Roadsports and GT Challenge conclude qualification races for the Grand Prix

The second and final round of the qualification races that give access to racers in the Roadsport Challenge and GT Challenge (GT4) to race at the Macau Grand Prix this November concluded last weekend in Zhuhai.

Once again divided into two groups, racers from the Roadsport Challenge (unified-specification cars) took on the Zhuhai track for the final two races, aiming to earn as many points as possible to ensure participation in the main event in November.

Favorite in Group A, Hong Kong’s Damon Chan did not disappoint, quickly getting into the front row with the best time in qualifying.

Winner in Race 2 of the first round, Chan repeated the success in Race 1 on Saturday, followed by Hong Kong’s Kwok Ho Cheung and China’s Ho Zuoliang.

In the second race on Sunday, it was time for Kwok to shine, taking the win. This time, another Hong Kong driver, Alan Chung, took second, and Chan was third.

In Group B, the weekend was marked by a major pile-up that occurred at the end of the first lap of Race 1. The incident involved a large number of racers and sent one of them down the start-finish straight, upside down and into the pit wall.

Fortunately, as far as The Times could ascertain, despite the severe damage to several cars, no drivers were hurt.

As a result, several drivers were unable to take their places on the grid for both the Race 1 restart and Race 2 on Sunday.

In Race 1, victory eventually smiled on Taiwanese driver Yu Yi Hao, who was followed by Hong Kong’s Li Kwok Chuen and Jowie Ramirez Irizarry.

In Race 2, it was time for Macau’s Carson Tang to taste victory and secure his participation in the Macau GP. Tang, who had already finished in fourth position in Race 1, easily advanced to the GP with this win. Finishing on the podium in Race 2: China’s Xiao Meng and Su Jiangnan.

Solomon arrives

and wins in GT4

The second round of the GT Challenge (GT4) was significantly different from the first, when the races also scored points for the SRO GT Cup. This time, reduced to just the qualification races for the GP, the field was further shortened, with just 11 drivers on the entry list.

Among them was the experienced Hong Kong driver Matthew Solomon (Mercedes-AMG), who took on the Zhuhai track and decided to score enough points to secure a seat in the Macau GP.

In Race 1, Macau’s Billy Lo (Audi R8 LMS Evo), starting from pole position, did not give any opportunities to the rest of the field, finishing ahead of Solomon.

In Race 2, the story was significantly different, with Solomon going to the front and easily leading to the checkered flag, crossing the finish line with a very comfortable gap over Lo. Chan Ka Ping, in another Audi R8 LMS Evo, rounded out the podium.

A last note on the performance and evolution of Macau youngster Maximiano Manhão (McLaren 570S): more comfortable with the car than in the rain-affected first round, Manhão was able to further explore the car and set faster lap times. Seventh on the grid, Manhão finished Race 1 in fourth and Race 2 in fifth, showing clear progress and strong potential.

More from the GT4 machinery and drivers when they take on the Greater Bay Area GT Cup in November.