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Bruce MacDonald

THE Macau Grand Prix celebrates its 45th anniversary today and there is no doubting that, until the organisers decided to switch its showcase race to Formula Three class in 1983, it was little more than an offbeat weekend of racing in an equally offbeat location.

 But a young Brazilian by the name of Ayrton Senna changed the perception of the Macau GP forever when he won the inaugural F3 race.

 Any motorsport follower with even the smallest knowledge of the sport has heard the name Senna. A member of the famous Teddy Yip Theodore Racing Team, he set a benchmark of excellence that wasn't challenged until the 1990s.

 Senna went on to become the driving force in Formula One, winning three World Championships before he was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

 Rarely does such a talent grace the world stage and Macau was fortunate that the then British F3 champion was at his dazzling best. The event has gone from strength to strength ever since.

 But do you know who finished second to Senna that year, and what he is doing now?  It was another South American, Roberto Guerrero of Colombia. Unable to make the grade in F1, Guerrero switched to Indycars in the US, winning twice in 1987.

 He has another thing in common with Senna - in 1987 he had a serious crash, spending 17 days in a coma. Fortunately, he recovered and continues to race in the Indy Racing League.

 John Neilsen won the race in 1984, but has since found his niche driving GT cars in the World Endurance Championship, in which he remains a front runner.

 In contrast, Mick Thackwell, who finished third to Neilsen in 1984 and second to Mauricio Gugelmin in 1985, has left the sport entirely, pursuing careers as a jet pilot, helicopter pilot, gold miner and, more recently, a teacher of children with behaviourial problems.

 Jan Lammers' distinguished career in Macau was run in reverse. He still remains the only driver to finish on the podium three times (third in 1985, third in 1986 and second in 1987), but began his racing in the East as his F1 career was ending.

 The race is now a stepping stone for young drivers on the up rather than experienced campaigners looking for alternatives.

 Lammers' greatest claim to fame was victory in the 1988 Le Mans 24-hour race, but the Zandvoort driver still campaigns GT cars.

 Eddie Irvine finished third in Macau in 1990 and used that performance as a springboard into F1. After a stint with Jordan, he joined Ferrari as number two to Michael Schumacher and has since tallied more second-place finishes in F1 than any other driver in history.

 Schumacher won in Macau in 1990 and has since gone on to win two F1 championships. But the German was fortunate to claim the 1990 title, a young Finn by the name of Mika Hakkinen brushed Schumacher at the Yacht Club bend and hit the wall at 180 km/h on the last lap with victory in sight.

 Motor racing enthusiasts will know Hakkinen atoned for that lapse this year by winning the F1 World Championship.

 Hakkinen's teammate at McLaren-Mercedes, Scot David Coulthard, is another graduate from the 'School of Macau', winning the F3 race in 1991.

 Jordi Gene, who finished second to Swede Rickard Rydell in 1992, has chosen an unusual career path since then - he now races trucks!  Rydell is arguably the best Macau winner never to have reached the big-time. Consistently quick, he raced from 1987 to 1993.

 Many said he lacked a really aggressive streak, but he has found his niche in touring cars and this year was crowned British Touring Car Championship (BTTC) winner driving a Volvo. The BTTC is regarded as the best touring car series in the world, so he has reached the zenith of his chosen branch of motorsport.

 Ralf Schumacher emulated brother Michael in 1995 and has followed a similar career path since driving with the Jordan team in F1 this season. Naturally quick, he too has the potential to be world champion.

 Third to Schumacher in 1995 was Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who went on to win the highly competitive Japanese F3000 series and now has won himself a testing contract with Jordan. He is tipped for further success.

 The 1996 Macau winner, Briton Ralph Firman, has seen his career head in the opposite direction.

 He has struggled in an uncompetitive F3000 car this year and needs a change of luck to put his F1 aspirations back on track.

 Macau has produced a host of success stories throughout the years and will continue to do so in the future as long as the event is allowed to prosper after China resumes sovereignty over the Portuguese enclave next year.



Backwater track comes of age with timely F3 designation