Macau Grand Prix Challenge

by Jonathan Noble They say there are two types of drivers at Macau: those who have hit the wall, and those who are about to. One of the most challenging tracks on the planet, Macau hosts one of the most thrilling races of the year. analyses the challenge and previews the event.

For seasoned travellers of Asia, the five-letter word conjures up stark images of noisy casinos, busy bars, restaurants serving up a fusion of Eastern and Western delights, and the bright lights of the modern hotels contrasting with the Mediterranean architecture of the old town.

But mention Macau to any racing enthusiast and the reaction is very different. Their heart rate goes up and a grin will spread across their face, because it means just one thing – arguably the best street circuit in the world.

While the casual Formula One fan may find it hard to imagine that anything can surpass Monaco, speak to any of the men who have raced on both circuits and there is never any doubt that the Asian track puts it Mediterranean rival firmly in the shade.

Former winner Takuma Sato's reaction is typical. Stop him in the F1 paddock and just say Macau and his eyes always light up. "It is the greatest circuit in the world I think," he says.

The 3.8-mile Macau Guia circuit is split into two distinct personalities. Along the harbour front there is a flat-out blast that lasts for nearly 30 seconds, which includes the fearsome 140mph Mandarin Bend that has caught out many past stars.

After the following tight right handed Lisboa, which all too often lures drivers into its tyre barriers, the Macau track then takes on a more usual street-circuit feel. There is the slow San Francisco Bend, which has emerged as the new favourite spot for opening lap pile-ups, before the drivers head flat out up the hill under Hospital Bridge to the tight wall-lined sequence of corners – Maternity Bend, the Solitude Esses and then a short straight section before Moorish Hill.

Following the Dona Maria Bend (a quite fast hairpin), there is the infamous Melco Hairpin – probably the tightest corner on any international circuit. Some teams opt to give their drivers more right hand lock to get their cars through (as much as 300-degrees in some cases) but even so you cannot afford to not get on the right line.

And the exit of the hairpin is important because it leads to the start of the complex of long-straights, separated by the fourth gear Fishermen's Bend and R Bend, before the start-finish straight that runs all the way down to Lisboa.

The challenge makes it tough for rookies for succeed – and invariably you can say there are two types of drivers at Macau. Those who have hit the wall, and those who are about to.

As Mark Webber says: "When you first get there you think it is a bit crazy for a car race - and I have got to say that the motorbike guys are psychopaths - but whoever is quick around there is definitely a good driver." The unique challenges of the track have helped maintain Macau's place as the blue-ribband Formula Three event of the year – and have no doubt played a part in convincing the FIA to add the event to the World Touring Car Championship calendar this year.

Yet the supreme difficulty of the track, the high speeds allied to its tightness, means that danger lies around every curve – and the result is that no driver can take anything for granted in his quest for victory. A look at the tales behind many of the wins shows how success on the streets of Macau is as much about survival of the fittest as it is about being the quickest.

There was 1997 winner Soheil Ayari, who triumphed despite a spectacular 140mph flight through the air after he was launched over the rear wheel of another car on the run down to Lisboa. Peter Dumbreck will not forget his 1998 triumph, which was by just 0.003 seconds, while Jenson Button will only wonder what might have been after he saw a first lap shunt cause a red flag just after he had got clear in the lead of the race in 1999.

Macau has been something of a self-fulfilling success story. Its reputation has been enhanced by the calibre of its winners – which in turn has served to encourage the sport's rising stars to want to compete on the streets. It's hard for any driver to turn his nose up at the chance of following in the footsteps of former winners Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher.

And while a good showing at Macau is no guarantee of making it into Formula One -Takuma Sato is the only winner since Ralph Firman in 1996 to have made the jump to Grand Prix racing so far - recent history shows only too well how quickly Macau front-runners do get to the top.

New Williams signing Nico Rosberg briefly led last year's race before crashing into the barriers, while future Squadra Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed took a podium finish in the supporting Formula Renault race – which is now being used by F3 hopefuls keen to get track knowledge the year before their main event.

It is no wonder that some drivers even opt to return to Formula Three for the event, even though their careers have taken them higher up the racing ladder. Rene Arnoux famously finished sixth in 1985, Ralph Firman returned in 1997 the year after winning it, while this year's World Series by Renault champion Robert Kubica is making his return with Carlin Motorsport.

"I know some people have said I am crazy to come and do F3 again after winning the World Series, but I disagree," said Kubica, whose next run in a racing car will be a test in the Renault R25 at Barcelona in early December.

"For me, racing at Macau is really a challenge and after being quite competitive last year I wanted to come back because I am convinced I can do a good job. It's the nicest track in the world."

On the other side of the prestige coin, however, the challenge and fortune element of Macau has invariably led to some drivers choosing not to risk harming their image by possibly failing in the race.

This year, pre-event favourite Formula Three Euroseries champion Lewis Hamilton withdrew from the race on advice from mentors McLaren because there was a chance all his good work in dominating the season could be undone by a poor result in Macau. He was in that difficult situation where anything less than victory would not have been good enough, and it was felt his time would be better spent preparing for 2006.

While Hamilton's decision is understandable, there is also an argument to suggest that drivers should be confident enough in their own abilities to not fear the consequences of getting it wrong. When Sato came to Macau in 2001, he already had a contract with Jordan Grand Prix in the bag for the following season, but was adamant that he wanted to add victory on the Chinese streets to his British F3 crown.

Sato had it all to lose if things had gone wrong, but came through it all to dominate the weekend in style – despite some early pressure from teammate Anthony Davidson in qualifying before the Briton was sidelined with a neck injury after a crash.

But Macau is not just about the challenge of the race track. For drivers it is the chance to let their focus on racing maybe slip off a little bit over the weekend, before letting themselves go completely on Sunday night. The late night bars, cabaret activities and restaurants offer plenty of temptation – especially to some of the younger F3 drivers who have never travelled outside of Europe before.

As one former Macau Grand Prix winner said ahead of this week's event: "I always have to say that Macau is nothing special away from the race track, because if I told the truth about what was so good there is no way you could write it!"

It is little wonder that so many driver exploits have gone down into Macau folklore – and they are only the tales that have become public. There are rumours to this day that Gerhard Berger and a fellow F3 driver threw the captain of a Macau ferry overboard one year – while Berger regularly recounts tales of practical jokes he served on his rivals

"I remember Hong Kong was really quite funny," he said looking back on his 1983 entry. "I had a special radio for the helmet that I'd got in England and brought with me.

"Cathy Muller asked me, 'Ah, where did you get that nice radio?' And I said, 'I just bought it here. Very cheap.' 'Ah,' she said. 'I want one, too.' So I said: 'It's very easy. You go by taxi,' and then I made a map. 'You go right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, straight. Ten minutes with the taxi you will find it and there you will get it cheap.' So off she and some other drivers went in a taxi. Right, left, right, left, and came back five hours later, everybody upset, to find out that I'd bought the thing in England!"

The fun, entertainment, challenge and prestige of the event all add up to deliver the heady cocktail of excitement that is the Macau Grand Prix. It is an event that even for those seasoned with the Formula One trail still holds more than enough to stay enthralled.

This all explains why I've not missed a Macau Grand Prix since I first made the trek in 1997. And for those who've never been, I can only say that if there is ever a chance to go just take it. You will not be disappointed. Originally appeared in Autosport Click here for more info about Macau and the Grand Prix