60 years of the Macau Grand Prix

The Macau Grand Prix is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion the racing is taking place over two weekends instead of one.

The first qualifying practices and races were held yesterday and will continue today, with the rest going ahead from Thursday to Sunday. On Saturday the Motorcycle Grand Prix will take place, while Sunday sees the climax of the other three top events - the Formula 3 Grand Prix, the GT Cup and the FIA-WTCC Guia Race.

But what has become a major attraction for motorsports enthusiasts from all over the world began in curious circumstances. The Grand Prix was conceived in 1954 as a treasure hunt around the streets of the city. Soon afterwards it was suggested that the track could host a professional racing event for local enthusiasts.

In 1960 the Grand Prix was entered on the international racing calendar for the first time as a "national race with foreign participation" and became subject to the regulations published by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for sports and grand touring cars.

In 1964 Hong Kong police inspector Albert Poon was the first Hongkonger to win the Grand Prix in his Lotus Type 23, finishing the race in three hours 40 minutes and 44.2 seconds.

The race was an amateur event until 1966, when Belgian driver Mauro Bianchi entered in an Alpine A220. Alpine Renault also sent engineer Jean-Paul Castilleux to assist Bianchi with technical aspects of the car.