Teddy Yip Jr | Theodore Racing – Team Principal: ‘Macau is our home and winning there always holds a special place’

In 1976, Theodore Racing was founded as a Formula 1 racing team by the late Teddy Yip Sr. Both the team and its founder were crucial to the establishment and development of the Macau Grand Prix.
After several years of inactivity after their “golden years,” where the team attracted such future Formula 1 world champions as Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen, Theodore Racing made its return to racing in 2013 with the help of Yip’s Son, Teddy Jr.
At the 60th edition of the GP, Theodore Racing achieved a record score of seven victories. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s victory for Theodore Racing in the inaugural Macau Formula 3 race.
More recently, Theodore Racing made another big step by heralding their return to the IndyCar Series, another one of Teddy Yip Sr.’s passions. The Times spoke to the Team Principal, Teddy Yip Jr. to learn more about the team’s achievements.

Macau Daily Times – In 2013 Theodore Racing returned to the Macau Grand Prix. As you said at the time, it was the “perfect” moment to bring back the team and your father’s legacy. Was returning to the IndyCar Series the last step that was missing on your checklist?
Teddy Yip Jr – I have always been interested in American racing and the IndyCar Series. This year is the 100th running of the iconic Indy 500 [the race will be held on Sunday] and with over 400,000 fans in attendance on race day and a huge media presence, it was the perfect time for Theodore Racing to make its return to the series.
We have partnered with Graham Rahal, a driver who has a very good chance of taking victory this weekend at the Indy 500. It is also 30 years since his father, Bobby Rahal, claimed his Indy 500 victory. Bobby Rahal actually competed at the Macau Race of Champions, which my father organized in 1989, so there are many synergies.
We hope the stars align and we can take victory on our Indy 500 return as we did on our Macau Grand Prix return in 2013.

MDT – What do you expect of this partnership for the IndyCar series?
TYJ – Winning is always the goal. We work with the best people and the best drivers to ensure that we have the best chance of victory for the team and our partners. Everyone wants to be associated with success and that is what we aim to achieve in everything we do. Winning the 100th running of the Indy 500 this weekend would be extremely special.
MDT – What can we expect from Theodore Racing next? Is there any other “card up your sleeve”?
TYJ – We have just announced an extended partnership with our Macau Grand Prix partner Prema and we have entered the Formula 1 feeder Series GP2, European Formula 3, Italian and German Formula 4. Our drivers are currently leading the GP2 and Formula 3 Drivers’ Championships and we are very excited about the season ahead. I am very keen to help talented young drivers progress in the sport and I intend to continue our global program and win as many iconic events as possible for Theodore and Macau.

MDT – The Macau Grand Prix is entering a new stage this year with a new organizing committee. How do you perceive that change?
TYJ – It will be very interesting to see what ideas the new committee can come up with and we would definitely like to be more involved with the promotion of the race and Macau as a tourist destination.  My father was instrumental in setting up the inaugural Macau F3 Grand Prix and also passionate about putting Macau on the world map.
As the only motor-racing team to originate from Macau, Theodore Racing has a lot to offer on a global scale and we are also well equipped to spread the word about the culture and tourist attractions that Macau has to offer.  The Macau Grand Prix is a race that all drivers want to enter and win and we are great ambassadors for the event.
 
MDT – This year, Theodore Racing will have a title to defend in Macau, are you already working on the line-up of drivers to do that task?
TYJ – We are working closely with our partners in order to secure the best drivers to defend our title and deliver a record ninth Macau Grand Prix victory.  We are lucky that our winning pedigree in Macau allows us to select only the very best drivers as we are the team to beat, and I think it’s fair to say that everyone would like to compete for us. Macau is our home and winning there always holds a special place in my heart.