2025 Macau Grand Prix Preview
- Lorenzo Baer
- 1 minute ago
- 6 min read
Written by Lorenzo Baer, edited by Morgan Holiday
The Macau Grand Prix is the jewel of the Orient when it comes to motor racing. In terms of tradition, few races in that part of the world can rival Macau, with the glamour and danger involved in every turn of the legendary Guia circuit. The scene of so many stories, the race returns for its 72nd edition in 2025 stronger than ever and offering attractions for all tastes.
Reaffirming a four-decade partnership, The Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) will have the support of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) during the race weekend, with the institution endorsing most of the events in contention. This partnership is essential in the current scenario of the sport and the Grand Prix, aligning the race guidelines with those set forth by the world's highest motorsport authority. These factors lend credibility and safety to the races, under the strict framework of the FIA.
Another thing that has remained unchanged is the Guia circuit itself. The track has remained virtually the same as last year, with only slight changes to the 6,120-meter layout. The focus of the small updates made on the site was on increasing safety at critical points on the track, in view of the greater number of categories in contention.
It is the races themselves that really attract the public's attention, given the promise of no less than seven distinct categories in contention, involving single-seater, GT, touring and motorcycle events.
Macau Grand Prix (FIA Formula Regional World Cup)
The most eagerly awaited event of the weekend is undoubtedly the Macau Grand Prix, organized in partnership by the FIA, MGPOC, and Top Speed. As in 2024, this year's flagship race will be contested under Formula Regional regulations, featuring 27 of the best rising talents in world motorsport. 15 nationalities will be represented on the track through drivers from FRegional itself, as well as others originating from F3, F4 and Super Formula.
The team lineup is also noteworthy. Present at the 2024 edition, MP Motorsport, Kiwi Motorsport, and TGM Grand Prix declined to participate in this year's race, opening up spots on Macau's limited grid. Big names in grassroots motorsport were quick to fill this gap, with the newcomers Trident and Van Amersfoort Racing taking the slots and entering three drivers each.
This year, the competition format will be as follows: during the first two days, each driver will be allocated two practice sessions and two qualifying sessions on the circuit. After this, it's time for a 10-lap qualification race, which will prelude the 15-lap Main Race. All drivers will have at their disposal a standard Tatuus T-318 chassis equipped with 1.7-liter Autotecnica engines.
Macau F4 Race (FIA F4 World Cup)
The big news for the 2025 Grand Prix is the return of F4 to Macau after a one-year hiatus. The last time the category was on the streets of the Guia circuit, it was contested as an invitational/non-championship round of the F4 SEA championship.
However, this time the category's event takes on more international contours, with special status conferred by the FIA and gaining the name FIA F4 World Cup. As a one-off sprint format event, the sport's governing body hopes that the inclusion of the category in the Macau racing calendar will serve as a test of skills for the most promising drivers currently engaged in various F4 series worldwide.
The F4 event will be contested in two phases: first, a qualification race of eight laps and then a 10-lap feature race. Drivers will have each two practice and one qualifying sessions. All pilots will drive Mygale M21-F4 chassis powered by 1.3-liter Alpine engines.
The event will be organized by the FIA, in cooperation with the Chinese F4 organizer Mintimes Motorsport and the FFSA, France motorsport's national association, which also centrally runs the French F4 championship.
Macau GT Cup (FIA GT World Cup)
Another flagship of the weekend is the GT3 event, which, since 2008, has regularly attracted some of the best drivers in the category. In addition to the names in the cockpit, the brands also put on a show of their own, with representatives from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Porsche already confirmed for 2025.
Adding to the expectations of this year’s race, the FIA, in conjunction with the MGPOC, proposed an exciting competition system leading up to the main race, with the brand-new “Super Pole” session taking center stage.
The 10 quickest drivers in the regular 30-minute qualifying session will then get a crack at the “Super Pole” for Saturday's 12-lap Qualification Race. With the Guia Circuit open for each of these drivers for two extra qualifying laps, on brand new tires, the shootout promises a thrilling fight for pole.
Macau Guia Race (FIA TCR World Tour Macau)
Unofficially on the Macau racing calendar since 1963, the event open to touring cars carries a huge tradition in its shoulders, despite having undergone several revamps over the decades.
For 2025, the Macau Guia Race will serve as the finale of the TCR World Tour, in an extremely competitive season that sees several drivers and manufacturers with real chances of winning the title. 24 drivers are expected to line up for the TCR races in Macau, with representatives from Audi, Lynk, Honda, Hyundai and CUPRA fighting to put their name on this renowned trophy.
The category's schedule begins with two 30-minute free practice sessions on Thursday (13), followed by two qualifying sessions of the same duration on Friday. The first TCR race takes place on Saturday, with ten laps, while the second race, also with 10 laps, will take place on Sunday.
Greater Bay Area GT Cup
Held in partnership between Chinese and Macau sporting authorities, the Greater Bay Area GT Cup is an interesting stage to see some of the top talents in Asian touring car racing. In 2025, the event will serve as the final round of the SRO GT Cup, the Chinese touring car championship.
Composed mainly of drivers of Chinese origin and from various other special administrative regions of the country (Hong Kong, Macau, and Taipei), this race is expected to be very popular with the local public. Another attraction of the event is the large number of brands present in the field, surpassing any other category competing in Macau, with Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ginetta, Lotus, McLaren, Mercedes Porsche, and Toyota represented on the grid.
GT Cup activities also begin on Thursday with a free practice session. On Friday, it's time for qualifying, which will last 30 minutes. But the eyes of drivers and spectators will really be focused on Sunday, when the official race of the event will take place, with an expected duration of 9 laps.
Macau Roadsport Challenge
Another favorite among local fans is the Roadsport Challenge, which can be considered the category closest to the public. This is mainly due to the huge number of local drivers and those from neighboring Hong Kong, who this year will make up 80% of the category's grid. Another factor in the event's favor is the choice of cars, which are similar (taking certain aspects into account) to those that a person can buy at a regular dealership.
In this case, only the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ model is eligible to participate in the competition, which this year will feature 32 participants. The category's activities will be restricted to Thursday (when free practice and qualifying sessions will take place) and Saturday (when the category's main race, scheduled for nine laps, will be held).
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
Last but not least, the Motorcycle event. With the exception of the featured Grand Prix for cars, this is the most traditional race in Macau's racing lineage, with 2025 marking the 57th edition of the race. After the last-minute cancellation of the 2024 edition (due to adverse weather conditions), it is hoped that in 2025 the motorcycles will once again shine on the streets of Macau.
Former winners and established names in motorcycling have joined rising stars on a grid that will consist of 20 competitors, in what is considered one of the most difficult and technical motorcycle races on the planet.
Although not sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) for some years now, the event continues to attract a good number of manufacturers, with Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW ensuring their presence in the 2025 event.
The category's schedule begins, as with the others, on Thursday, with a single free practice session. On Friday, it's time for qualifying, which will set the pace for Saturday’s 12-lap feature event. However, before the race itself, the category will offer the public an “appetizer”, through a special warm-up session in the early Saturday hours.
