The “2023 Galaxy Entertainment Group Asia & Greater Bay Area Racing Festival” took place in mid-December at the Coloane Karting Track in Macau. Organized by the Sports Bureau of Macau and the Automobile General Association of Macao-China (AAMC), the event received sponsorship from Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG).
Spanning three days, the motorsport event featured practice sessions on the first day, followed by two days of thrilling races. The event comprised a total of seven go-kart and motorcycle races.
The go-kart races consisted of three categories: ROK GP Junior, KZ, and X30 Senior 125, while the motorcycle races included four categories: Minibikes, 150-190cc, 250cc, and the Greater Bay Area Motorcycle Cup 150cc.
Over 100 racers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and the Philippines joined the event.
After intense competition over multiple rounds, the top five finishers and fastest lap times were determined for three races on the first day of racing: Minibikes, 150-190cc 4-stroke Motorcycles, and 250cc 4-stroke Motorcycles. The second day featured four races, with the top 5 finishers and fastest lap times determined. In total, 42 winners were awarded over the two days.
Distinguished guests, including Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau; Lam Lin Kio, Vice President of the Sports Bureau; Chong Coc Veng, President of AAMC and Buddy Lam, Executive Vice President of Corporate Office of GEG, presented awards to the winners.
This event marked the first collaboration between GEG and AAMC, with GEG as the title sponsor. During the motorsport festival, GEG continued to embrace its concept of “What is taken from the community is to be used for the good of the community” and invited families from Centro do Servico de Fornecimento Temporario de Alimentos da Caritas to experience the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere of motorsport. The event also included parent-child interaction, where children had the opportunity to take photos with go-karts while an AAMC commissioner explained the basics of the vehicles to them.
The event captured the interest of both children and parents. Many children eagerly took the opportunity to pose for photos whilst seated in the racing cars, creating unforgettable experiences for the families. Some parents inquired about the minimum age for participating in racer training. They expressed that while they had seen racing competitions in movies and TV shows before, the chance to sit in a real racing car was truly memorable.
Mr Ao Ieong, a participant from Caritas Macau, said that this event had sparked the interest of members of the public, particularly children, in motorsport. He said that he hopes that future events will introduce more knowledge about motorsport and provide more opportunities for interaction with racers.
Chang Wing Chung, a prominent local racer and a trainer for an AAMC training program, expressed his gratitude for GEG’s significant sponsorship of the event. He believes that it allows more young people to gain knowledge of motorsport and helps Macau cultivate more local racers. Chang, who began training at the Coloane Karting Track at the age of five, previously secured the first and second spots in the 12-lap Formula 4 race at the 67th Macau Grand Prix, alongside another homegrown racer, Leong Hon Chio.
GEG expressed its hope that this event will raise awareness and interest in motorsport among young people and the general public. The company also aims to strengthen the skills of local racers and foster sports talent development in Macau. Galaxy committed itself to continuing to support various local sporting events, aligning with the Macau SAR Government’s plan to enhance and excel in the comprehensive tourism and leisure industries in 2024 and beyond. By supporting the “Tourism + Sports” diversification strategy, GEG aims to contribute to the transformation of Macau into a “City of Sport”.
