Macau Thursday Notebook

Photo: FIA

***FIA GT World Cup teams utilized Pirelli’s Cinturato WHA wet-weather tire on Thursday morning, in the opening track action amid inclement weather in Macau. Edoardo Mortara topped the time sheets in Free Practice 1, which started on a drying track before ending in a downpour, while competitors switched to the P Zero DHF slick tire for FP2, which was led by Alessio Picariello in the No. 911 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

***Sheldon van der Linde’s No. 31 BMW M4 GT3 is being repaired following contact with the wall in FP2. A WRT spokesperson told Sportscar365 that the team anticipates having the car back on track for tomorrow’s qualifying session.

***The South African, who is making his second Macau start, has been transformed into a ‘manhua’ this weekend, with his likeness as a comic superhero adorned on the side of his Shell-sponsored BMW that celebrates the Chinese year of the dragon. A dragon-inspired livery is also on teammate Dries Vanthoor’s car.

***They are two one of a number of striking liveries at this year’s seventh running of the GT World Cup.

***Luca Engstler’s Liqui Moly Team Engstler squad is being run by Grasser Racing Team this weekend, its operational partner in DTM. The team’s effort in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup this year was run by OneGroup, meanwhile.

***Alex Zoechling, who engineered Raffaele Marciello to the GT World Cup title last year, is part of the two-car SJM VSR Theodore Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 effort, featuring Lamborghini factory drivers Mortara and Matteo Cairoli. Zoechling notably engineered GRT’s Lamborghini to pole for this year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

***Zoechling told Sportscar365 that both Macau rookie teams GRT and VSR are working together as a “joint effort” on the setup and engineering fronts. This weekend marks the Lamborghini’s first outing at Macau since 2017 when FFF Racing Team fielded a car for Mirko Bortolotti.

***Porsche, which is seeking its first GT World Cup title this weekend, has been suggested as a pre-race favorite by drivers from several rival manufacturers. Five drivers: Picariello, Laurens Vanthoor, Thomas Preining, Laurin Heinrich and Leo Hongli Ye, will line up in Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.

***Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific managing director Alexandre Gibot said: “As always we face strong competition so while we’ve got five excellent drivers in the FIA GT World Cup we know it will be hard work ahead. It will be a busy weekend with the GT4 cars also competing in the Greater Bay Area GT Cup but the teams have prepared for this event and we are certain it’ll be a great race. The entire team at Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific are fully focused on supporting our eight customer entries achieve the best possible results they can at this phenomenal event.”

***To celebrate the 71st Macau Grand Prix, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, as well as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Pirelli has come up with a special dragon design that decorates the sidewall of the P Zero tires to be raced on the GT3 cars.

***One of the tires will be put on display alongside cars at the Macau Grand Prix Museum. The dragon also features on the Pole Position Award that will be presented to the winner of Saturday’s Qualifying Race.

***Pirelli circuit activity manager Matteo Braga said: “As a busy season packed with events and commitments is about to end, our involvement in the Macau Grand Prix is always of special importance to us, both from a technical and organizational point of view. The coming races will be challenging and interesting on a track that presents several hazards linked to its twisty nature with many tight corners.”

***Around 40 engineers, technicians and other Pirelli staff are on-site this weekend providing logistical and technical support not only to the GT World Cup teams but also the 27 GT4 cars taking part in the Greater Bay Area GT Cup, 50-plus Toyotas in their own local trophy race and the 27 single-seaters entered in the FIA FR World Cup.

***GT World Cup competitors are utilizing a 100 percent sustainable fuel from the Renewablaze line by ETS Racing Fuels this weekend for the first time. The fuel, made from second-generation bio components sourced from bio waste, requires only minor engine mapping adjustments. The GT3 car ran with 50 percent sustainable fuel in the 2023 edition.

***Earlier this year, ETS Racing Fuels was awarded the FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, the highest level of environmental sustainability recognition from the governing body of world motorsport.

***The FIA has created a spotter guide for this weekend’s race, featuring all 23 entrants for the GT World Cup. Click Here to download.

***Live streaming coverage of qualifying will be available on the FIA’s YouTube channel beginning at 2:05 p.m. local time (1:05 a.m. EDT). Both the Qualifying Race and Main Race will also be streamed live on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, featuring commentary from David Addison and Alan Hyde.

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