by sportswriter Michael Butterworth
BURIRAM, Thailand, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- British racing driver Dan Ticktum says the Guia Street Circuit in Macao is a favorite track of his and many other top racing drivers.
The Guia Circuit plays host to the annual Macao Grand Prix, one of motor racing's most prestigious events outside the Formula 1 calendar, and its unique combination of long straights, tight corners and elevation change means the 6.2km track is widely regarded as one of the world's most challenging circuits.
"I've got quite a biased view on Macao," acknowledged Ticktum, who has won the previous two editions of the Macao Grand Prix. "From the first year I drove there, it was immediately my favorite track. It's just unlike anywhere else. It makes Monaco feel boring! I think all the F1 drivers who have done it will say that Macao's their favorite."
Previous winners of the Macao Grand Prix include Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, and Ticktum's praise of Macao echoes that of reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who told Xinhua at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the Guia Circuit was also one of his favorite tracks.
Ticktum was speaking to Xinhua at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, where the Briton is competing in the Asian Winter Series in a bid to secure enough points for a superlicense, which will allow him to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship.
"Achieving [enough points for] a superlicense is the primary reason I'm here, but there are other reasons, like more track time. My last race was in November, so it would be about five months [without racing] until the new season starts, so it's nice to have a bit of track time in the winter, and to have a goal and to try to win something."
Also competing in the Asian Winter Series is China's rising star Ye Yifei. Despite being just 18 years old, the Shaanxi-born driver already has several years' experience in European single seaters, and Ticktum noted that Ye would be one of his closest rivals for the series title.
"Yifei has been very strong. There's always people that come through and surprise you, but I think we've got three or four drivers here that are definitely going to keep me on my toes. I'll have to do my best to take the title."
