Macau. The winners of the 2018 FIA GT World Cup are Augusto
Farfus (BRA) and BMW. After his success in the qualifying race on
Saturday, the Brazilian went on to win the main race on Sunday in
Macau (CHN) 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 (GER) 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 (GER). The double success
in the qualifying race and the main race saw Farfus and BMW Team
Schnitzer enjoy the perfect weekend this year.
Quotes from the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director:
“Congratulations to Augusto, Charly Lamm and BMW Team
Schnitzer on this fantastic success. That was a more than impressive
performance on one of the most difficult street circuits in the world.
The team provided Augusto with a perfect car, and Augusto showcased
all of his skill. It is not every day that someone is so dominant on
both days in Macau. There couldn’t have been a better farewell for
Charly Lamm as team principal.”
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 (BMW M6 GT3, car number 42): “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.”