Macao Grand Prix ends with spectator number exceeding 100,000

The four-day Macao Grand Prix concluded on Sunday, with McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu claiming a pole-to-flag victory.

The prestigious street racing event attracted more than 100,000 spectators, adding to its legacy as one of the world's oldest and most challenging street races.

This year's Grand Prix featured seven races, drawing around 180 drivers from 35 countries and regions.

"The Macao Grand Prix stands out as Asia's one-of-a-kind street race. Spanning 6.2 kilometers, the track narrows to just seven meters at its tightest point and widens to 14 meters at its broadest. It globally ranks among the most challenging circuits," said Luis Gomes, director of the Sports Bureau under the Macao SAR Government.

Sunday's final races included several key events with high competitiveness; however, unpredictable weather added further challenges, and the finale saw multiple collisions due to the bad weather, leading to several suspension in the race.

"We've been participating in this event for 19 years, and this year's uncertain weather made it especially challenging. The track was tough for both me and my team," said Leong Ian Veng, a racing driver from Macao.

According to organizers, the event's vibrant atmosphere and thrilling competitions drew large crowds, underscoring Macao's status as a premier destination for motor-sport enthusiasts.

"For the finale of the motor-sports, I come here every year. I think I haven't missed any edition in the past 13 years. This year with this weather, it's even more exciting to watch the race. As you can see the stands are crowded, many people here are having fun," said a Portuguese tourist named Bernardo.

Macao Grand Prix ends with spectator number exceeding 100,000

Japan began releasing oil from its reserves Monday to ease supply concerns amid the escalating Middle East conflict and ensure stable distribution of petroleum products, local media reported.

The country is initially releasing 15 days' worth of reserves held by the private sector, with a month's worth of government-held oil to follow, according to Kyodo News.

The Japanese government will lower the mandatory reserve requirement for oil refiners and trading firms from 70 days to 55 days, enabling them to utilize part of their existing inventories.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the government's plans to release about 80 million barrels of oil, the largest release ever. The amount equals 45 days of domestic consumption and is 1.8 times the volume released following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that rocked northeastern Japan in 2011, Kyodo News reported.

Preparations are underway to sell oil from government-held reserves to wholesalers.

This marks the seventh time Japan has drawn on its oil reserves since the system was introduced in the 1970s. As of the end of 2025, Japan held an oil reserve equivalent to 254 days of domestic demand.

Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports, making it highly vulnerable to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict at the end of February. The disruption has driven sharp rises in crude oil prices in the country.

Japan begins oil reserve release amid Mideast conflict