Beyond racing, event aims to promote culture

The 73rd Macau Grand Prix, which takes place on the Guia Circuit from November 19 to 22, aims to promote more than racing this year, organizers said at a late-week press conference that unveiled most of the event details.

Organizers said the event aims to serve as a catalyst for a series of other activities that promote culture, regional integration, and national values.

As this will be the first GP led by the new head of the Sports Bureau following the merger into the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the IC said it will launch a new cross-over initiative titled the “Macao City Culture Festival.”

The “Culture Festival” will run from November 14 to 22 and will feature a series of innovative cultural interactions and experiences.

Among them, the IC noted that the festival “will promote Macau’s cultural resources that represent ‘China’s First’,” and that it will be set against the backdrop of the city’s World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage to highlight its distinctive character as a meeting point for Chinese and Western civilizations and to foster the integrated development of culture and sports.

In practical terms, the Culture Festival will take place at the Macau Forum (next door to the Grand Prix Museum), which will be transformed into a “Time Square.”

Centered on the theme “Echoes of the City, Harmony Between East and West,” the venue will host a themed exhibition, “Macao and the Encounter of Chinese and Western Civilizations,” along with cultural experiences, intangible cultural heritage performances, and stalls showcasing creative products.

The festival will also extend to other locations, including the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, the entrance to the Reservoir Stand, and the Macau Cultural Center plaza.

Additionally, a “Macau Historic Center Open Day” will be held, offering special access to various heritage sites, along with unique activities and guided tours.

As part of the program, the Macao Chinese Orchestra will also perform at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, hosting ancillary events to entertain the public outside the racing program.

As the Times previously reported, the racing program features seven races, including four World Cups (FIA FR World Cup, FIA GT World Cup, Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Event of Macau, and FIA F4 World Cup), as well as several support races, including Macau’s Motorcycle Grand Prix, which this year runs its 58th edition, the Greater Bay Area GT Cup (GT4), and Macau Roadsport Challenge.

GP ‘Family Carnival’ returns

The Macau Grand Prix Family Carnival returns this year to Tap Seac Square on the weekend of November 7 and 8.

The carnival will feature a recreation of the Guia Circuit and a mini racetrack, letting children learn about the wide range of tasks and functions involved in Grand Prix racing while providing a lively, engaging educational experience.

In addition, from November 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, Grand Prix-themed activities will take place at “Art Everywhere – Cultural Vibes at the Weekend” at Anim’Arte Nam Van.

These activities will include interactive Grand Prix racing games and simulators.

During the Grand Prix, large screens will broadcast the event, allowing residents and visitors to experience it as they roam the city.

Auto Show at ‘lights out’

A fan favorite, the Macau Grand Prix Auto Show will continue to be held at Tap Seac Square on November 14 and 15, ahead of the start of on-track action.

As usual, the event features many racing machines, along with drivers and riders, giving fans a unique chance to take a close look at the participating vehicles and to interact with the people driving and riding them.

The event also marks the official Grand Prix opening ceremony, which will be held at the same venue on November 14.

New GP documentary to be screened

In addition, this year’s event will screen the documentary “MGP: the Untamed Circuit.” Co-produced by Gaoting Pictures (Ningbo) Co. Ltd. and Macao C-Color Culture Entertainment and directed by Cao Jinling, the film has been shortlisted for the Chinese Documentary Film Festival and accepted into the National Image Collection Project.

Centered on the 72nd Macau Grand Prix in the last year, the film chronicles the event’s evolution and legacy by weaving together the stories of drivers such as Ma Qing Hua from the mainland and local drivers Marcus Cheong and Vernice Lao, with rare historical footage and accounts from individuals ranging from race personnel to longtime residents.

Ticket holders for this year’s Grand Prix are eligible for a discount on admission.

‘Big six’ continue to sponsor

As in previous editions, Macau’s six gaming concessionaires remain the event’s primary sponsors.

At the Macau Cultural Center press conference last Friday, representatives from the six companies also presented their sponsorship checks in two tiers.

The four elite sponsors include MGM China Holdings Limited, Sand China Ltd, Galaxy Entertainment Group, and SJM Resorts, S.A., each sponsoring MOP20 million. The two premium sponsors are Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. and Wynn Macau, Ltd., each sponsoring MOP10 million. In total, the six gaming operators contributed MOP100 million.

On the matter, the Macao Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) said it “intends to continue leveraging major sporting events as a platform to collaborate with the private sector on sports tourism projects that attract international visitors, to strengthen the coordinated development of the integrated tourism, leisure and sports industries.”

In addition, the MGPOC announced that the Safety Car for this year’s event will be sponsored by BMW Concessionaires (Macau) Limited, and Macau Industrial Limited will continue as the official beverage sponsor.

Tickets from MOP100 to MOP1,200

Unchanged from previous editions, ticket prices vary by day and viewing platform, ranging from MOP100 (for the first two days) to MOP1,200 for the main race days.

Individual ticket purchases are limited to ten per person, and all spectators aged two and older must hold a valid ticket.

MGPOC has established 15 ticket sales points across Macau, Hong Kong, and the mainland, as well as online and mobile app sales channels.

Residents and visitors may purchase tickets through the MacauTicket network at http://www.macauticket.com or at Kong Seng stores in Macau, Hong Kong, and the mainland.

Tickets can also be purchased through the Ctrip Travel and Trip.com mobile apps, Damai mobile apps and WeChat mini-program, the EGL Tours website at http://www.egltours.com, Tongyue.com (China) WeChat mini-programs and the CTG Travel WeChat mini-program.

During the Grand Prix, all on-site ticketing centers will have self-service ticket dispensing machines in addition to staffed counters, allowing spectators to purchase tickets using credit cards and other electronic payment methods.