BMW Confirms Farfus, Eriksson for Macau

Photo: BMW

Augusto Farfus will defend his FIA GT World Cup title, having been confirmed alongside Joel Eriksson as the German manufacturer’s two nominated factory drivers for the Nov. 16-17 event.

Farfus will again line up with BMW Team Schnitzer, with Macau GT3 debutant Eriksson confirmed in a BMW M6 GT3 fielded by FIST-Team AAI.

It will mark an emotional return for Farfus, who won at the Macau Guia Circuit with the team last year in team principal Charly Lamm’s last race.

Lamm passed away just a few weeks later.

“Macau will be very special this year” said Farfus. “Firstly, it is a place of which I have a lot of great memories. And the win in the FIA GT World Cup last year was a highlight of my career.

“Winning together with Charly, my friend and my mentor, who was very close personally to me and my family, was something really special.

“This year I hope we can repeat the success in memory of Charly.

“We know that it will be a real challenge, but we will be racing there for the third year in a row with the BMW M6 GT3 and have picked up the necessary experience. We will try our best and give it our all to be successful again.”

Team manager Herbert Schnitzer Jr. explained that it was Lamm’s initiative for the German squad to contest Macau, its first race outside of Europe, in touring car competition, a number of a years ago.

“That’s why Macau is a very emotional place for us,” he said. “Also because things came full circle last year with our win in Charly’s last big race.

“We always love being in Macau and have a special relationship with this track.

“This year we will give it our all and hopefully bring home as great a result as last year, even though the competition is very strong.

“We are really looking forward to competing there with Augusto again. He is a long-standing companion of our team, we have a fabulous relationship with each other and really appreciate each other.

“His experience is also incredibly important. He has been in Macau with us so often, so it’s great that we have him on board.”

Erikkson Set for FIA GT World Cup Debut

While having taken part in the Formula 3 race in the last three years, BMW DTM driver Eriksson is set for his GT3 racing debut on the streets of Macau.

Eriksson has been placed with the Taiwanese AAI squad, which last competed in Macau two years ago and currently campaigns entries in the China GT Championship and China Endurance Championship.

“I have fallen in love with the Guia Circuit during my visits in Formula 3 and I simply can’t wait to take it on in the BMW M6 GT3,” Eriksson said.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with all the guys at FIST-Team AAI. It’s hard to know what to expect.

“I’ve only ever driven an F3 car at Macau so a certain level of adaptation will be required, but I’m honored that BMW has decided to put its trust in me for one of the most important races of the season.”

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