Laurin Heinrich Secures Podium in Thrilling Macau FIA GT World Cup Race

German driver Laurin Heinrich achieved a podium finish at the prestigious FIA GT World Cup in Macau, piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The event, part of the 72nd Macau Grand Prix, saw intense competition on the challenging Guia Circuit. Despite early setbacks for other Porsche entries, Heinrich's strong performance secured a third-place finish.

Key Takeaways

• Laurin Heinrich secured third place in the main race of the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

• Four out of five Porsche 911 GT3 R entries were involved in early race incidents.

• Laurens Vanthoor battled back to finish ninth after significant damage.

• Porsche Motorsport continues to aim for a victory at the Macau event.

A Challenging Race Day in Macau

Race day in Macau proved to be a dramatic affair for the Porsche contingent. The narrow and high-speed street circuit led to early incidents that significantly impacted several drivers. Alessio Picariello, who had qualified third, was forced out of the race on the first lap after contact in Turn 1. Laurens Vanthoor, attempting to navigate the accident zone, was hit from behind, sustaining damage that hampered his race. Despite the damage, Vanthoor impressively fought his way to ninth place.

Turkish driver Ayhancan Güven and Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci also saw their chances of success evaporate due to first-lap incidents on the demanding six-kilometer Guia Circuit.

Driver and Team Perspectives

Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R, described the race as "typical Macau: lots of drama, huge tension, and plenty of action on track." He acknowledged the strong performances but expressed a desire for Porsche to achieve a victory at the event, noting that "second place might have been on the table for Laurin, but overtaking on the very tight Guia Circuit is extremely difficult."

Laurin Heinrich expressed pride in his podium finish, stating, "Going from P8 to the podium is definitely something to be proud of." He highlighted the difficulty of overtaking on the circuit, despite feeling quicker than the car ahead in certain sections. "Still, I’m going home with some silverware from Macau. It’s a great ending to an eventful weekend," he added.

Laurens Vanthoor lamented his misfortune, explaining, "Luck wasn’t on my side in the main race either." He detailed the rear-end collision that destroyed critical parts of his car, making a competitive comeback impossible.

Alessio Picariello conveyed his disappointment, feeling he was not given enough room at the start, which led to his early exit. "I feel very sorry for our team. They deserved a better result," he stated.

FIA GT World Cup Macau Results

The top finishers in the FIA GT World Cup were:

1. Antonio Fuoco (ITA), Ferrari #50

2. Raffaele Marciello (ITA), BMW #53

3. Laurin Heinrich (DEU), Porsche 911 GT3 R #22

Laurens Vanthoor finished ninth, while Ayhancan Güven, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello were classified as retired from the race.