FIA GT World Cup: Mercedes-AMG aims to extend successful run at the season highlight in Macau

The 2024 season awaits with another classic highlight on the motorsport calendar for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing in November. The prestigious FIA GT World Cup will take place in Macau from 14 to 17 November. The seventh edition of the race organised by the FIA is once again part of the legendary Macau Grand Prix, which is being held for the 71st time this year.

As the record winner with eight victories in the prestigious GT3 event, Mercedes-AMG will line up in the 2024 FIA GT World Cup with four Mercedes-AMG GT3s, which are entered by three Asian Customer Racing Teams.

Mercedes-AMG Team GMR from Hong Kong is relying on Maro Engel (GER), who is competing at the event for the tenth time. The three-time Macau winner will once again drive the #130 Mercedes-AMG GT3 sporting the anniversary livery celebrating 130 Years of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

In Jules Gounon (AND), another Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver will be in action for Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo. The outfit, which is based in Hong Kong as well, is also fielding a second entry with Daniel Juncadella (ESP). The 33-year-old won the 2011 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver Ralf Aron will make his GT debut in Macau with the #7 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Toro Racing, a team hailing from Mainland China. On his Formula 3 debut in 2017, Aron achieved a podium finish straight away.

The FIA GT World Cup 2024 race weekend comprises five sessions. Two 30-minute practice sessions on Thursday serves as preparation. On Friday, a qualifying session over half an hour will determine the starting positions for the qualifying race, which is scheduled for 12 laps on Saturday. The result of this race sets the grid for the main race, the FIA GT World Cup which will be held on Sunday over a distance of 16 laps. A total of 23 cars from six manufacturers have entered the event.

Mercedes-AMG line-up for the 2024 FIA GT World Cup at Macau*

Mercedes-AMG GT3 undefeated in Macau since 2019

First held in 2008 as the Macau GT Cup, the sports car race has always been one of the most important individual contests in international GT3 competition. The FIA GT World Cup was subsequently established in 2015 and held without interruption up to and including 2019. Between 2020 and 2022, the event was temporarily referred to as the Macau GT Cup again before the FIA GT World Cup returned in 2023.

With eight victories from the 16 previous events, of which ten were held as the Macau GT Cup and six as the FIA GT World Cup, Mercedes-AMG is the record winner of the GT3 contest on the famous Guia Circuit. The Customer Racing cars with the three-pointed star achieved the manufacturers' title, which is being awarded as part of the FIA GT World Cup, four times in the process. In addition, the last five editions of the race have all been won by the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Race Facts FIA GT World Cup at Macau

• Opening Guia Circuit: 1954
• Track length: 6.120 kilometres (since 1958)
• Number of turns: 22 (14 right, 8 left) Fastest turn: Mandarin, 262 km/h in 6th gear
• Slowest turn: Melco Hairpin, 32 km/h in 1st gear
• Track characteristics: temporary street circuit with a mix of high-speed and low-speed sections, track width min. 7 and max. 14 metres, height difference 30 metres
• Top speed: 280 km/h
• Average speed: 164 km/h
• Full throttle per lap: 61 %
• Gear changes per lap: 34
• GT3 lap record: 2m 14.542s (Raffaele Marciello, Mercedes-AMG GT3, 2023)
• Winning Mercedes-AMG drivers: Maro Engel (2014, 2015, 2022), Raffaele Marciello (2019, 2023), Edoardo Mortara (2017), Ye Hongli (2020), Darryl O'Young (2021)
• Winning Mercedes-AMG teams: Mercedes-AMG Team Driving Academy (2014, 2015, 2017), Craft Bamboo Racing (2021, 2022), Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing (2019), Toro Racing (2020), Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf (2023)
• Mercedes-AMG manufacturers' titles: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023

"Our Customer Racing cars have been winning in Macau for a decade and we want to live up to this success story once again. With this year's line-up, we have opted for the perfect mix of seasoned drivers and rookies. Maro and Dani are among the absolute experts in a GT3 car at Macau. Jules and Ralf know the track and are up to the task. The clear goal is to win for the sixth time in a row. However, our opposition is getting stronger every year, determined to dispute our success. Looking at the entry list, we expect an even closer competition this time." Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing

"With the Mercedes-AMG GT3, we have a car that works very well with the circuit in Macau. The balance gives us enormous confidence. This is extremely important on street circuits in order to push to the limit. As the practice sessions here are always very short, we analyse the data from last year before the weekend in order to sort out the set-up as best as possible. With Mercedes-AMG Team GMR, I have a great crew at my side. The pace has to be on point come qualifying, because overtaking is very difficult here and grid position is crucial. My goal is, of course, my fourth victory in Macau." Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GMR #130

"I raced in Macau for the first time last year and it was a huge challenge. The circuit is truly unique. I'm very happy to be back this season. My experience from last year should make it easier for me this time. With Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo, I have a great team around me and Dani Juncadella is a good friend who I really appreciate as a team-mate. I feel ready and I think we are ideally positioned as a team." Jules Gounon, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo #99

"I won the Macau Grand Prix in Formula 3 in 2011 and it's always a highlight for me to drive there. With a GT3 car, the track even is a bit more challenging than in a formula car. The GT cars are heavier and bigger, which makes it even trickier in these narrow streets. In addition, the grip level develops significantly over the course of the weekend, as the tarmac is only used as a race track once a year. As a result, the circuit gets faster every day. As always, this will present a challenge for me as a driver and for my Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo engineers." Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes-AMG Team Craft Bamboo #77

"I'm really looking forward to my first GT3 race in Macau. I know the circuit from Formula 3, where I took part in the Macau Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018. The track has always been one of my favourites and I have always looked for a chance to return there. Many thanks to Toro Racing and Mercedes-AMG for this opportunity. In terms of preparation, Macau is very special. As a driver, you have to continuously build up your speed, because a small mistake is penalised immediately. I will prepare myself in the best possible way with onboard recordings and in the simulator." Ralf Aron, Toro Racing #7