Vox pop by Armindo Neves, Rui Pastorin and Khalel Vallo
The four-day 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) kicked off yesterday, drawing spectators of all ages from young students experiencing the motorsport event for the first time to those who have been coming to watch the races every year.
Post reporters gathered a wide range of opinions around the Grand Prix Building and Grand Stand yesterday, with some expressing excitement about what lies ahead, while others were not so positive about the event.
According to the organisers, 15,000 spectators watched yesterday’s races.
Davie, a spectator from the Philippines, is attending the races for the third time. As a fan, he is particularly looking forward to tomorrow’s Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix and hopes the day remains dry to avoid a repeat of last year’s rain-induced cancellation. Davie said he doesn’t support any particular racing car team and simply enjoys the atmosphere of the event.
StarMac Entertainment & Production Ltd CEO Rio Lou Kit Long said that he is optimistic about this year’s Grand Prix, noting that the current favourable weather conditions should prevent the event from being disrupted by heavy rain, unlike in previous years. Lou said he believed the better weather would allow drivers to perform at their best.
Lou added that he was mainly interested in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix and Greater Bay Area GT Cup. He also voiced encouragement at seeing young local drivers competing, finding it inspiring as it reflects the ongoing cultivation and succession of motorsport talent in Macau.
Iao, an experienced photography enthusiast from Hong Kong, said he was more focused on the Macau GT Cup, which he believes offers greater speed and is visually more impressive than this year’s Formula 4 races. He also commented on the practice session for the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, pointing out that they started too early, making it inconvenient for spectators travelling from Hong Kong.
Yesterday’s motorbike practice session started at 7:45 a.m.
Positive reactions from the Grand Stand
Among the long-time fans loyally following the racing event is 53-year-old Vitaly. Living in the mainland, he travels to Macau for the Grand Prix and has done so for the past 10 years, being particularly a big fan of the motorcycle races where he even has friends competing.
To Vitaly, November feels like Christmas and New Year combined. “It’s like a festival of motorsport, a celebration of racing. I think it’s a great experience and I really appreciate the fact that I can come every year”.
Speaking about last year’s motorcycle races, Vitaly recalled that despite being plagued by the inclement weather, he remembered feeling excited despite sitting mostly in the rain from 7 a.m. till the evening, and looked back fondly on visiting the paddocks and the racers that time. This year, he said, the track temperature seemed to be fine, while the cool and not so sunny weather was particularly perfect for the Motorcycle Grand Prix, hoping for the safety of the racers.
Joel, a local Filipino, shares the same enthusiasm for the annual racing event. While he does not follow any race in particular, the 43-year-old comes to watch the races in the flesh every year to enjoy the environment and experience, particularly due to his fondness for cars. Looking back at his viewing experience last year, he said he enjoyed it, although he was quick to comment on the slippery track and bad weather then. This year, given yesterday’s weather, he remains optimistic for the next few days, being excited about Sunday’s finals.
Four first-time spectators, all of them local students aged 12, commented in unison that they enjoyed watching the practice races. They described the races they watched as “cool and competitive”, with one of them saying that he would like to watch the FR races taking place today if he had the chance. As first-time spectators, they all felt grateful for having had the opportunity to see the race up close.
Another first-time spectator is a 25-year-old tourist named Katerina from Russia, who described her experience with a single word: “Wow!”. Enjoying the event, she said she will be watching the races over the next three days, and she might even come back to watch next year.
Mixed reactions
Hin, a spectator who is attending for the fourth time said that he is primarily focused on the Macau Guia Race and the Macau GT Cup as he has friends competing in both. Hin said he believed the organisers’ handling of last year’s event, which was marred by cancellations due to the rain and unclear rankings, needed improvement. In his view, the red flag should not be deployed so readily to interrupt the races.
Another spectator, Rocky, expressed disappointment at this year’s Macau Formula 4 Race, feeling the racers don’t match the level of past editions. For him, yesterday’s standout highlight was the participation of Chinese-born Italian driver Ye Yifei. Regarding the frequent red flags during practice sessions, he interpreted them positively—as a sign that drivers were pushing their cars to the limit due to the good weather, which ultimately results in higher speeds and makes for a more exciting spectacle.
Elain, a 14-year-old local student, finds the Grand Prix appealing but noted that the road closures severely disrupt Macau’s already congested traffic even more. She personally prefers the Formula 4 race and Macau Roadsport Challenge and is optimistic that this year’s improved weather will allow for a full schedule of events.
José, a seasoned spectator from Portugal, is drawn back by the event’s unique street circuit and “electrifying” atmosphere. However, he expressed disappointment at the recent replacement of the iconic Formula 3 category with Formula 4, believing this change is misaligned with the circuit’s high-risk nature. His most cherished memory is the personal connection forged in the paddocks, witnessing the rise of legends like Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel, which to him remains the event’s irreplaceable charm.
Spectators at the Grand Stand watch the first-day of the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) yesterday afternoon. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
