By Johan Laubscher
The 61st Macau Grand Prix proceedings got underway with practice sessions on Thursday. The Macau GT Cup held its practice session at 12h35 local time.
Seven Audi R8 LMS and ultra cars have been entered this weekend, two from Audi race experience and five from Absolute Racing.
The Free practice session was stopped after only four laps due to an accident and restarted with less than ten minutes remaining.
Mr Macau, Edoardo Mortara, is aiming for his seventh consecutive victory in Macau and he picked up where he left off by topping the times early during the practice session, before the stoppage. Maro Engel, in the in the #5 Mercedes-Benz, set the fastest time with a 2:20.976 when the session restarted. Laurens Vanthoor then set the second fastest time of the session, 0.396 seconds behind Engel, followed by Mortara in third, 0.730 seconds behind the leader. The top three were the only drivers to break under the 2:22.000 barrier.
The two older Audi R8 LMS entries run by Absolute Racing placed thirty-fifth with Jacky Yeung (Tiger Racing #77 R8 LMS) and twenty-sixth with Mak Hing Tak (KAMLUNG Racing #68 R8 LMS).
The Free Practice results can be seen HERE.
The first of two qualifying sessions will be taking place at 13h00 local time tomorrow, followed by the second qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Pole position for the 2013 Macau GT Cup was a 2:18.651 set by Maro Engel in a Mercedes-Benz, who shared the front row with Edoardo Mortara, a 2:19.492. It will be very interesting to see what transpires during the two upcoming qualifying sessions, as the times from Free Practice are expected to be eclipsed.
We wish the best of luck to the Audi teams and drivers in Macau.
Photo credit:
Laurens Vanthoor
Adderly Fong
