Grassroots race continues its legacy

Similar to last year during the 70th anniversary of the Macau Grand Prix, the Macau Roadsport Challenge will be divided into two separate races this year: The Macau Roadsport Challenge and the Macau Roadsport Macau SAR Establishment Cup.

Both races will feature either Toyota GR86(ZN8) or Subaru BRZ(ZD8) cars in a single-make-style competition.

Formerly known as the Macau Touring Car Series and running under different specifications and multiple car brands, the Roadsport Challenge continues the legacy of its predecessor, featuring mainly but not exclusively Macau and Hong Kong racers that qualify for the GP via a series of events held on the mainland over recent months.

All drivers are privateers and amateur racers. Some have a long history in the GP that dates back 30 years or more. For others, these races are a more affordable opportunity to test their skills in real-life racing action compared to other higher-ranked categories.

In many ways, the Roadsport category retains some of the original grassroots spirit of motorsport in Macau, which has played a fundamental role in the evolution of the event today.

It is also a chance for local spectators to watch their relatives, family members, and friends taking on the Guia Circuit.

Last year, Hong Kong’s Tse Ka Hing (Toyota GR86) won the Macau Roadsport Challenge Race, while local driver Lei Kit Meng (Toyota GR86) and Hong Kong driver Adrian Chung (Toyota GR86) won Races 1 and 2 of the Macau 70th Anniversary Challenge respectively.

This year, the Roadsport Challenge race goes on track Saturday (Nov. 16) at 10:55 a.m. for a 12-lap race, while the Macau Roadsport – Macau SAR Establishment Cup – Race (also 12 laps) will follow from 9:35 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 17).

The first of the races will feature 25 drivers at the start, including Macanese racers Rui Valente and Jerónimo Badaraco.

For the second race, 27 racers will compete in this special event that celebrates the 25th anniversary of Macau’s handover, including Sabino Osório and last year’s winner Tse Ka Hin.

During recent qualification races held across two separate groups, the best-classified drivers in Group B were Jactin Chung, Chan Ka Ping, and Hu Zuoliang, while Damon Chan, Adrian Chung, and Huang Ying were the most highlighted racers in Group A.