Macau GT Cup: Mortara aims for sixth successive title at Macau

Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release

• Final round of the GT Asia series is part of the Macau GT Cup
• Seven Audi entries, including “Mr. Macau” Edoardo Mortara
• Class leader Jacky Yeung has his sights on the GT Asia GTM title

Macau, November 13, 2014 – Audi driver Edoardo Mortara will be looking to take his sixth successive title at the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday. He will be joined by an additional six Audi entries at the GT Cup race on the famous Guia street circuit. The final round of the 2014 GT Asia series will be part of the GT Cup.

Going into the race on Sunday, November 16, Mortara aims to defend his title in the GT Cup which he won on the previous three occasions from 2011 to 2013. In 2009 and 2010 he had already been victorious in the Formula 3 race at the Macau Grand Prix.  In 2013, “Mr. Macau” also won the final round of the Audi R8 LMS Cup on the narrow and spectacular street circuit.

With Mortara (#1) and Laurens Vanthoor (#2), Audi Race Experience will be fielding two star drivers. Vanthoor was the youngest ever driver to compete in the Macau GP, finishing fifth in 2008 aged only 17. This year he won the Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe.

“I know what works and what doesn’t at this difficult track. But you’ll never achieve 100 percent. I’m working on getting as close to perfection as possible. For instance, I watch videos of Macau races in order to visualize the track over and over”, commented Mortara, adding, “Having a strong teammate is a positive. Laurens Vanthoor is very talented and has made an enormous leap in his career in the past two or three years. I think he’s going to be my fiercest competitor in Macau.”

After back-to-back victories in the previous Rounds 11 and 12 at Shanghai, Tiger Racing Team’s Jacky Yeung goes to Macau leading the GTM class of the 2014 GT Asia series and a good result could see him seal the championship. Yeung will drive his customary #77 Audi R8 LMS Cup car. Returning to his home circuit, KAMLUNG Racing team owner Mak Hing Tak (#68) will also compete in the GTM class with the team’s Audi R8 LMS Cup car.

Team Absolute Racing is fielding three Audi R8 LMS ultras in the GT Asia GT3 category. “We hope to finish with all cars, and give the international field some serious competition,” commented Ingo Matter, Director of Absolute Racing.

Audi R8 LMS Cup 2013 champion Adderly Fong aims to score a high place finish in his Audi R8 LMS ultra #17 against the international stars. In the GT Asia class, Jeffrey Lee (#7) and Philip Ma (#98) will be hoping for a strong finish to the season.

The Guia Circuit is 6.2 km long, running through the streets of Macau, with 19 turns. It features an ultra-long straight, tight turns and very narrow sections. An altitude change of 30 metres means the drivers have to deal with hill climbs as well.

“Sometimes, Macau is like a gamble”, said Matter, “The demanding street circuit does not allow for any mistakes. It is unforgiving with any slip ups being very costly. A lot depends on the important qualifying sessions, where traffic can slow down drivers.”

The qualifying sessions will be held on Friday November 14 and Saturday November 15, with the race taking place on Sunday November 16. 

Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup