The Macau Grand Prix is set to look very different in 2020 with the main Formula 3 race cancelled and drivers in remaining races sourced predominantly from Asia.
The Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee announced at a press conference on Friday that this year’s edition of the Macau Grand Prix will run from 19 to 22 November, but with the FIA F3 Championship to be replaced by a new Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix. It will be the first time since 1983 that Formula 3 won’t be the Macau Grand Prix’s premier category.
“We are aware that this is a unique year due to the unpredictability caused by the pandemic,” said the President of Macau’s Sports Bureau, Pun Weng Kun.
“Excluding Formula 1, many other categories have suffered changes, with many competitions cancelled. The organizing committee, together with FIA and health authorities, conducted joint efforts to organize a Macau Grand Prix edition that we are sure will be a success.”
With no F3 on show, the new F4 race will feature drivers primarily from mainland China, while drivers in the Macau GT Cup will be selected from China GT Championship and Asia Pacific GT and in the Macau Guia Race from the TCR Asia Series and Asia Pacific Touring Cars 2.0T races. Some drivers may need to quarantine for two weeks before the race.
The 54th edition of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix will also be held, as will the Macau Touring Car Cup and Greater Bay Area GT Cup. Organizers said there will be a total of six to seven races in 2020 with some details yet to be confirmed.
In total, around 200 drivers and riders will take part in the Macau Grand Prix with organizers confirming most will come from Mainland China, the Asian region, Hong Kong and Macau, with drivers from other overseas regions only accounting for a small number – most of them participating in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. Team members for the drivers and riders will be kept to a minimum.
It will also be the first time in seven years that Suncity Group has not been title sponsor of the event, with the organizing committee cancelling the public tender process for title sponsorship due to the widespread changes made to the event. The budget for the 2020 Macau Grand Prix has also fallen by around MOP$20 million to MOP$250 million, with fewer tickets to be sold due to social distancing measures.
This year represents the 67th running of the Macau Grand Prix, which was first held in 1954.
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