Qualifying races kick off for Roadsport and GT Challenge

[Photo: John Tang]

Qualification races for the Roadsport and GT Challenge categories ahead of this year’s Macau Grand Prix got underway last weekend at the Zhuhai International Circuit, marking the start of the selection process for local and regional drivers aiming to secure a spot in November’s race weekend.

The first round of racing action for both the Roadsport Challenge (unified category) and the GT Challenge (GT4) took place at the neighboring Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC).

In the Roadsport Challenge category, which remains a unified category with only Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 models, the provisional list includes 57 registered entries from drivers in Macau, Hong Kong, the mainland, and Taiwan.

Despite the large number, only 10 of these racers were from Macau, with some notable absences, including Rui Valente, Célio Alves Dias, and last year’s GP podium finisher, Tsang Pak Yin.

Continuing to appear on the list of potential racers for the Macau GP weekend are other local veteran names, such as Jerónimo Badaraco and Leung Chi Ho.

However, local racers must face the competition of a significant armada of Hong Kong drivers (33 in total), among whom are important names in the sport, such as last year’s winner Leung Tsz Wa.

Still, it is noticeable that many racers from the neighboring region who have previously achieved strong results, such as Adrian Chung, Lo Pak Yu, and Chan Ka Ping, are absent.

Conversely, it appears the number of mainland representatives who have decided to join this competition is increasing.

As in previous years, organizers have divided the over 50 racers into two groups, with each group racing separately. The final results (after two rounds) will then be merged to create the final list to race at the GP in November.

In the first Group A race, Hong Kong’s Wong Chuck Pan dominated from start to finish, crossing the finish line ahead of Hu Zuoliang (China) and Leong Keng Hei (best Macau racer). Wong started from pole position after setting the fastest lap in qualifying.

In the second race of the weekend, another Hong Kong driver, Damon Chan, delivered a strong performance, starting from fifth on the grid and working his way up the field to top the race results. Winner of Race 1 Wong had to settle for second, while Leong repeated his podium finish.

In Group B, Race 1 saw the win go to Li Kwok Chuen (Hong Kong), followed by another Hong Kong driver, Bayern Yip, with Macau’s Leung Chi Ho climbing to the lowest step of the podium.

In Race 2, starting from pole position and running cleanly up to that point, Li made a mistake while leading the race, an error that mainland driver Su Jiangnan took advantage of to take the checkered flag in first. Behind Su finished Yip, repeating his second-place result from Race 1, and third was Hong Kong’s Leung Tsz Wa.

GT Challenge

Far less popular, due to the costs involved, is the GT Challenge for GT4 specifications, as the provisional entry list before Round 1 counted only 13 names, with a few more joining at the last minute.

Participants in this category will have the chance to feature in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) GT Cup at the Macau GP.

Surprisingly, among the names listed was Maximiano Manhão in a McLaren 570S, a name more commonly associated with the top of the standings in local karting races, and who has also briefly competed in Formula 4 machinery last year.

Manhão is competing alongside very experienced drivers in this field, including Kenny Chung (Ginetta G55) and Kevin Tse (Mercedes-AMG).

Absent from the entry list are other historical figures such as Lei Kit Meng or, more recently, Miguel Lei.

In this category, Han Lichao (China), driving the same Toyota Supra GR EVO2 that helped him achieve strong results at the Guia Circuit in recent years, came out on top in both races.

The best-placed local driver was Chan Ka Ping, who has transitioned from the Roadsport category into GT4 and was driving an Audi R8 LMS. Chan’s best result was fifth place in Race 2.

The next round of races from both categories is scheduled for May 30–31 at ZIC.

More local racers

According to what The Times could determine, more local names, including some missing from this year’s entry lists, could be on the verge of joining the GT Challenge category.

Sources among the racers told The Times that the GT4 category, although more expensive, offers better potential for some racers due to a more favorable Balance of Performance (BoP).

Without going into detail, they claim that the current regulations for the Roadsport Challenge are clearly benefiting a “certain group of racers,” despite the appearance of being the most balanced category, as all the cars are identical in both engine and chassis.

According to information also published by Portuguese-language newspaper Hoje Macau, the GT Challenge category has recently become more attractive because local organizers allow participation by cars whose homologation has already expired, including the BMW M4 (F82), McLaren 570S, and Ginetta G55.

The fact that these cars are no longer allowed to join other GT4 categories drives their prices down significantly, a factor also noted in the Hoje Macau report.

FIA FR, F4 World Cups confirmed

The FIA FR World Cup and FIA F4 World Cup have been confirmed for 2026, with both events taking place during the 73rd Macau Grand Prix week from November 19–23, the international governing body of motorsport revealed.

Confirmation of the two junior single-seater category events followed a vote at the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

At the same time, the entry selection framework has been established for the FR World Cup, with details of the F4 World Cup entry process to be announced soon.

The two FIA World Cups are now confirmed to join the previously announced continuation of the GT World Cup (GT3) and the season finale for the TCR World Tour.