Darryl O’Young hopes a world-class motor racing circuit in Hong Kong becomes reality as part of the government’s north Lantau development plan
- Macau GP veteran says the sport cannot be developed without a venue and it would be a dream come true if Hong Kong has its own circuit
- Automobile Association chief Owen Chan says if Hong Kong is to build a motor racing track, it should be able to accommodate Formula One racing
Top driver Darryl O’Young said he would like to see his dream come true as the Hong Kong government weighs up the prospect of building the city’s first motor racing circuit in Lantau.
The 2021 Macau Grand Prix GT Cup champion said such a racetrack would be a key milestone for the development of motorsport in Hong Kong.
“There is no sport that can be developed without a venue,” O’Young said. “It’s not only for drivers like us. It can also motivate more young people to take up the sport and attract many others to join the business, whether it can be mechanics, engineers and promoters, but the basic thing is you need a circuit.
“We have been training in Europe, in Asia, in China and other parts of the world because there is no circuit in Hong Kong. And in fact, we could not do anything because of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years. A motor racing track in Hong Kong could solve all these problems.”
Although there is no proper venue in Hong Kong, the city has produced generations of quality drivers such as O’Young. A dedicated track would help in the development of young pilots.
The government is considering the construction of the city’s first permanent circuit as part of the mammoth Northern Lantau Reclamation project near Sunny Bay. And Automobile Association chief executive Owen Chan Sheung-lor said, though it was still in the planning stages, their hope is for a world-class venue.
