squad also includes Tim Zimmermann of Germany and Davit Kajaia of Georgia. Representing Macao are Ho Hon Keong of Champ Motorsport in a Honda, Lou Hon Kei of Elegant Racing Team in a SEAT, and Kevin Tse Wing Kin of Team Work Motorsport in a Volkswagen. Several former winners have been invited back to Macao to help celebrate the 50 th edition of the race: Japan s Sadeo Asami, who took three wins in 1978, 79 and 80; Briton Mick Grant found success on the Guia Circuit in 1977 and 84; Isle of Man legend Phillip McCallen won in 1996; while Steve Plater took two Macao victories in 2006 and 07. A parade of classic motorcycles will take to the track on Saturday, November 19 th. The motorcycles on parade illustrate the development of the motorcycle over the last half Century, dating from a 1949 BSA A7 to a 1995 Honda CBR250RR. The classic motorcycles will also be on show, along with this year s competing bikes and the Macau GT Cup cars, at the pre-grand Prix show at Tap Seac Square on November 12 th and 13 th, to which entry is free. In addition, Macao Post will issue a set of commemorative stamps on November 18 th. Five former champions will line up for the Golden Jubilee edition of Macao s legendary Motorcycle Grand Prix: defending champion Peter Hickman; eight-time winner and the undisputed Two Wheel King of Macao Michael Rutter; four-time winner, Scotsman Stuart Easton; 2013 winner Ian Hutchinson; and champion in 2001 and multiple-podium finisher at Macao, Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness. Joining them will be a host of road racing and endurance specialists from across the globe, including a number of Macao podium finishers, all of whom will be gunning for glory in this milestone race. The four headline races are joined on the programme by a trio of thrilling support races, all of which will add greatly to the four-day spectacle: the CTM Macau Touring Car Cup; the Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge; and the Suncity Group Chinese Racing Cup. Two FIA World Cups and a Golden Jubilee amongst the seven-race line-up, more than 200 competitors from near and far, and thousands of visitors preparing to descend upon Macao for its four-day jewel in the international motorsport crown. The Suncity Group 63 rd Macau Grand Prix is a recordbreaker before it has even begun! 2 Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2016

3 Magic Macao Despite a whirlwind year of racing across the globe, when the prospect of a return to Macao was whispered in the ear of two-time and defending Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix champion Felix Rosenqvist, the Swede didn t think twice. I had a chance to go there and I couldn t resist, Rosenqvist says. I think if you have the chance to go there you have to take it because it s such a special race. When he arrives in Macao to attempt an unprecedented third victory, Rosenqvist won t be the only former winner on the grid for the Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, which has been elevated to the FIA F3 World Cup this year: 2011 winner Daniel Juncadella and 2012 winner António Félix da Costa are also part of this year s line-up. And like the many drivers before him, Rosenqvist firmly attributes the magic of Macao to helping him further his career, which this season has taken him from Indy Lights and DTM to the FIA Formula E Championship. When I won Macao the first time in 2014, someone from Campos Racing [who was competing in the Guia Race] gave me his business card and we had a bit of a chat in Macao about the possibility of me racing in Formula E, Rosenqvist says. We weren t able to do anything that year, but after I won Macao again in 2015, we were in contact again and then I started testing with Mahindra, which went really well. For sure, winning Macao was the only reason why it happened. It s no wonder then that Rosenqvist considers his two Macao victories as the ones I m most proud of in his career to date. Macao s iconic track is a firm favourite. It s just a challenge, he says, adding that his favourite part of the track is the mountain BELOW: ROSENQVIST CELEBRATES HIS FIRST MACAO VICTORY IN 2014; BOTTOM: ROSENQVIST THUNDERS TO HIS SECOND MACAO VICTORY IN 2015 section. It s something really different compared to modern circuits, where you can run off the track and nothing happens or you have an escape road. You don t have that on a street circuit and you cannot make mistakes. You have to build up your limit and not go over it. I think it s such a bigger challenge for the driver. While Rosenqvist has not competed in F3 this season, the 25-year-old has had his fair share of street circuit outings this year, including with Formula E and in Toronto and St. Petersburg, Florida with the Indy Lights Championship. In fact, this season has been one of opportunity, with Rosenqvist jumping between singleseater, touring car and sportscar racing. Says the Swede, It s been quite a long season already, in a lot of different categories. I started off with Indy Lights at the beginning of the year, together with the Blancpain GT Sprint