The Guia Circuit, or Circuito da Guia, is a 6.120 km (3.803 mi) street circuit located at the southeast region of the Macau Peninsula in Macau. It is the venue of the Macau Grand Prix and Guia Race of Macau. The circuit consists of long straights and tight corners, and features the characteristics of a typical street circuit - narrow, bumpy and limited overtaking opportunities. However, there are two special features that can rarely be found in other street circuits - variation in altitude (over 30 m (100 ft) between highest and lowest point of the circuit) and an ultra long main straight that allows top speed of 260 km/h (160 mph) on Formula Three cars. As a result, the circuit is recognised as one of the most challenging circuits in the world in terms of both driving and tuning, as cars have to maintain competitive speed to overcome hill-climbing, twisty corners and long straights in a single lap.
The Guia Circuit was originally conceived in 1954 as the route for a treasure hunt around the streets of the city,[1] but shortly after the event it was suggested that the hunt's track could host an amateur racing event for local motor enthusiasts. Since 1967, with the introduction of a motorcycle race, the track has become a venue for both motorcycle and car racing events.
Layout
The Hotel Lisboa Curve
The circuit has not been modified since 1957 except when the pit and paddock complex was relocated in 1993. This work included the removal of a gravel trap which had been located near the Reservoir Bend. The narrowest part of the track is at the Melco Hairpin which has a width of merely 7 m (23 ft). The whole length of the circuit is bound by Armco barriers painted in black and yellow stripes.
Grandstands
Grandstand at the Guia Circuit
There are two major grandstands around the circuit, along the pit straight and at the Lisboa Bend.
Racing events
The circuit hosts the Macau Grand Prix, a unique event with its combination of motorcycle and car races within the same race weekend. The Macau Motorcycle GP race, the Guia Race (WTCC final rounds from 2005 to 2014) and the Macau Formula 3 GP are the highlights of the event. In addition, various kind of racing events are organised for competition between local and regional (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South East Asia, etc.) enthusiasts.
Italics indicate discontinued class. As of November 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Guia Circuit are listed as:[2]
In 2003, Ralph Firman, winner of the 1996 F3 race, set a lap time of 1min 59.4sec during a demonstration event as part of the Macau Grand Prix's 50th anniversary celebrations in a Jordan EJ13 Formula 1 car.[26]
^"Fernando Macedo Pinto, one of the founders of the Macau Grand Prix" (in Portuguese). Blog Macau Antigo. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
^ a b"Macau Fastest Lap Comparison". Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
^ a b"Macau Guia - Racing Circuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^ a b"Macau - Motorsport Magazine". Motorsport Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
^"The 70th Macau Grand Prix 16–19 November 2023 - Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix FIA F3 World Cup - Qualifying Race – Official Final Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^"The 70th Macau Grand Prix 16–19 November 2023 - Macau GT Cup - FIA GT World Cup – Race - Provisional Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
^"The 70th Macau Grand Prix 11–12 November 2023 - Macau Formula 4 Race – Final Race - Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
^"2017 Suncity Group Macau Guia Race - FIA WTCC Opening Race - Final Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
^"Which touring cars were fastest – Super Touring, S2000 or TCR?". Touringcartimes. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^"Will Buller conquers Macau". 22 November 2009. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
^"The 70th Macau Grand Prix 16–19 November 2023 - Macau Guia Race - Kumho TCR World Tour Event of Macau – Race 1 - Official Final Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^"2001 Asian F2000 Round 6: Macau 18 November 2001". Retrieved 28 February 2023.
^"The 70th Macau Grand Prix 11–12 November 2023 - Greater Bay Area GT Cup (GT4) – Race - Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
^"WTCC 2013 » Circuito da Guia Round 24 Results". Retrieved 28 February 2023.
^"2013 60th Macau Grand Prix Scirocco R China Masters Challenge Official Race Classification" (PDF). 16 November 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^For Macanese and Hong Kong professional drivers, previously two separate races each different nationalities, replaced by Chinese Cup.
^"CTM Macau Touring Car Cup – Race – Official Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 22 November 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
^One-make race for Senova D70s.
^"63th Macau Grand Prix Suncity Group Chinese Racing Cup Race – Final Classification" (PDF). Macau Grand Prix. Macau Grand Prix Committee. 19 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
^"1992 Macau Guia Race". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
^"1981 Macau Guia Race". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
^"1978 Macau Guia Race". Retrieved 23 October 2022.
^"GP Macau 1966". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^"GP Macau 1964". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^"GP Macau 1962". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^"Firman breaks Macau lap record". www.crash.net. 14 November 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guia circuit.
