The 69th Macau Grand Prix lit up the city streets between 17th and 20th November. Coordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee and President of the Sports Bureau, Pun Weng Kun told media following the four-day event, that more than 76,000 spectators had caught the thrilling racing action, surpassing the results of the past two editions.
A total of seven races were held with some of the most celebrated European racers on the circuit today jetting over to Macao to compete. Among them was Finnish rider Erno Kostamo, who claimed victory in the 54th edition of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. In doing so, he became the first non-British winner of the race since 1997. Other European stars to take pole position during the Grand Prix included Maro Engel from Germany, who became a three-time Galaxy Entertainment Macau GT Cup winner. Engel previously won the prestigious cup in 2014 and 2015.
It wasn’t all about the Europeans in the Grand Prix, though. China’s Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang was victorious in the MGM Macau Touring Car Cup - China Touring Car Championship. The two-time Macau Guia Race winner finished first for the third time in the city. Macao also had a reason to celebrate when hometown hero Andy Chang Wing Chung triumphed in the final Sands China Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix race. Another Macao racer Filipe de Souza became a champion at the Wynn Macau Guia Race - TCR Asia Challenge. In addition, China’s Liang Jia Tong won the Melco Greater Bay GT Cup at the Grand Prix. To complete all seven races, the winner of the SJM Macau Roadsport Challenge was Chan Chi Ha.
Following the Grand Prix, Pun Weng Kun said he was pleased that the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix had returned this year after last running in 2019 - and that it had attracted many European “racing masters” to compete. He added that the Grand Prix can assist different business sectors to accelerate the economic recovery in Macao. He also believed the 70th Macau Grand Prix will be even better than this one. It will take place in November next year.
In response to a question at a Legislative Assembly meeting on 23rd November, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said that MGTO had funded a series of community activities during the Macau Grand Prix, including concerts, cultural performances and film screenings, which had attracted a total of 46,000 visitors. She also mentioned that MGTO will continue to strengthen the “tourism + sports” effect in the city and encourage the industry to organise more feasible international sports events or activities in Macao in the future. To review the details on this year’s event, please visit the official website of the Macau Grand Prix (www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo) and its Facebook page, WeChat account and Weibo. Or download the related mobile applications.