Last weekend saw the 60th edition of the legendary Macau Grand Prix in the former Portuguese island colony. Many races were held in the street track of Guia from two wheels to four and one of them is the final 2 rounds of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). While the first race was an uneventful sprint race, the second race was filled with 2 race accidents that prompted the red flag twice.
Just like the Monaco street circuit in F1, the 6.2km Guia track leaves no room for error where one mistake could end your race, or at certain extend, kill you. Last year, two racers tragically lost their lives in the Macau GP.
On the final WTCC race, as the lights went green, Norbert Michelisz ran wide on the first turn, hitting the Honda Civic into the barrier. Where the street circuit’s walls meant that there is no escape, Michelisz’s accident was also ended the races of other unlucky touring car drivers at the back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrQljEkUllA
Following the restart goes six laps incident free, that is until Eurico de Jesus collided with Tom Chilton’s damaged Chevrolet Cruze. The other cars were hopelessly stuck, the race marshals then rolled out the yellow flags and the safety car was on the way. Unfazed by the quick happening of events, some of the racers were caught unaware and joined the carnage on the back. That accident however has almost cost a race marshal’s life should the car were faster.
Despite how unforgiving the Macau track is, fortunately, no lost of lives or major injuries occurred in this year’s edition.
[SOURCE: CAR THROTTLE]
