2013 Macau GT Cup

[Monkey Head]

Year 2013 will be the 60th Macau GP and Macau GT cup continue shows strong which benefit from GT3 is one of most popular formula in motorsport nowadays.It will be final championship round of GT Asia series but sounds like there should be something more interesting than it.

Two times Race winner Mortara will leading Audi Team R8 LMS Ultra(something like that) which is one of the biggest team of the field.He has strong contention on his hat trick win and 5 constructive win in Macau . GT Asia regulars Jeffery Lee,Philip Ma and Francis Hideki Onda complete the line up of the team.Jeffery Lee's partner Marchy Lee would driving another car which usally shared with Jeffery Lee.

For the huge success of Audi there are couple of challenger.Erebus Motorsports has announced they are going to compete final two rounds(zhuhai and Macau)with 2 cars assault.While one driver only for each car in Macau,Mika Hakkinen probably the choice as HK Teenager Matt solomon entering invitational round of FMCS Macau Race in 60th GP Celebration Extra week which is breaching Macau GP's driver entries rule.Lance Arnold will be the second car of Erebus team.

Challenger Number two should be Craft AMR Team,another active team in GT Asia.number of Aston Martin Vantage expanded to two and AMRT principal John Gaw are going to driving one of it alongside this year regular driver Stefan Mucke.Team leader Frank Yu will back to his old Ford GT which Samson Chan willdrive another Ford.

Last year biggest challenger AF Corse are going to continue their far east campaign but they are not going to hire driver from europe: Thai Pasin Lathouras will be the sole entries of the italian team.He won twice in his GT Asia debut in Sepang he should be the best result drivers among GT Asia entries ( Except Stefan) in Macau.

Former LeMans 24h winner Romain Dumas may try his GT cup Campaign in porsche GT3R for second time after a dull performance last year under Spark model sponsorship and running by Absolute racing alongside Alexandre Imperatori with another Porsche under Starcahse Banner (which also running Audi LMS cup team).LKM Racing joining the race in Porsche GT3R also with Porsche Carrera Cup Asia points leader Earl Bamber.

Draft of entry list:

Audi Team R8 LMS Ultra:
Edorado Mortara - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Jeffery Lee - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Philip Ma - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Francis Hideki Onda - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
Marchy Lee - Audi R8 LMS Ultra (?)

Erebus Motorsports:
Mika Hakkinen(?)/Matt Solomon(?) - Mercedes Benz AMG SLS GT3
Lance Arnold - Mercedes Benz AMG SLS GT3

Craft (AMR) Racing:
Stefan Mucke - Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
John Gaw - Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
Frank Yu - Ford GT
Samson Chan - Ford GT

AF Corse:
Pasin Lathouras - Ferrari 458 GT3

Spark Motorsport:
Romain Dumas - Porsche 911 GT3R

Team Starchase:
Alexandre Imperatori - Porsche 911 GT3R

LKM Racing
Earl Bamber - Porsche 911GT3R
Siu Yuk Lung - Porsche 911 GT3R/

Asia Racing Team
Li Zhi Cong - Porsche GT3R

United Autosport
Danny Watts - Mclaren MP4-12C GT3(?)/Audi R8 LMS Ultra

Team Clearwater Racing
Mok Weng Sun - Mclaren MP4-12C GT3
Tunku Hamann or Charlz Ro - Lamborghini LP560 GT3

AAI Racing Team(?)
Akira Iida - Mclaren MP4-12C GT3 (?)

Dilango Racing
Dilanta Malagamuwa - Lamborghini LP560 GT3

Modena Motorsport
Wayne Shen - Porsche 911 GT3 cup
John Shen - Porsche 911 GT3 cup
Franis Tija - Porsche 911 GT3 cup

Five Auto Racing Team
Keith Vong - Porsche 911 GT3 cup

IMS connection
Shim Ching - Audi R8 LMS

Tiger Racing
Jacky Yeung -Audi R8 LMS(?)/Lamborghini LP520(?)

Arrows Racing
Billy Fung - Lamborghini LP560 GT3

[NaBUru38]

Mortara, Dumas, Häkkinen, Mücke and Arnold! That's interesting!

[Beetle]

It looks like a quality field. This year will mark my first time of actually watching it. It looks very intriguing...

[Joe Taylor]

No Keita Sawa this year?

[JorritVD]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Mortara, Dumas, Häkkinen, Mücke and Arnold! That's interesting!

Dumas wasn't really strong last year. Actually quite dissapointing.

Also some other great driver:
- Imperatori (2nd in last years Macau GT race)
- Bamber (Current leader in Carrera Cup Asia)
- Watts (3rd last year + more podiums in previous editions)

Also for some pro it might be their debut, this could result in lack of speed, look at Dumas last year.

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

No Keita Sawa this year?

oops that's my mistake not to adding him to there.
He should be doing his annual entrance this year and LKM Racing has sufficent car to do so ( 3 porsches from MY11-13 + LP560),but looks like he can't get a MY13 vehicle which given to Bamber

[RuiSobreiros]

Well, i'm not sure if the AUDI R8 will be a real threat this year considering the actual FIA BOP (and this is the one to be used at 2013 Macau GT Cup according to the sporting regulations).

