Weekly Racing Roundup (10.22.18)

Mac Wins GT Open Title in Barcelona

Mikkel Mac was crowned International GT Open champion after finishing second in the final race of the season at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday.

He co-drove the No. 51 Luzich Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 with Alessandro Pier Guidi and beat rivals Fran Rueda and Andres Saravia in one of Teo Martin’s BMW M6 GT3s.

Mac finished the season with 124 points, ten more than the Teo Martin drivers, while Pier Guidi was a further six points back after missing the Paul Ricard races where he was replaced by Marco Cioci.

The Dane won four races this season, at Monza, Spa-Francorchamps and a double victory at Estoril.

“It’s a fantastic day, where we finished a job well done throughout the season, and I really want to share the success with the entire Luzich team, my team mates Pier Guidi and Cioci, because it’s the title of all of us,” said Mac.

The Race 2 victory went to Riccardo Agostini and Rik Breukers for Imperiale Racing, with Lamborghini teams sweeping the weekend.

Ombra Racing won Saturday’s race with its Lamborghini Huracan GT3 driven by Damiano Fioravanti and Andrea Rizzoli.

RESULTS: Race 1; Race 2

Picariello, Xu Win China GT Championship

Alessio Picariello and Xu Jia secured the China GT Championship title at Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday.

Driving a KINGS-entered Audi R8 LMS GT3, they finished second in the final race to finish the season on 193 points, 43 clear of their closest rivals.

It came after a win in the opening race with both drivers running with used tires in order to preserve two fresh sets for the finale race.

Xu lined up on pole for Sunday’s race but lost the lead into the first corner. He made it back out front later in the lap and led until he handed the car over to Picariello.

The team was hit with a drive-through penalty for track limits infringements, dropping the pair to second.

“Congratulations to Xu Jia and Alessio Picariello for their championship win,” said Martin Kuehl, director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia.

“Xu’s number one KINGS Audi R8 LMS GT3 has taken victory in seven races this year, a fantastic achievement for the team.”