MACAU STREAK
Results: 2002 (Formula Asia, 1st), 2003 (F3, 10th), 2004 (F3, 12th), 2005 (F3 DNF), 2006 (Porsche Cup 1st), 2007 (Porsche Cup 5th), 2008 (GT Cup 2nd), 2009 (GT Cup 3rd), 2010 (GT Cup 3rd), 2011 (GT Cup 3rd), 2012 (GT Cup 3rd), 2013 (GT Cup 2nd), 2014 (GT Cup 19th) “One of my proudest things is also having raced at Macau for 13 successive seasons from 2002 through to 2014 in various different formulas,” says Watts.
“I’ll always remember my debut. I was preparing for F3 the following year so I went out and did the Formula Asia 2000 race in 2002. We didn’t have simulators then so I remember staying up until 0200hrs and then paying a cabbie to drive me around when the streets were quiet so I could learn the track. Then I went out and crashed on my second lap of practice! I went on to win the race that weekend and then did the F3 event three times, finishing 10th with Alan Docking Racing in 2003.
“I’ve also raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, winning in 2006 and also winning on the road in 2007 before a post-race time penalty dropped me to fifth. I’ve also done the GT Cup race and finished on the podium for six successive years.
“I just love Macau, it’s such a unique challenge. At tracks like Silverstone and Monza you have loads of run-off, but at Macau it’s all about precision and bravery. If you run wide, you’re in the wall and that’s it. The lap has everything, sector one is high speed and flowing, and then sector two has The Mountain, which is a hugely technical part of track. There are camber changes and blind apexes and all sorts of tricks to being quick at Macau, and it takes time to learn them all. In my mind it’s the best race circuit in the world.”