Macau is A More Challenging Track Than the Nürburgring Nordschlife

Kinja'd!!! "mwoodski" (mwoodski)
06/21/2015 at 23:23 • Filed to: CARS, RACING, MOTORSPORT, BIKES, SCOOTERS, MACAU, MACAU GP, GUIA CIRCUIT

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If you disagree, you’re wrong.

Yes, the Nordschlife is much, much longer. However, it’s like driving on a Tilke-drome compared to Macau.

If you’ve never heard of the Guia Circuit, here’s a little introduction. 6.2 kilometers of road, at it’s narrowest point, it’s officially only 7 meters wide(I personally believe it’s actually much narrower at points). 19 turns...officially. If you count every bend you make it comes closer to 30.

Here’s a hotlap, courtesy of Rob Huff in his Chevrolet Cruze during the 2012 edition of the FIA WTCC’s trip to Macau.

As you can see, one mistake and you’re in the wall. That mistake could happen two corners before your accident, but it will happen. Whether you’re in something as lowly as a scooter(yes, they race scooters at the Macau GP), a TC1 car in the WTCC(who stupidly dropped their Macanese finale for Qatar this year...idiotic), an FIA GT3-spec car, all the way up to the premier race of the weekend...the Formula 3 cars.

Macau, much like the Nordschlife, hasn’t changed the layout of the track since it’s first race in 1954. Have the cars and bikes outgrown it? Absolutely. Is it still incredible to watch a car run nearly the perfect lap in anger through all 6.2 kilometers? You bet your ass it is.


DISCUSSION (10)


Kinja'd!!! TheHondaBro > mwoodski
06/21/2015 at 23:48

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Reminds me of the Toyota Long Beach GP course. Fucking hate that track in Forza 5.


Kinja'd!!! 904 GTS > mwoodski
06/21/2015 at 23:52

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And...

You can not drive the Guia Circuit in Macau as you can the N-Ring virtually everyday in the late hours of the day, think 5 to 7PM, from an early Spring to the very late Fall, till snow arrives...

What’s your point?


Kinja'd!!! bryan40oop > mwoodski
06/22/2015 at 00:20

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Challenging yes, more than the ‘ring? no. 6:30-9:00 per lap is hell to get everything just right for a good lap.

Also, track surface, elevation changes, bumps fucking galore. The length alone can screw you up with overheating tires/brakes. Macau is difficult, but not really. Narrow, slooooooooow corners. Not that difficult.

Now hillclimbs are typically as narrow, but that’s a whole other ball game.


Kinja'd!!! TheOnelectronic > TheHondaBro
06/22/2015 at 03:03

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The AI always piles up between the first and second corners. So many rewinds.


Kinja'd!!! TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 904 GTS
06/22/2015 at 03:05

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Technically you can because it’s a street circuit. High speeds is another matter entirely.


Kinja'd!!! TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > mwoodski
06/22/2015 at 03:07

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Certainly is challenging, I was there only two weeks ago. I was actually at the race two years ago, and I swear, the road leading up to the hairpin in the lead photo is ridiculously narrow. There’s barely enough space on either side to open the doors, let alone pass which is impossible.


Kinja'd!!! Wheelerguy > mwoodski
06/22/2015 at 03:10

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Question: this one or the Fairmont pin at Monaco?


Kinja'd!!! Onesixteen > mwoodski
06/22/2015 at 07:04

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Disagree. And so do the people that have raced both tracks:


Kinja'd!!! 904 GTS > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
06/22/2015 at 11:20

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I was there as well, but when BMW Team Schnitzer ran E30M3s... Pretty incredibly narrow track everyone LOVES to race on, for it’s pretty historic and difficult, I guess. The only problem, especially for the Formula guys, if smallest of accidents happens, one is out in the FIRST lap...

Remember arriving from Hong Kong on a Boeing-built Hydrofoil. What a treat that was! The only ride ever as I took the regular ferry back.

The other astonishing sight - bleachers constructed __ENTIRELY__ from just bamboo!!!

LOVED the visit. Mr. Teddy Yip, the organizer at that time was so gracious. RIP Mr. Yip.


Kinja'd!!! TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Wheelerguy
06/22/2015 at 11:35

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This one’s even tighter.