Macau GP: Hong Kong’s Darryl O’Young to race for the first time in 12 months when he returns at GT Cup
Veteran driver last raced in 2020 Macau GT Cup when he finished fourth after being penalised in qualification race, which he won
Only six races will take place in annual Grand Prix week on Nov 19-21 with drivers coming from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau only due to quarantine
Hong Kong driver Darryl O’Young faces one of the biggest challenges of his career, racing for the first time in 12 months, as he returns to the annual Macau Grand Prix, which takes place in two weeks.
It will be the veteran’s 17th appearance in the campaign, which he has won five times in different racing categories, but it will also be his first race since he last competed at the demanding 6.2-kilometre Guia circuit in 2020 when he finished fourth in the Macau GT race.
“I used to competed in more than 20 races a year including the GT World Challenge Asia, but this did not happen under the Covid-19 pandemic, as the event has been called off for the last two years,” said the 41-year-old, who has arrived in the former Portuguese enclave but is now undergoing quarantine before he emerges from the three-week isolation period. “The long absence from racing will, of course, affect my performance. Many things, such as muscle memory, will be affected and I must work hard and use more of my experience to cope with the situation.
Darryl O’Young finishes 4th in Macau GT Cup after starting 11th on grid
“On top of this, I’ll be coming straight out of a 21-day quarantine, so the proper training will not be possible. I will have to use all my mental strength to overcome these trials, but I am confident I can do it and fight up front for this year’s race.”
Most of [the 100] drivers this year will be from mainland China, Hong Kong and the host city, according to Macau Sports Bureau chief Paul Pun Weng Kun when he announced details of the 2021 event.
“Famous foreign drivers also expressed their willingness to attend the competition, even with the required 21-days quarantine,” he said. “However, after discussions with the organising committee and considering the pandemic risks we decided to advise them not to come. Maybe next year.”
Darryl O’Young to spend four weeks quarantine to race in Macau Grand Prix
The Hong Kong driver will be making his second consecutive attempt in the Macau GT Cup, joining forces with Z-Challenger and Motul. O’Young, who will also be the team director of Craft-Bamboo Racing, will take the wheel of the No 95 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo as he navigates the narrow streets of Macau.
Despite finishing first in the qualification last year, O’Young was given a harsh penalty in the race and only started 11th on the grid for infringing rules at the start of the qualification race.
“I always learn from my experience and have already put it behind me – what happened last year,” he said. “I’ll just focus on how I can do better this time and this is always my approach. In fact, there is still little news about other drivers and all I know is there will be some very fast cars in the race. But I won’t pay too much attention to who I will meet and will only do my best preparation, studying video footage and related date to get myself ready.”
