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This summer has brought bad news for Macau motorsport developments. The future of Guangdong Province’s two permanent racetracks is in doubt. Guangdong International Circuit (GIC) is expected to cease activity on September 30, while Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) has a new majority shareholder and it is unclear what the real estate giant’s plans are going forward.
Due to the lack of infrastructure for motorsports in Hong Kong, apart from the Coloane Circuit, two- and four-wheel racers in Macau, as well as racers in Hong Kong, have for the past two and a half decades resorted to permanent tracks in neighbouring cities. However, this situation could suddenly change due to a lack of alternatives.
Zhaoqing to be demolished
This week, it was reported that the Zhaoqing High-tech Zone has revised some of the detailed control plans for the southeast area of Dawang Park, where GIC is currently located. Where the track is now located, a new energy vehicle display park and an industrial parts storage park are planned to be built. GIC’s team will hold a meeting with the track management department this Friday, but the official information is that the track will stop activities on September 30.
Designed by architect Yao Qiming, the track was built in 2008 and officially opened in 2009. Despite having the word “International” in its name and having been part of the late WTCC’s provisional calendar, the 2.8km track has never hosted anything other than local races and a few national races in the surrounding Zhaoqing area in 2011. It has also been the site of several races in the Macau Touring Car Championship over the years, though this year it was surpassed by the Zhuzhou International Circuit in Hunan Province.
The FIA Grade 3 circuit has never received major investment, its appearance remains unfinished and dated, and is currently a favourite spot for Macau teams and drivers to park their cars across the border. Its affordable prices make GIC an ideal track for private pilots to test their machines, and its wide availability is an added value.
Questions about Zhuhai
Close to the gates of Zhuhai, Malaysian company LBS Bina Group Bhd announced that it had won the right to participate in the first permanent race track to be built in mainland China for 124.7 million ringgit (about 214.15 million patacas). In a statement filed with Bursa Malaysia, the group said that its subsidiary Dragon Hill Corporation Ltd has sold its entire stake in Lamdeal Investments Ltd (LIL) to Huafa Urban Operations (Hong Kong) Ltd. LIL holds a 60% stake in the race track operator Zhuhai International Circuit Co., Ltd (ZICL). Under the agreement, Huafa will repay loans of about 257.55 million patacas owed to LBS Bina by LIL and its subsidiaries.
“Races face increasing challenges due to increasingly stringent sustainability compliance requirements. These challenges include addressing noise-related issues, and complying with these regulations requires significant operational changes,” LBS Bina said in a statement.
Huafa Urban Operations is known for its parent company’s large-scale real estate development projects, focuses on investing in and acquiring equity interests in various companies, and operates in the corporate finance sector. The day-to-day management of the Zhuhai circuit has always been handled by the Malaysian company. However, the circuit, which was created in 1996 to host the Formula 1 World Cup, remains without significant restructuring or changes in management, which has yet to materialize. The infrastructure, which was once built in a desolate area but is now surrounded by residential areas, has had its future questioned several times and is currently operating under strict noise restrictions that affect the conduct of different sports.
Despite hosting Macau’s special administrative region’s auto races in the past, ZIC has lost its dominant position in local motorsport in recent years due to rising prices, limited supply and a decline in sporting events in favour of commercial activities.
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