Di Grassi to Make Audi GT3 Debut in Macau

Photo: Audi

Reigning Formula E Champion Lucas di Grassi will make his Audi GT3 debut in next month’s FIA GT World Cup in Macau, having been confirmed in the German manufacturer’s five-car customer racing-supported effort for the Nov. 16-19 event.

The ex-Audi LMP1 star will line up in an Audi R8 LMS entered by German-based HCB-Rutronik Racing, alongside two factory-backed Audi Sport Team WRT entries for newly crowned Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup champion Robin Frijns and Audi DTM ace Nico Mueller.

Di Grassi is set for his first competitive GT outing, after being forced to withdraw from this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans due to an ankle injury, where he was entered in an AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE. The 33-year-old Brazilian is a former Macau Grand Prix winner. 

HCB-Rutronik will also field a second Audi for Fabian Plentz, with a single customer entry from Team Aust Motorsport for Markus Pommer.

“This is a strong lineup,” said Head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke “We’ll have three drivers from Audi and two ambitious privateer campaigners on the grid.

“WRT is a top-class team and title defender for Audi Sport customer racing. The new cooperation with HCB-Rutronik Racing makes it possible to deploy Lucas di Grassi who, together with Nico Müller and Robin Frijns, numbers among the favorites.”

Audi is the defending FIA GT World Cup champion, with Laurens Vanthoor, who won last  year’s race, despite finishing on his roof in the incident-filled event.

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