series, and then I also got added as a DTM reserve driver and then it s just been more and more things during the year. While Rosenqvist hasn t contested a full championship this season, his remarkable talent has seen him succeed in each category in which he has competed. I had three wins in Indy Lights, I finished the Blancpain GT [series] with a win and I started driving DTM, which has also been very successful. I did IndyCar tests and some other things. It s been a fun year, and I was able to really prove myself in different categories and show I can be strong in a lot of different cars. The weekend before the Suncity Group 63 rd Macau Grand Prix, Rosenqvist will be in Marrakesh with Formula E. As soon as that race finishes, he will have to shift gears and focus on F3, a category that he has tested, but not raced, this year. While as two-time and defending Macao champion he is among the favourites, he insists he doesn t feel any pressure to make history with a third straight win. I don t feel any pressure to be honest, he says. I love the race and it s been part of my career for a long time. I m just really keen on doing it. Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER

4 The Ultimate Challenge Macao is probably the greatest track in the world, says Maro Engel, the two-time SJM Macau GT Cup winner and the defending FIA GT World Cup champion. It s the ultimate challenge for a driver. It s high speed, it s very narrow, there are tight corners, quick corners, blind corners there s everything in there. The challenge is huge for a driver. It s so narrow between the walls that the ultimate precision is required. Engel will launch his title defense in the new Mercedes-AMG GT3. The new car influences our preparations quite a lot because we don t have the full experience to draw on compared to last year, Engel says. We need to work on a new set up that works with our new car so there s a challenge there. We know we have a great base with the new race car. It s stronger in many areas, however, there s a Balance of Performance so we need to make [everything] work at the optimum and find the optimum set-up very quickly. ABOVE: TWO OF ENGEL S FIERCEST RIVALS EDOARDO MORTARA (LEFT) AND LE MANS WINNER EARL BAMBER; BELOW L TO R: THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG GT3 WHICH MAKES ITS GUIA CIRCUIT DEBUT THIS MONTH; ENGEL WITH THE FIA GT WORLD CUP TROPHY IN 2015 recision may be required, but so too is preparation. Engel has been working with his Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy team for the past two months to put him in the best position possible to defend his title against manufacturer entries from Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini and drivers such as Mr. Macao Edoardo Mortara (Audi) and 2015 Le Mans winner Earl Bamber (Porsche). Following his victory in last year s inaugural FIA GT World Cup, Engel went on to be part of the winning team at this year s 24 Hours of Nürburgring. In addition to racing sportscars with Mercedes-AMG, Engel competes in the FIA Formula E Championship. As he returns to Macao, Engel acknowledges the strength of the entry but is determined to come out on top for a third consecutive year. Engel first raced on the Guia street circuit in the blue riband Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix in He only had the chance to contest the F3 race once, and so the opportunity to return for the GT Cup was welcome, and he describes his two subsequent Macao wins as the highlights of his career. The GT Cup is the perfect opportunity for all the professional drivers that love Macao to come back and compete against all the other champions at a really high level, Engel says. I speak to so many drivers in all different kinds of series and they all want to come to race in Macao in the GT World Cup because it s very special. Most drivers, they d race anything in Macao they d race a supermarket trolley if they had to! It s an extremely stressful track and for sure the preparations are very important because after two years of winning, our competition would like to hit back and try to beat us, Engel says. Obviously we will arrive early in the week to inspect the track. Every year there are a few changes, new tarmac, things like this, and it s important to be on top of all of that. In the end, it s the best GT drivers in the world, it s the biggest manufacturers and we want to make sure that we win again. There s obviously a lot of competition and we know we need to do a really good job to defend these titles, Engel says. Over the years, it s been a very tough fight with Edoardo Mortara in the Audi and I expect him and his team mate [Laurens Vanthoor] to be very strong again. I think Renger [van der Zande], my team mate, will be strong again and I think we ll also have to have an eye on the two Porsches, with Le Mans winner Earl Bamber. 4 Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2016

