Laurens Vanthoor won the 12-lap Qualification Race race for tomorrow’s FIA GT World Cup at Macau after teammate and pole sitter Edoardo Mortara spun on the first corner, allowing the Belgian ace through into the lead.
From there Vanthoor controlled proceedings, coming home ahead of the Manthey Porsche works team 911s of Earl Bamber and Kevin Estre in a race dogged by crashes and lengthy safety car periods.
The works Mercedes-Benz AMGs of defending FIA World Cup winner Maro Engel and Renger van der Zande finished fourth and fifth, five seconds behind the podium finishers.
In the race, just seven laps were run at racing speed as first Mortara, then non-factory entrants Nico Muller, Philip Ma and John Shen crashed out.
Mortara, who rejoined the race after two pit stops, one for rear bodywork and aerodynamic wing repairs and another for tyres, finished thirteenth after another incident in which he made strong contact with Hong Kong hero Darryl O’Young on the final lap.
Mortara and Vanthoor’s Audis had locked out the front row of the grid and needed to reach Lisboa corner first if they were to hold out the stronger works entries of Porsche and Mercedes.
Mortara’s Audi spun violently on the high speed Mandarin corner just off the start and was fortunate not to be hit by any of the field. His car suffered rear panel and wing damage but he was able to limp to the pits. Both incidents involving Mortara are under investigation by race officials.
The first of the non-manufacturer entrants Nico Muller then crashed twice in quick succession, the second time extremely heavily, triggering the first of the safety car periods.
Mortara, advantaged by the safety car, was then able to stage a stirring drive back through the field from one lap down making contact with O’Young on the final lap to claim a seventh row starting position for tomorrow’s FIA GT World Cup.
Finishing places in today’s race determine grid positions for tomorrow’s 18 lap FIA GT World Cup.