It just takes a look at FIA GT Series results to see that the excess of aero and the lack of power penalizes very much the 2013 AUDI R8 configuration... and Macau has some long straights and not that much of aero needs.

Pretty sure that AUDI Sport is already on field trying to use the 2012 configuration as FIA GT Series teams have been using on the last two race.

According to Sporting Regulations - Art.19.2:
"The Organizer reserves the right to adjust the minimum weight, the diameter of the air restrictors in order to maintain the balance of performance between the cars"

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by RuiSobreiros

Well, i'm not sure if the AUDI R8 will be a real threat this year considering the actual FIA BOP (and this is the one to be used at 2013 Macau GT Cup according to the sporting regulations).

It just takes a look at FIA GT Series results to see that the excess of aero and the lack of power penalizes very much the 2013 AUDI R8 configuration... and Macau has some long straights and not that much of aero needs.

Pretty sure that AUDI Sport is already on field trying to use the 2012 configuration as FIA GT Series teams have been using on the last two race.

According to Sporting Regulations - Art.19.2:
"The Organizer reserves the right to adjust the minimum weight, the diameter of the air restrictors in order to maintain the balance of performance between the cars"

you are right,that'll be true challenge for Mr.Macau which two previous victory not really that treasure

[RuiSobreiros]

Seems that AUDI Sport didn't slept after all...

For this weekend FIA GT race at Navarra the air restrictor was increased from 44 to 47mm.. that should help already :-)

[Juntos]

Isn't United ready to fly a second Mclaren?

[Monkey Head]

Hakkinen,Dumas not there,but we have Bernd SCHNEIDER and Thomas Jager now...would be big rival to Motara as they have better BoP

http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/gp...nt=101&race=15

[kober]

Sebastien Loeb to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race at the Macau Grand Prix

[JorritVD]

Here a better overview, instead to have to go to the website.

[Joe Taylor]

Looks like a particularly strong entry this year, I reckon there's a good 8 cars that could fight for 2nd behind Mortara.

[IndyMeister]

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

Looks like a particularly strong entry this year, I reckon there's a good 8 cars that could fight for 2nd behind Mortara.

Depends on the BoP (and the energy he can gain form the frustration of this year's DTM season )...

Aston Martin's John Gaw will be interresting to watch: I don't expect a win but he was solid in Silverstone when the BES went there.

[JorritVD]

Originally Posted by IndyMeister

Depends on the BoP (and the energy he can gain form the frustration of this year's DTM season )...

Aston Martin's John Gaw will be interresting to watch: I don't expect a win but he was solid in Silverstone when the BES went there.

I think he will be on the same speed as the likes of Frank Yu, Mok Weng Sun maybe. Interestingly will be with which chassis Jogn Gaw will race with. As Craft Racing AMR has only one chassis (Otherwise they would have two at Zhuhai this weekend). Maybe Gaw's regular PGF-Kinfaun car?

Btw, if I were John Gaw, I would have put an asian driver, or a well known european driver in asia, in the car to promote the V12 Vantage GT3 to new customers. For example Richard Lyons, Darren Turner, etc.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

Looks like a particularly strong entry this year, I reckon there's a good 8 cars that could fight for 2nd behind Mortara.

SChneider, Jäger and Mücke won't settle for second, I think.

[kurski]

hopefully Macau GT Cup is live stream...

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by kurski

hopefully Macau GT Cup is live stream...

Perhaps AMG customers sport will do that as they have done today in Zhuhai.


btw does LMS Racing in Finland owns Audi R8?they are also on entry list with 2012 FFord Champion Antti Buri

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

btw does LMS Racing in Finland owns Audi R8?they are also on entry list with 2012 FFord Champion Antti Buri

Yes its own, but the team's name is now MTM.

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by kurski

Yes its own, but the team's name is now MTM.

=the car using in Superstar GT Series?

well we can see Buri will be another mystery challenger for top spot too,at least they aren't removed from entry list!

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

=the car using in Superstar GT Series?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Monkey Head

well we can see Buri will be another mystery challenger for top spot too,at least they aren't removed from entry list!

Mayde, but Buri drive next Germany Porsche Carrera Cup race at Hockenheim, his debut Germany Porsche race was Zandvoort few weeks ago.

[Monkey Head]

Originally Posted by kurski

Yes.Mayde, but Buri drive next Germany Porsche Carrera Cup race at Hockenheim, his debut Germany Porsche race was Zandvoort few weeks ago.

ic,in case there are some old case which driver on entry list but finally removed from there and buri looks like zero in SNS network like FB or Twitter so I can't confirm through another way.

[Monkey Head]

Jorg Muller is the latest addition of 2013 Macau GT campaign,he is going to represent AAI Racing team from Taiwan in BMW Z4 GT3

http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/gp...nt=101&race=15

[tbz]

Probably AAIs BMW Z4 for Macau.