The 2024 edition of the FIA GT World Cup crowned Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG GT3 EV0 n°130 – Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM) for the second time after a crazy scenario.
Engel signs a fourth success on the Guia track, Macau GT Cup and FIA GT World Cup combined after 2014, 2015 and 2022, and took the chestnuts out of the fight between Raffaele Marciello (BMW M4 GT3 n°1 – Toro Racing by MCG) and Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari 296 GT3 n°83 – AF Corse) to sign Mercedes’ sixth consecutive victory in the Macau GT event.
In weather conditions made very difficult due to rain, the race management brought forward the start of the GT3 race by 15′, with the safety car leading the peloton for five laps.
Once released, Raffaele Marciello logically dominated the start of the race from pole ahead of Dries Vanthoor (BMW n°32 – Team WRT) and Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari 296 GT3 n°83 – AF Corse). Halfway through the race, however, Fuoco found the opening in the last corner on Vanthoor and set off in pursuit of Marciello.
As the 100% Italian duel looms, Dries Vanthoor hits the wall and damages the right rear suspension of his M4 GT3. The Belgian lost all hope and left Fuoco and Maro Engel to close the gap on leader Marciello for a three-way match lasting just over six rounds.
Imperial in these conditions, Antonio Fuoco repeats his maneuver without the last turn on Marciello two laps from the goal… but the BMW driver tries to recover his property under braking in Lisboa and the two cars end up in the loophole, leaving Maro Engel take the advantage.
A definitive advantage this time, since despite a 5″ penalty for contact with the #32 BMW of Dries Vanthoor, Engel won with a sufficient lead ahead of Augusto Farfus (BMW #89 – Team KRC) and Sheldon van der Linde (BMW n°31 – Team WRT) The top 5 is completed by the two Porsche 911 GT3 R – Absolute Racing of Alessio Picariello and Laurens Vanthoor.
Suivent Christopher Haase (Audi R8 LMS GT3 n°33 – Phantom Global Racing), Edoardo Mortara (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 n°63 – VSR), Ricardo Feller (Audi n°36 – FAW Audi Sport Asia), Antonio Fuoco and Dani Juncadella (Mercedes n°77 – Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo). Yifei Ye (Ferrari 296 GT3 n°50 – Harmony Racing) finished 11th, Jules Gounon (Mercedes n°99 – Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo) 19th.
© Youtube Screenshot
The ranking is HERE
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