Lamm: Macau Win in Final Race “Like a Dream Come True”

Photo: Macau GP

Charly Lamm says BMW Team Schnitzer’s FIA GT World Cup win was like a “dream come true” in his final race with the German squad.

The legendary team principal helped propel Augusto Farfus to a dominant victory on the streets of Macau, in a race that saw BMW also collect its first GT World Cup title.

Lamm, who announced earlier this year his retirement from the sport after nearly 50 years with Schnitzer Motorsport, earned the team’s record-extending 14th win at the Guia Circuit.

It came on a special weekend for the 63-year-old, who had his wife at the track with him for the first time, as well as other family members.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Lamm said. “This place is magic and… it’s one of the highlights in the motorsport calendar.

“We came here for a very long time with the BMW touring cars, over decades, and now since 2017 we’ve raced this BMW M6.

“You could see that one strength with the M6 is the fast part of Macau, where we somehow could pull a gap and most importantly get the track position.

“Augusto did just that in qualifying with the front row [start] and obviously yesterday with the Qualifying Race [win].

“It was the right position we needed so much in the twisty part of the circuit.

“As much as the race did not show much overtaking today, you could see the [intensity] because Augusto couldn’t risk a single thing and they would have been there.”

Farfus held off an early race challenge from Raffaele Marciello and edged out the No. 888 GruppeM Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Maro Engel by 0.981 seconds for the win.

The Brazilian also found special meaning to the win in multiple ways.

“Many years ago we lost a championship here together with Charly, now we both won,” said Farfus, whose victory came 29 years to the day he got his racing start.

“My dad gave me a motorcycle and I did my first race in Brazil without knowing where my career would end up.

“Now many years later I win a World Cup. It’s very special and with a lot of emotion.

“I just have to thank every single [person] that has been together with me in this long journey. And for Charly, this has special meaning too.”

Lamm said Sunday’s triumph is something that everyone ‘strives’ for in the sport. 

“Motor racing is like a drug,” he said. “I got addicted from it in 1971 when I was helping with Team Schnitzer and going to school at the time.

“It has been my life since 1981 when I finished university.

“I’m extremely glad for what I’ve experienced.

“Especially the moment today; it’s something you strive for. I can’t consider myself as a sportsman. [The drivers] are the athletes. But we try to give them the tools to [help] them go fast.

“They can live the passion for this sport, and this I could do for a very long time.”

When asked if he will return to Macau next year, Lamm indicated he may come as a spectator. 

“This seems to be quite a good holiday spot!” he said. “And I know everything so I don’t need a tour guide.” 

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