Engel: Qualifying Key to Success in Macau

Photo: Mercedes-AMG

Maro Engel believes that qualifying up front is the main key to success in Macau, as the German driver chases his fourth GT victory on the Guia Circuit.

Engel has rejoined GruppeM Racing and will carry Mercedes-AMG’s special No. 130 livery in honor of Mercedes-Benz’s 130th anniversary in motorsport in this weekend’s FIA GT World Cup.

The Mercedes-AMG factory star made his Macau GT debut in 2013, winning the event the following year and going back-to-back in 2015, in the first running of the race under GT World Cup status.

He scored his third GT victory in 2022, as a national GT Cup race run amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and returned to the podium in the Qualifying Race last year when driving for Craft-Bamboo Racing.

“I think it’s always an incredible here and this year’s grid, for sure, is very strong once again,” Engel told Sportscar365.

“That’s great to see and I think the organizers have done a great job putting together this strong entry list.

“For us, we feel good. We can draw back on experience and success from the past years so that’s a positive. But I’m sure the competition will be strong.”

This weekend’s edition marks the Hong Kong-licensed GruppeM squad’s fourth Macau appearance and first since Raffaele Marciello’s dominant performance in 2019 that netted the Qualifying and Main Race wins.

Engel also boasts experience with the team through its Intercontinental GT Challenge program over the years.

“I race with GruppeM a lot, so it always helps when you know a team and obviously Kenny Chen, the team owner, is very passionate and always puts together a strong team,” he said.

“From that side, it’s always good when you don’t have to start a new working relationship.”

With rain likely to play a factor for Thursday’s pair of free practice sessions, and potentially also for qualifying on Friday, Engel said they’ll have adapt to the conditions but is confident in the versatility of their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

The German brand has won the last five editions of the race, either run as a World Cup or GT Cup, as well as six of the past seven.

“The weather is looking interesting,” Engel said. “Let’s see what it’s going to be like. We’ll just have to adapt to the conditions.

“For sure, keeping the car on track and just building up to it.

“We know qualifying is going to be important and is going to be the key. But we’ll have to see what the weather has in store for us.”

Engel added: “Macau is always a big highlight for me in the year. Everyone knows I love this track.

“Macau has been good to me in the past; obviously we’ve had three wins here, even if not all editions were World Cup status.

“For sure, it would mean a lot and it’s the aim. That’s why we’re here. We’ll give it our best shot and we’ll see how things go.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John