The legendary Macau Grand Prix is unlike any other. Each November, the city’s narrow streets transform into a living circuit — 6.2 km of asphalt carved between hotels and harborfronts, lined with unforgiving Armco barriers. It’s a spectacle that blends chaos and precision, where the difference between finding the limit and crashing is measured in millimeters. This photographer was able to experience the 71st edition up close from behind the lens.
Even the weather couldn’t dull its energy. Over 100,000 fans turned up for the four-day event despite heavy rains and strong winds brought by a nearby typhoon. Umbrellas and ponchos filled the grandstands, while the sound of GT3 engines echoed through the mist. It was a reminder that this event isn’t just a race — it’s the ultimate pilgrimage for motorsport fans, a chance to witness some of the best drivers in the world compete on one of the toughest circuits in the world.
The Guia Circuit pushes both car and driver to their limits. From the flat-out sweep of Mandarin Bend to the twisty mountain sections and the infamously tight Melco Hairpin, every meter demands perfection. It’s just as demanding for photographers, who trek up and down the circuit’s narrow, hilly streets in search of the perfect shot.
And boy, was it a spectacle. The 2024 edition of the FIA GT World Cup gathered some of the most accomplished names in GT racing. Raffaele Marciello, Augusto Farfus, Maro Engel, and Dani Juncadella — all previous winners in Macau — headlined a stacked grid. Factory-backed entries from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche also joined the fight for manufacturer honors, each determined to prove who truly ruled the streets of Macau.
Heavy rain on Sunday morning set the tone for a tense finale. The race began behind the safety car as drivers paraded around the soaked circuit. Marciello led the field from pole, followed closely by Dries Vanthoor, Antonio Fuoco, Maro Engel, and Augusto Farfus. All hell broke loose once the green flag finally waved.
Visibility was poor, grip was unpredictable, and even the best struggled to keep their cars pointed in the right direction. Mist tails filled the air as the leaders fought for track position, inches from the walls — the kind of beautiful chaos that defines Macau.
When the rain settled and the flag dropped, it was Maro Engel who mastered the mayhem to claim victory for Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo — his fourth win on the streets of Macau. Augusto Farfus finished 2nd for Team KRC in the BMW M4 GT3, with Sheldon van der Linde securing third for Team WRT, also in a BMW M4 GT3.
As the city lights reflected off the wet tarmac and the last echoes of engines faded, this photographer ended the day exhausted, drenched to the bone yet smiling. It’s hard not to when you’ve just witnessed history unfold on the same streets where Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton, Verstappen, and Leclerc first made their mark.
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