Grand Prix related works to end before September

The committee of the Macau Grand Prix (MGP) has said that they will try to reduce the event’s impact on residents by completing major construction works before September, as well as limiting the noise level produced by vehicles. This year, the MGP will be held from November 13–16. The budget announced for this edition is MOP190 million. The organizers expect for the revenue of the event to reach MOP43 million, including MOP28 million from sponsorships and MOP15 million from tickets and other sources.
According to the committee’s coordinator, Costa Antunes, the organizer changed the timetable to night shifts or work during weekends, and has started all the construction well ahead, compared with previous years. “We have made it clear that major constructions on roads must be completed before the beginning of September, when the new term of school starts,” he said at a press conference held yesterday at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
The 60th MGP last year started the surfacing and construction from the middle of August and concluded at the end of September. “We realized that we had created some conflicts, especially at the beginning of September. (…) The process is a learning process; we don’t have a final solution,” said Antunes.
To reduce the Grand Prix track resurfacing work’s impact on residents, work is being carried out during the summer vacation and on weekends where it is close to residential areas. Resurfacing at Avenue de Amizade is being confined to the evenings in an effort to minimize the impact on traffic. Resurfacing at Lisboa Bend started yesterday evening and is planned for completion before school resumes.
The organizer announced in April that it aims to reduce the noise levels produced by the vehicles to no more than 115 decibels. “It will be the first time that the Macau Grand Prix has introduced this limit. Also, it’s a way to minimize the impact on the population,” he explained yesterday.
As a new race was included in the 61st Grand Prix program, namely the “Chinese Racing Cup” will include drivers from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
Mr Antunes said that preparations are underway and, since the end of April, the Automobile Association General Macao-China (AAMC) has begun training for track officials. A total of 800 people enrolled for this year’s Grand Prix training courses, of which 710 had completed theory courses by the end of June, and practical training programs will be held at the Coloane karting track in late July. Suncity Group will be the title sponsor for the 61st event.