This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of World Gaming magazine.
Macau, the location of arguably the greatest street circuit in the world, continues to embrace the world of motor sport. World Gaming magazine decided to have a closer look at the Galaxy Double R Racing Team and how they fared.
Even if the roar of high-octane engines or the smell of burning rubber doesn’t excite you there is something about the Macau Grand Prix that will have you captivated. Macau isn’t a quiet little city at the best of times but for four days every November the world comes to Macau ready to race and party.
This year we decided to look behind the scenes into the Galaxy Macau Double R Racing Team and how they made it onto the track. Unfortunately, it was not the fairytale finish for the Galaxy Macau Double R Racing team but they performed admirably. Marko Asmer broke a rear track rod on the 14th lap and had to retire. Valtteri Bottas was tearing up the track and was sitting in second position before he collided with the unforgiving barriers on the tough Macau street circuit. Mr Anthony Hieatt, Team Principal for Galaxy Double R Racing, has seen it all before and was pragmatic about the weekend’s result.
“It’s not been the weekend we’d hoped with the end results but from a performance point of view, we definitely had very strong pace here in Macau over the last few days. Whatever the outcome, the team did a fantastic job – thanks to our drivers for their hard work and to Galaxy Macau for their fantastic support.”
Galaxy Macau teams with Double R Racing
On 6 October 2011, Galaxy Macau announced its sponsorship of Double R Racing, extending Galaxy Entertainment Group’s commitment to local tourism and marquee sporting events.
Double R Racing has become one of the most prominent teams in Formula racing’s junior levels. Its experience and expertise have delivered numerous victories, including the 2006 Championship, demonstrating the success of the team’s unsurpassed training and development for young drivers from around the world.
The team’s primary aim remains the same every race weekend: the Double R Racing team must win. Although it is impossible to win every race, the team aims to arrive at every race track capable of challenging for victory. For the 2011 Macau Grand Prix, Galaxy Double R Racing team was represented by Valtteri Bottas and Marko Asmer. Leading up to race day Mr Raymond Yap, Senior Vice President of International Premium Market Development of Galaxy Entertainment Group welcomed the team to Macau and praised the city’s long history of showcasing the leading drivers and future stars of Formula 1.
“This partnership has enabled us to bring two of the most exciting young drivers in the world to the city, and we look forward to seeing their talent on this highly technical circuit,” said Mr Yap. “Galaxy Macau is passionate about promoting Macau as a top destination for world-class sporting events, and we can think of no better occasion to contribute than the Macau Grand Prix.”
The Drivers
Marko Asmer
Galaxy Double R Racing Team
Marko Asmer was born, and continues to reside, in Tallinn, Estonia. He began his karting career in 1995, winning the Estonian, Baltic and Scandinavian championships at just 15 years of age. He entered Formula racing in 2003 and became the first Estonian ever to test a Formula One car with the Williams BMW Team. In 2008 he became a test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One Team. In the 2010 Austrian Formula Renault in Hockenheim, he took pole position and the victory. He also continued as a test driver in the GP3 series.
Valtteri Bottas
Galaxy Double R Racing Team
Valtteri Bottas is a Finnish racing driver currently residing in Oxford, England.
In 2004 Bottas kicked off his career in karting, claiming first place in the Formula JICA European Championship qualification race in Belgium and becoming Finnish Champion in Formula A, Formula ICA and Formula JICA.
In 2009 he became a Masters of Formula 3 winner, coming in third overall in the Formula 3 Euro series and fifth overall in the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix. In 2010 he placed third overall in both the Formula 3 Euro series and the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix. Last year Bottas won the title of GP3 Series World Champion with four wins and one pole position, clinching one with Double R Racing at the British Formula 3 Championship.
