The Macau GP's greatest moments
Coronavirus restrictions mean this weekend's Macau GP will have a very different feel, with the usual F3 jamboree replaced by Chinese F4. But in past years, the event has provided some seminal moments in the careers of future world champions
The Macau Grand Prix has become famed as the single most prestigious race for up-and-coming Formula 1 wannabes in the world. But, after an unbroken 37-year run as the blue-riband of Formula 3 competition from 1983-2019, this year it is contested by competitors from the Chinese Formula 4 Championship, owing to Macau's very strict quarantine measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
But we wanted to wallow in Macau F3 nostalgia, so we dug out a feature that ran in Autosport in November 2002 celebrating some of the more dramatic Macau GPs, and updated it with happenings from the Guia circuit over the past 17 runnings since then.
Share Or Save This Story
Marcus Simmons is the Deputy Editor of Autosport magazine. As a child he was a regular on the chalk banks of Thruxton – hence his unhealthy obsession with 1970s Formula 2 and F3 – before he became an MSA timekeeper at the age of 17. At 19, his reporting debut for Motoring News arguably overshadowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal as the sporting moment of June 1986, and he joined the staff in 1990 after graduating from his degree course in Plymouth. A parallel Formula First career – which was as incident-packed as his childhood exploits in show-jumping and hunter trials – finished when he wrote off his car and put himself in hospital in 1991.
Marcus moved to Autosport in the summer of 1996. Since then he has had two stints as a freelancer and a brief spell as editor of Motor Sport magazine, during which the revered green cover was revived, before he rejoined Autosport in 2008. He lives in Teddington with his wife (who, gratifyingly, grew up within earshot of Castle Combe), daughter, stepson, dog, cat and guitars, and additionally has an adult daughter and stepson.
More from Marcus Simmons
Line draws up to 16th in Ryan Motorsport Insurance Autosport National Rankings
The season that launched Senna to stardom
Grange is new leader of Ryan Motorsport Insurance Autosport National Rankings
How to be an ace engineer: BTCC race winner Craig Porley
Parker, Bliss and Simms make Ryan Motorsport Insurance Autosport National Rankings gains
BTCC Knockhill: Huff holds off Ingram for dramatic win
BTCC Knockhill: Hill surges through to win on soft tyres
BTCC Knockhill: Turkington cruises to race one victory
Latest news
Ogier explains Power Stage roll, given €30k suspended fine for opening stage comments
Bagnaia slashes Martin deficit of Aragon crash with Misano runner-up finish
Acropolis WRC victory a “big release of pressure” for Neuville
Martin takes blame for costly Misano bike swap call
Autosport Plus
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Why F1's junior logjam isn't entirely a product of current issues
Ranking the top 10 drivers on F1's undercard in 2023
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.