The Macau International Kart Grand Prix* marks its post-pandemic return this year, with the event featuring racers from Macau and different parts of the world.
Held across a two-week period, the races, which have Sands China as its main sponsor, is organised by the Sports Bureau (ID) and the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) in conjunction with Singapore-based OTK Kart Asia and IAME** Asia.
Briefing the media on the details during yesterday’s press conference at the Coloane Karting Track, AAMC President Roberto Carlos Osório said in his speech that the first of the two-week races will be held from today through Sunday, involving 70 racers, including 25 from Macau. The races for this period, according to a Sports Bureau (ID) statement last night, are the 2024 ROK Cup Macau Invitational and the AAMC Karting Championship Round 8 (Mini ROK, Junior ROK, KZ).
The second week of races will be held from December 4 to 8 and joined by 170 racers, 15 of them from Macau. The IAME Asia Final, the AAMC Karting Championship Round 8 (X30 Junior and Senior) and the KZ Invitational are the races featured during this period.
Both the IAME Asia Final and ROK Cup Macau Invitational mark their inaugural editions in Macau this year, added their respective organisers. The race categories feature those for cadets, juniors, seniors and masters, according to Osório, who added in his speech that the special events “Sands Cup” and the “Coca-Cola Cup” are also set to be held.
Moreover, speaking with the Post after the press conference, Osório said that the upcoming karting Grand Prix was the “highest level” of karting races in Macau after the pandemic, expecting that many international drivers and their teams will come to the city and join the races. He added that both OTK Kart Asia and IAME Asia also think it would be possible to have more than 200 drivers coming to Macau next year.
Moreover, in his speech, Sands China Executive Vice Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai said that by sponsoring the event, the company hopes that it can help young drivers pursue their dreams and enable the city’s motorsport enthusiasts to step onto the international stage, compete with international racers and experience the thrill of racing on the track.
*Before its hiatus due to the pandemic, the Macau International Kart Grand Prix had been held annually since 2004.
** According to its website, IAME was set up in Italy in 1968 and along all these years, its primal focus has been the production of karting engines and competitions.
“With an average production of 5,000 engines per year, IAME is one of the main engines supplier to chassis manufacturers, teams, private organisers and, above all, IAME is one of the major partners of the karting federations,” the company points on its website.
Another website run by the company describes it as the “world’s leading karting company”.
Automobile General Association of Macao-China (AAMC) President Roberto Carlos Osório (2nd row, third from left), OTK Kart Asia General Manager Brendan Lim (2nd row, fourth from left), Sands China Executive Vice Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai (2nd row, sixth from left), Sports Bureau President Luís Gomes (second row, seventh from left) and IAME Regional Consultant- Asia Benjamin Tan (2nd row, eighth from left) pose with guests and young racers who attended yesterday’s press conference at the Colone Karting Track. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
