Mandarin Bend to be widened in coming Grand Prix races

The Mandarin Bend on the Guia Circuit

Macau’s Guia Circuit will experience some minor changes to the track this year to accommodate the racing program, including the addition of the new Formula 3 car models.

But the most significant change will be seen in the widening of the Mandarin bend by moving the barriers further out, the Times has learned from a source, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to media about the plans.

The move is justified as “a way to help to prevent accidents” such as those which have previously occurred at that section of the circuit, including a major accident in 2012 that resulted in the death of Hong Kong racer, Phillip Yau, when his Chevrolet Cruze hit the barrier at high speed during the Macau Touring Car Cup.

However, there has been some doubt cast on whether widening the track will help prevent such accidents.

A former Macau Grand Prix competitor who knows the circuit and racing sports in general, told the Times, “for racers, a wider bend always means that you can go faster through it. That’s the standard thinking. Everybody in the racing world knows this.”

Questioned on the topic, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) said, “the MGPOC has been constantly working together with the FIA and taking their advice and suggestions on the organization of the Macau Grand Prix.”

The reply to the Times added that the Committee has been “continuously making improvements to the Guia Circuit so as to accommodate racing of different types of cars.”

According to the organizers, “works on various parts of the Guia Circuit [are being carried out] to meet the standards and requirements by the FIA for hosting the 66th Macau Grand Prix this year.”

Previously, several ideas had been aired regarded the need to make significant changes to the track to “increase safety” and racing conditions.

The potential introduction of a “chicane” in the section between the Mandarin Bend and Lisboa Bend has been considered several times, but always rejected because it would “slow down” competitors along the two long straight sections.

Another suggested change to the circuit this year was the widening of the famous Hairpin. However, at least for this year’s race, this seems unlikely to go ahead. The 66th Macau Grand Prix will be held between November 14 and 17. As previously reported by the Times, the race will this year see the introduction of the latest FIA Formula 3 cars to Macau, which are larger and have a greater horsepower than those previously in use.