The “Racing Enthusiasm Party – Souza Racing Personal Exhibition” was inaugurated on Friday at H853 Fun Factory on the first floor of Lisboeta Macau in Cotai, with the aim of paying homage to the Macanese racing driver Filipe de Souza, and “kindling the passion for the 70th Macau Grand Prix (MGP)” which is slated to kick off on Saturday, according to a statement by Lisboeta Macau, the organiser.
Customarily, the term “Macanese” denotes Macau’s community of mixed Portuguese-Asian extraction and its diaspora.
Having clinched the “Macau Guia Race – TCR Asia Challenge” champion title during last year’s Macau Grand Prix, Souza became the first local driver to win the Guia Race (a touring car race held on the 6.2 km Guia Circuit), etching his name in the Macau Grand Prix chronicles.
The 10-day exhibition, which is on until next Sunday, showcases Souza’s iconic Audi RS3 No.26 championship car and racing attire, as well as a pantheon of his trophies and a raft of photos featuring his racing highlights.
According to the statement, the exhibition aims to serve as a catalyst to create a fervent atmosphere and fuel enthusiasm for the upcoming Macau Grand Prix, while at the same time livening up the local sport culture.
The statement said that Souza was present at the exhibition’s inaugural ceremony on Friday, which was also attended by SJM Managing Director-cum-lawmaker Angela Leong On Kei and Lisboeta Macau Director Connie Kong (&؟٦'), who said he hoped Souza would be able to defend his title in the upcoming race.
In the statement, Lisboeta Macau said that Souza was actively committed to cultivating the next generation of local talents in motorsport. Therefore, it added, the exhibition underscores the resort’s dedication to the development of the local sport industry, while at the same time promoting synergy between tourism and athletic prowess to spur the city’s appropriate economic diversification.
Filipe de Souza, the first local winner of the Macau Grand Prix’s Guia Race, poses with his Audi RS3 No.26 championship car during last Friday’s inaugural ceremony of the “Racing Enthusiasm Party – Souza Racing Personal Exhibition” in the outdoor area of Lisboeta Macau in Cotai. – Photo supplied by Lisboeta Macau
