Haase on Macau “Underdog” Status in Absolute Audi Lineup

Photo: Audi

Christopher Haase has labeled himself as the “underdog” in Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute’s lineup in this weekend’s FIA GT World Cup, with the German hoping to learn from teammate and Macau legend Edoardo Mortara.

Haase is set for his third attempt at the Guia Circuit but first start since 2019, as is the case with the majority of the 20 drivers taking part in this weekend’s GT World Cup due to the COVID pandemic.

The Audi Sport factory driver said he’ll have the benefit of being under the same tent as Mortara, a four-time Macau GT Cup winner who holds a total of seven wins at the famed street circuit, but indicated it will also come with some added pressure.

“He’s ‘Mr. Macau’ so for me I think he’s the best reference,” Haase told Sportscar365.

“I will have his data. So it’s definitely something where I can learn.

“In the team, I’m definitely the underdog in this phase. Driving against ‘Mr. Macau’ in the same car is for sure not an easy task.

“But I take it for myself to learn and let’s see how we can perform.”

This weekend’s field sees a number of high-profile Macau rookies, including Jules Gounon, Sheldon van der Linde and recently crowned DTM champion Thomas Preining, which Haase downplayed of being at a disadvantage given the three-year break from the World Cup event.

“For many of us, we haven’t been here for a long time,” he said.

“My last time was in 2019. I guess even if you’re a rookie and the guys that have been here for a long time, for sure it’s an advantage to know the procedure and the track layout.

“But I think the fact that after COVID we haven’t been here makes it a bit more similar for everybody.

“I know the track. I only did a half-hour of sim work preparing for it because I basically know how it is.

“I know the track is bumpy. I remember my first time, this was quite… I don’t want to call it shocking but it was the most limiting factor, from my personal opinion, to read the bumps and let the car flow in the bumps.”

Haase Has Long-Term Audi Contract

While this weekend’s event is set to mark the final outing with full Audi factory support, Haase, a longtime works driver, indicated that he could remain in the German manufacturer’s fold next year.

A number of current Audi factory drivers are understood to be on contracts beyond 2023, which could keep them at the wheel of Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs.

“At the moment it’s difficult to say or to give a direction,” Haase said. “I have a long-term contact with Audi, which is going further than 2023.

“What we’re going to do or what’s coming up, I think there’s still time to see.”

“There’s definitely a lot of chances. Of course I’m in a comfortable position if you see it that way.

“It’s just a matter of what the future is bringing and how many customers there will be.”

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