Grand Prix legend John MacDonald passes away at 89

[Photo; Renato Marques]

Macau Grand Prix legend John MacDonald passed away earlier last week, the Times has learned from friends and family.

According to reports, MacDonald died after a prolonged illness.

A Hong Kong resident, MacDonald is highly regarded for his many wins in the local Grand Prix, including victories in both cars and motorcycles.

He won the Macau Grand Prix for cars on four occasions (1965, 1972, 1973, 1975) and the motorcycle race in 1969.

MacDonald raced for the last time at the 1977 Penang Grand Prix (Malaysia) with his Ralt RT1, which he later passed on to Vern Schuppan, who raced it that same year in Macau.

Besides winning in Macau in both four- and two-wheel categories, MacDonald is also the only racer to win four Macau GP races and the only competitor to win in Guia in three different categories, including the Guia Race for touring cars.

MacDonald and his wife left Hong Kong in 1983 and settled in Andorra before moving to Mauritius a few years ago.

Just weeks before his passing, MacDonald was reportedly working on a biographical book about his career, which may be published in the first quarter of this year.

According to the same sources, the book, to be titled “King of Macau,” had been reviewed by MacDonald late last year for approval, aiming to be unveiled ahead of the UK’s Goodwood Members Meeting, scheduled for April 18-19.

Three years ago, the Macau Grand Prix Museum unveiled a new collection of wax figures featuring several top racers who have competed in the local GP.

One of those figures is MacDonald himself, immortalized in a Madame Tussauds-produced wax figure that was placed next to two of his winning machines, the Yamaha TD2C and the Austin Mini Cooper.