Formula One-bound teen Max Verstappen out to lift Macau Grand Prix crown
Teenager, who will race for Toro Rosso next season, is one of the big names coming for the 61st edition of the race
Formula One-bound teenager Max Verstappen will aim to end his career in open-wheel racing's junior ranks with the coveted Macau Grand Prix crown next month as organisers unveiled a "best of the best" line-up.
The 17-year-old Dutchman, who will be the youngest F1 driver next season, was the standout name as organisers revealed the drivers for the Formula Three grand prix, motorcycle grand prix and FIA World Touring Car Championship in the 61st edition of the annual extravaganza from November 13 to 16 yesterday.
Defending champion Alex Lynn will battle against the prodigy and Esteban Ocon, currently leading the FIA F3 European Championship as he tries to retain his title.
Due to limitations in the grid, we have to exclude a lot of drivers. Only the best of the best can attend the races
Verstappen has signed for the Toro Rosso team, with Red Bull junior team boss Helmut Marko comparing him to the legendary Ayrton Senna. He became the youngest driver to take part in an F1 Grand Prix when he drove in practice in Japan last weekend.
Mainlander Martin Cao Hongwei will try to repeat his success in this year's British Formula 3 - he won the championship this month - with his "home" advantage in the special administrative region.
The motorbike race sees Michael Rutter return to try to win a record ninth title in Macau, while Ian Hutchinson is back to defend his title. Scot Stuart Easton, a three-time winner, Michael Dunlop and veteran John McGuinness also return.
Macau will also host the grand finale of the FIA touring car championship with Sebastien Loeb, the nine-time FIA World Rally champion and Yvan Muller, the four-time WTCC champion the key names. Ma Qinghua, who became the first Chinese to win on the WTCC circuit this year, also competes.
Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, coordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee, described the line-up as "sensational".
"Due to limitations in the grid, we have to exclude a lot of drivers. Only the best of the best can attend the races," he said.
"If you go through the entry lists, you can see there are many champions. Even in the other races, like the Macau GT Cup, we have the best drivers, because everybody wants to come to Macau."
(Credit: SCMP)