Macau 2018 Report

2018.11.19

Farfus, BMW Team Schnitzer and the BMW M6 GT3 triumph in Macau.

The winners of the 2018 FIA GT World Cup are Augusto Farfus and BMW. After his success in the qualifying race on Saturday, the Brazilian went on to win the main race on Sunday in Macau as well.

Starting from pole position, Farfus, in the BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M6 GT3, led the race for all of the 18 laps and in doing so clinched another BMW win at the renowned “Guia Circuit”.

With it a motorsport era also comes to an end: long-standing Schnitzer Team Principal Charly Lamm sat on the pit wall for the last time in this role in Macau.

At the start, Farfus asserted himself at the front of the field and in the following laps went on to extend his lead. His rivals managed to close the gap in the final stages of the race, but Farfus kept a cool head in the narrow urban canyons, didn’t make any mistakes and brought the BMW M6 GT3 home in first place.

Farfus and BMW Team Schnitzer are a proven combination in Macau. They celebrated victory together on the 6.120-kilometre street circuit in 2009, in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Last year Farfus finished second in the Saturday race in the BMW M6 GT3 Cao Fei Art Car fielded by the team from Freilassing. The double success in the qualifying race and the main race saw Farfus and BMW Team Schnitzer enjoy the perfect weekend this year.

” Congratulations to Augusto, Charly Lamm and BMW Team Schnitzer on this fantastic success. There couldn’t have been a better farewell for Charly Lamm as team principal. ”
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director

Charly Lamm, Team Principal BMW Team Schnitzer:

“A dream came true. This place is magical, the races here are always a season highlight. We have raced here with BMW touring cars for many years, and we have fielded the BMW M6 GT3 in Macau since 2017. My thanks go to BMW that we were able to compete here again this year. Even though there were no overtaking manoeuvres during the race, you could feel the intense suspense throughout. Augusto couldn’t afford to make even the smallest mistake, otherwise his rivals would have pounced. He drove a perfect race. I have experienced many wonderful moments in my racing career – and the win today was definitely one of them.”

Augusto Farfus:

“I don’t really know what to say. BMW put their trust in me, we sat down together and came up with a plan, and implemented it perfectly. That doesn’t always work out. The race today wasn’t easy. The track had less grip than yesterday. I knew that I couldn’t afford to make even the smallest mistake because the guys behind me were fast. I think that the battle at the top between the various brands was unusually close for this track. I’m delighted that I brought home the win. BMW Motorsport, Charly and BMW Team Schnitzer gave it their all here. It means a great deal to me. A few years ago, Charly and I lost a championship here, now we have won the World Cup. It’s also really special to Charly – I’m very grateful to him.”