5 Macao Creative Talent on Pole Position While all eyes will be on Macao s famous Guia Circuit this month, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) is also promoting local cultural creative talents via one of the world s most celebrated motorsport weekends. orker Playground is a 100% home-grown brand, created by a group of talented, imaginative and dynamic local residents. The MGPOC has been working with Worker Playground, named after the long-gone Workers Sports Ground which was the scene of many a local sporting event in days gone by, to produce a superb range of merchandise to celebrate the Grand Prix, a collection which will appeal to both visitors and residents alike. To commemorate the 50 th edition of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, Worker Playground has designed a special logo which appears on its top-of-the-range leather motorcycle jacket, a hoodie, a T-shirt and a leather key chain. While black is very much the theme of the collection, yellow leather motorcycle gloves reflect Macao s signature yellow and black striped Armco barriers. A range of T-shirts emblazoned with vintage images of the Grand Prix, as well as a number of early Macau Grand Prix posters, join a collection of merchandise comprised of a stylish bowling bag, fisherman s hat and thermos bottle, all giving a contemporary edge to the fabled, six-decade history of the event. During the Grand Prix weekend, visitors and residents can choose from a range of cultural and creative souvenirs, all of which promote the Macau Grand Prix brand and are available from a number of outlets located in the grandstands. Continuing the Macao cultural and creative theme, modeling the collection is local former racing driver Belmiro Aguiar, who perfectly brings together the artistic and sporting elements of the city and its Grand Prix. The cool and edgy Worker Playground collection will be on sale from November 17 th to 20 th. However, if you can t wait until Grand Prix week, contact the team via their Facebook page at or website at Start your engine and let s go shopping! Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER

6 50 Years of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in Pictures 6 Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2016

7 Hutchy: Miracle Man Chronicling one of the most inspirational, emotional sporting comebacks of modern times, 2013 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner Ian Hutchinson s new autobiography tells the story of a man who refused to be beaten. Published on the eve of his tenth appearance at Macao, Hutchy: Miracle Man tells of the shining light at the end of his long, often dark road to recovery: the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. A second blow was to come when, in 2012, his injured leg was found to be infected, putting him right back to square one. Once again, Hutchinson was not to be bowed. Spurring him on was the promise of a return to the Guia Circuit, where he had already finished on the podium three times, in 2006, 09 and 11. nown as Hutchy to his countless fans, Hutchinson s achievements at the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix are too numerous to mention. However, in the summer of 2010, having just taken a record-setting five wins in a single Isle of Man TT, disaster struck. At a round of the British Supersport series in September, the Yorkshireman crashed heavily and was struck by another rider. Doctors feared he would lose his leg, but Hutchinson fought on through numerous operations and a long period of recovery. After some imaginative modifications to the gear levers and rear brakes on his race machine, Hutchinson flew out to Asia and won the 2013 Macau Motocycle Grand Prix. Hutchy: Miracle Man is a book about human strength, courage and determination and of the extraordinary motivational pull of Macao s fabled Guia Circuit. Excerpt from Hutchy: Miracle Man After the surgery, a frame was fitted to my leg, with three hand nuts on it that I had to turn every six hours of the day 6am, 6pm and midnight I had to turn them ¼ mm just to pull the bone through the inside of my leg and also shorten the lower part of the leg so that it would join up quicker. That was the worst It took until the following July before I was able to dare press my foot on the floor. I went on a recuperation trip to Madeira and spent a lot of time walking up and down in the sea, and swimming. And that got me back on my feet, literally. I built my strength back, too, and then I started the process of trying to persuade Shaun [Muir] to let me go to race the 2013 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. I assured him my frame would be off by the end of September. I desperately wanted to race On 26 September I had my thirtieth and hopefully last operation. I was all set to go. Then I heard that Shaun had missed the deadline for the Macau entries by one day, and I didn t have a chance of a ride. I went absolutely crazy at Shaun because Macau had been my main focus to keep me going. I had genuinely believed I could go and win Macau, which would make everyone realise that I could do the TT again Eventually, a rider dropped out, and I reckoned this was my golden opportunity. In November I went out