The 59th Macau Grand Prix will be taking place in a week’s time on the 17th – 18th November 2012. Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM) has returned once again as a long-time Grand Prix partner and Official Sponsor for this year that will help to welcome a total of 227 competitors from 32 different countries and territories to Macau, of which 57 Macau drivers and riders have confirmed their participation.
Due to be broadcasted live over a span of two days, the live-broadcast will be held at the Pavillion’s Connection on level 3 in Kuala Lumpur. Saturday’s broadcast will be from 3,30pm till 4.30pm while Sunday’s broadcast will be from 9.30am – 4.30pm.
There will be three main races taking place this year, which will include the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau (FIA WTCC) and the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix as well as four other support races.
This year’s Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup – will be celebrating its 30th anniversary on the demanding Guia street circuit, with 17 of this season’s 24 Formula 1 drivers having participated at the Macau Grand Prix in the past, including the youngest-ever two-time F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel.
With the new FIA WTCC season having kicked-off on 11th March at Italy’s Monza circuit, it now heads to Macau for the eighth consecutive year for its final two rounds at the famous Guia Circuit where former-Formula One drivers and up-and-coming talent will be doing battle for the title after lining up on the grid.
As for the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, it’s the 46th Edition that’s been long recognised as one of the world’s most challenging two-wheel road races, attracting many seasoned riders from Europe, North America as well as in and around Asia Pacific.
As for the support races, it will include the Macau GT Cup, Macau Touring Car Cup, the Macau Road Sport Challenge and the MAC/HKG Interport Race.
The Macau GT Cup happens to be the traditional favorite amongst fans, with a full grid of some of the world’s top sportscar drivers from Hong Kong, Macau and across the Asian region. Last year’s race attracted the likes of Edoardo Mortara, who made history in 2010 by becoming the only driver ever to win the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice. Mortara took victory in the 2011 Macau GT Cup in his Audi R8 LMS, while Le Mans class winner Danny Watts of Great Britain gave the McLaren MP4 its Asian debut at Macau.
Local and Hong Kong drivers look forward to competing in the Macau Touring Car Cup, the Macau Road Sport Challenge, and the MAC/HKG Interport Race. Qualification races for local drivers will be held via the Macau Touring Car series, organized by the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC), in April and May. The races allow local competitors to gain experience ahead of the November Grand Prix showcase.
17th November 2012
15:30 – 16:30 – Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (46th Edition) – 15 Laps
18th November 2012
09:00 – 10:00 – City of Dreams Macau GT Cup – 12 Laps
10:30 – 13:00 – FIA WTCC – Guia Race of Macau – Presented by SJM – 2 Races of 9 laps each with 15 minutes break between Races
13:45 – 14:45 – Special Event
15:00 – 15:15 – Lion Dance
15:30 – 16:30 – SJM Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix – 15 laps
http://youtu.be/n_Bwt8kf8kI
