Spanish driver Daniel Juncadella triumphed after a tight battle in the SJM-sponsored 58th Macau Grand Prix on Sunday. The Barcelona native made the most of a second safety car restart to grab a lead that he never relinquished.
Juncadella was running fourth early on in the race but he jumped two places following a restart on lap five. He then grabbed the opportunity to overhaul early front-runner Marco Wittmann following another safety car restart on lap ten. Felipe Nasr of Brazil finished second and Marco Wittmann of Germany was third.
The main events of the day—the FIA Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix and the FIA World Touring Car Championship—known as the Guia Race of Macau—were both sponsored by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM). The company, founded by Dr Stanley Ho and the successor to his former monopoly gaming operation STDM, remains the largest gaming concessionaire by market share in Macau even nine years after market liberalisation.
This year’s race weekend was marked by the biggest ever Grand Prix-related media and advertising campaign to help promote the branding of SJM in particular and Macau in general as a tourism destination.
The Grand Prix winner was presented with his prize by Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui, accompanied by Dr Ambrose So, Ms Angela Leong, Mr Louis Ng and Dr Rui Cunha, all directors of SJM.
Dr So said after the event: “SJM, as the sole locally-rooted casino gaming concessionaire, is proud to join hands with the Macau Government Tourist Office in supporting this locally-developed Grand Prix and other international events to enhance Macau’s image globally and to diversify its tourism offerings.”
This year’s event came only days before Dr Stanley Ho’s 90th birthday.
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