to Macau for the 47 th Motorcycle Grand Prix around the 3.8 mile (6.2km) Guia Circuit, riding Shaun s Milwaukee Yamaha. I struggled a little bit in the first session, I think I was sixth or seventh, but did better in the second session, then in final qualifying we made a last-minute change and I went out and set pole position for the race. I had left the pit lane when apparently Michael Rutter, the most successful winner ever here, happened to see my pole position time. He was surprised, I ll bet. I had outqualified him and that made me believe I had got the better of him and that I could win this race. LEFT: IAN HUTCHINSON CELEBRATES HIS 2013 MACAU MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX VICTORY, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL WINS I HAVE EVER HAD ; ABOVE: IAN HUTCHINSON KNOWN AS HUTCHY TO HIS MANY FANS RACING ON THE GUIA CIRCUIT IN 2015 Hutchinson will be back out on the Guia Circuit this month in the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition, giving you the chance to see the magic that is Hutchy: Miracle Man. Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER

8 Suncity Group 63 Rd Macau Grand Prix Provisional Programme 17 NOVEMBER Thursday 6:00 Circuit Closed 6:30 7:00 Circuit Inspection 7:30 8:30 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition: Practice 8:50 9:20 Suncity Group Chinese Racing Cup: Practice 9:35 10:15 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: Practice 10:30 11:10 Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge: Practice 11:25 11:55 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T: Practice 12:30 13:00 SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup: Practice 13:20 14:00 CTM Macau Touring Car Cup: Practice 14:20 15:00 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: Qualifying 15:45 16:30 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition: Qualifying 18:00 ** Circuit Opened 18 NOVEMBER Friday 6:00 Circuit Closed 6:30 7:00 Circuit Inspection 7:30 8:15 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition: Qualifying 8:40 9:10 Suncity Group Chinese Racing Cup: Qualifying 9:35 10:15 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: Practice 10:40 11:10 SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup: Practice 11:35 12:05 Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge: Qualifying 12:30 13:00 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T: Practice 13:55 14:25 CTM Macau Touring Car Cup: Qualifying 14:55 15:25 SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup: Qualifying 15:55 16:35 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: Qualifying 18:00 ** Circuit Opened Tickets Location Grand Stand (A) (Free Seating) Lisboa Stand (Numbered Seats) Reservoir Stand (Free Seating) *Reservoir Stand (Free Seating) *Valid Macao student card holders Practice Days 17 & MOP USD 6.50 MOP USD 6.50 MOP USD 6.50 MOP USD 6.50 Race Days 19 & MOP USD MOP USD MOP USD MOP USD NOVEMBER Saturday 6:00 Circuit Closed 6:30 7:00 Circuit Inspection 7:30 8:30 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T: Qualifying 9:00 9:50 Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge: 10 laps 10:20 11:10 Suncity Group Chinese Racing Cup: 10 laps 11:20 11:40 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition: Warm Up 12:10 13:10 SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup: Qualification Race 12 laps 13:50 14:40 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: Qualification Race: 10 laps 14:40 15:05 Parade 15:30 16:30 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 50 th Edition: 12 laps 18:00 ** Circuit Opened 20 NOVEMBER Sunday 6:00 Circuit Closed 6:30 7:00 Circuit Inspection 7:00 7:30 Safety and Rescue Cars: Testing laps 8:30 9:30 CTM Macau Touring Car Cup: 12 laps 10:00 12:00 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race 2.0T: 2 Races of 10 laps each with 15 minutes break between races 12:55 14:15 SJM Macau GT Cup FIA GT World Cup: 18 laps 14:15 14:40 Parade 15:10 15:25 Lion Dance 15:30 16:30 Suncity Group Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup: 15 laps 18:00 ** Circuit Opened * Organizer reserves the right to re-schedule the programme without prior notice. ** If the circuit opens before the programmed time, it will be announced. Join us! Suncity Group 63 rd Macau Grand Prix NOVEMBER 17-20, 2016 Instituto do Desporto do Governo da RAEM Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government Ticketing outlets MACAO Kong Seng / Macao Ticketing Service Tel: Website: mgp@kongseng.com.mo HONG KONG Hong Thai Travel Services Hotline: Website: MAINLAND CHINA Guangzhou Hong Thai Travel Services Tel: Shenzhen Hong Thai Travel Tel: China International Travel Service Tel: / Zhuhai Zhuhai China Film Cinema (HuaFa Mall) Tel: / Zhongshan Culture and Art Center Cinema Tel: For enquiries, please contact Tel: marketing.mgp@sport.gov.mo Facebook: / MacauGrandPrix Official Website Official Facebook Official App Official Weibo Official Wechat 8 Macau Grand Prix gazette ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2016