-How did your interest in motorsport begin?
Isaías do Rosário: When I was young, I would hear the roar of the racing cars. I lived next to Estrada de São Francisco, part of the Guia Circuit. Some Asian drivers, including some Japanese from Yamaha, stayed nearby. In that area, there were several guesthouses and lodgings where the drivers stayed, did their prep work, and handled mechanical reviews. That’s where I developed a passion for mechanical engineering and motorsports.
I.R.: Yes. I have happy memories of my time as a driver. I was also a photographer for eight years at Foto Artes, a photography shop. There used to be more races, but the internationalization of the Grand Prix led to the reduction of some events, which is understandable given the need to stick to schedules for TV broadcasts.
Suddenly, I had an opportunity to race because a team was selling a car after getting a better one from Japan.
-Is that one of the most substantial differences between the current format and the previous one?
I.R.: Yes, but the races have improved in quality. We now have the GT World Cup, the Guia Race, and Formula Races. One of my fondest memories is from my first participation (in 1995). Suddenly, I had an opportunity to race because a team was selling a car after getting a better one from Japan.
The price was good, and I wanted to participate. I didn’t care whether the car was good or bad; I bought it with some support. Since it was all last-minute call, I didn’t test the car and had never driven a race car with slick tires. The car was prepped by my mechanic friends.
It was race-ready but still needed adjustments. The engine and gearbox were standard, but the suspension and tires were for competition. I felt calm driving the car for the first time, but I crashed after four laps because there was an accident ahead, and I couldn’t avoid the collision. Even so, I managed to finish 11th out of 36 drivers. In less than 12 hours, the car was repaired, and I could race on Saturday.
Another great memory was my last race (in 1998). The car only reached 7,500 RPM instead of the usual 9,000RPM but I still managed to qualify 19th among 36 cars. During the race, some drivers dropped out. I preferred a more reliable car, even if slower, but one that could last the entire race. By the third lap, I was in sixth place, starting from 19th. Unfortunately, I ran out of fuel due to some refueling issues in the pits. I ended up finishing 12th.
For local fans, Tiago Rodrigues’ participation is an additional incentive because he’s aggressive and fast.
-This year, Formula Regional makes its debut. What impact do you foresee?
I.R.: The initial reaction to the arrival of Formula Regional (FR) was mixed, largely due to the decades-long attachment to Formula 3. Formula 3 came to Macau in 1983, with Ayrton Senna’s victory, whom many consider the greatest of all time. I believe the FR will bring a lot of competitiveness to the Macau Grand Prix. Few countries still have F3; in the UK, it’s even called GB3 (Great Britain 3).
Let’s say F3 is somewhat in decline, while FR should make the Macau Grand Prix more competitive. The cars are identical to each other and very similar to the previous F3 cars, with some more advanced aerodynamic modifications. FR has championships in South America, Italy, France, the Middle East, Japan, and Australia.
This year, the FIA FR World Cup in Macau won’t yet have the impact and scale I think it will achieve in future editions because some drivers didn’t have enough time to prepare for Macau, but that will be resolved in the coming years. For local fans, Tiago Rodrigues‘ participation is an additional incentive because he’s aggressive and fast.
He just needs to stay calm—but not too calm—to secure faster times than in 2023. This year, knowing the circuit better, I think he’ll do better and is one of the drivers to watch, along with the American Ugochukwu. We’ll have teams with F3 experience in Macau, such as SJM Theodore PREMA Racing, MP Motorsport, ART Grand Prix, and Japan’s Tom’s team.
-You went from being a driver to a commentator and remain very close to the Macau Grand Prix.
I.R.: I’ve been commentating for almost 30 years, and that keeps me close to the event. When I was invited in 1985, the Macau Automobile Club was being created, and I was one of its founders. At the time, I was earning 3,600 patacas and contributed 500 patacas to help found the club. Since then, my passion for the Macau Grand Prix has remained, and I do everything I can to stay connected.
