Porsche customers set to take on legendary Guia Circuit at Macau Grand Prix
Four Porsche customers will take to the iconic streets of Macau this weekend to compete in the 68th Macau Grand Prix. Two teams from Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Presented by AximTrade (PCCA) will run their respective Porsche 911 GT3 R in the legendary event after also running in the Porsche Sports Cup China finale in Shanghai in October.
The Climax Racing-run Meidong Racing fields Alexandre Imperatori in the #20 machine. The Swiss driver has a strong relationship with the region, also racing for Hong Kong-based squad KCMG in its European GT3 programme for the last two seasons. In total, Imperatori has made eight appearances at the Guia Circuit.
Four-time PCCA winner in 2021 Leo Ye teams up with TORO Racing in the #33 car, which ran for the first time in last month’s Porsche Sports Cup China season closer. The Chinese racer has an extensive history with Porsche, having taken two victories with the marque in GT World Challenge Asia in 2019.
Porsche will also be represented in the Cup class by SLM Racing Team’s Chi On Cheong. The Macau native will be making his debut with Porsche on the streets of his home city, driving the #12 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. In the MGM Greater Bay Area GT Cup for GT4 cars, Hao Xian Zheng will run the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Type 981) for TKR.
On Porsche’s last visit to the Guia Circuit, Laurens Vanthoor and Earl Bamber secured a double podium at the 2019 FIA GT World Cup for ROWE Racing, with Chinese outfit Absolute Racing also fielding two cars.
Free Practice and Qualifying, which sets the grid for the first race, will take place on Friday 19th November, with Race 1 on Saturday. Race 2, the grid for which is set by the results of Race 1, is on Sunday.
Alexandre Imperatori, #20 Meidong Racing: “Macau will always have a very special place in my heart, having raced here eight times already. It’s a circuit like no other and will be a huge challenge to master. Big thanks to Meidong Racing, Climax Racing and Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd. for making this happen, the car is well prepared and I’m confident we can push for a strong result.”
Leo Ye, #33 TORO Racing: “I’m very excited for the 68th Macau Grand Prix weekend and to be running in the TORO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. The car looks phenomenal and we’re here to defend our victory from last year. I can’t wait to see our performance on the Guia Circuit.”
Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.: “The whole of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd. is excited to be returning to racing in Macau. The Guia Circuit is one of the most iconic and challenging tracks in motorsport and it’s an honour for us to have four cars competing. Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd. will be providing support to Meidong Motorsport and with Alexandre at the wheel, we have a fantastic chance to achieve a strong result. It’s also great to have TORO Racing entering a Porsche with PCCA frontrunner Leo Ye, forming another very excellent team. We wish the best of luck to everyone racing and hope for an exciting and thrilling event.”
Timetable – All times local (GMT+8)
Friday 19 November
Free Practice 11:20
Qualifying 15:55
Saturday 20 November
Warm-Up 13:20
Race 1 15:50
Sunday 21 November
Race 2 13:10