Macau GT World Cup: Marciello continues his winning streak upon BMW switch

Raffaele Marciello has continued his remarkable record in Macau by triumphing in the FIA GT World Cup qualification race, leading all of the contest bar one corner.

Marciello has won both races at the last two editions of this event with Mercedes and again triumphed from pole upon his first outing around the Guia circuit for BMW.

However, it was not straightforward at the start as his MCG-run BMW M4 was passed by Dries Vanthoor’s WRT example out of Reservoir Bend.

Yet Vanthoor’s lead only lasted as far as Lisboa where he ran slightly deep and Macau expert Marciello swept back ahead.

The gap between the two BMWs continued to ebb and flow throughout the remainder of the 12-lap contest, hovering around the second mark for most of the time.

Vanthoor did close to within a devilish 0.666s on the final tour but never had the chance to fight back and had to settle for the runner-up spot.

The lead M4s quickly pulled away from the rest, defying a 40 millibar turbo boost BoP reduction between qualifying and the opening race, and they were helped by Antonio Fuoco’s AF Corse Ferrari 296 battling past the GMR Mercedes of Maro Engel off the line.

Le Mans 24 Hours winner Fuoco held third place on the inside into Lisboa and spent most of the race with the Mercedes of three-time Macau conqueror Engel in his mirrors.

But, mid-race, Engel’s attentions had to turn to another pair of BMWs behind, Augusto Farfus (Team KRC) ahead of Sheldon van der Linde’s WRT machine.

Despite this quartet getting close at times, there were no position changes – even with van der Linde setting the fastest lap on the final tour – meaning Macau GT debutant Fuoco completed the podium.

Further back, in seventh and eighth, came the Porches of Alessio Picariello and Laurens Vanthoor, the latter sending Christopher Haase’s Audi brushing into the wall as they began the race.

Haase continued to finish ninth, one place ahead of Edoardo Mortara – the Swiss having switched to Lamborghini for this year as the manufacturer makes its first GT World Cup appearance since 2017.

Unlike some of the chaotic practice and qualifying sessions earlier in the event, there were no major incidents during this race and all 22 starters finished.

The Lamborghini Huracan of Luca Engstler was unable to take part after a sizeable crash at Mandarin that ended Friday’s qualifying session early left him in hospital for precautionary concussion and possible leg injury checks. 

Follow the live action from this year’s Macau Grand Prix on Motorsport.com and Motorsport.tv.

Qualifying race results: