FIA GT World Cup podium finisher Augusto Farfus has described this year’s Macau event as “one of the most difficult weekends I’ve had in my career” despite claiming second.
Farfus admitted he arrived on the back foot as he was driving a BMW M4 for the Macanese Team KRC outfit that had never previously contested the race and that he had never met beforehand.
This, coupled with the changeable weather conditions, meant it was a tricky experience for the 2018 GT World Cup winner.
“It was by far the most difficult weekend I’ve had in Macau, it was one of the most difficult weekends I’ve had in my career,” Farfus told Motorsport.com.
“This track was changing every session – a lot of rain, a little rain, dry. It was a challenging weekend for everyone as the forecast was very imprecise due to the typhoon [which skirted nearby and had threatened to put Thursday’s track action on hold].
“It’s the first time a Macanese team has raced at Macau in the World Cup and I didn’t even know the team – I met literally 90% of the team physically on Tuesday.
Augusto Farfus, Team KRC BMW M4 GT3
Photo by: Macau GP
“It could’ve been one of those weekends where you show up here and you run last. Of course, I think BMW did a fantastic job – the amount they helped, the support they gave.
“I think it showed, with hard work and good support, that every single team can win. With the right team, with the right manufacturer behind you, you can come here and chase the big teams.”
Farfus had been circulating in fourth place during the main race but was suddenly promoted to the second step of the podium when Raffaele Marciello hit leader Antonio Fuoco at Lisboa, going on to finish 11 seconds behind eventual winner Maro Engel of Mercedes.
The Brazilian revealed that the wet weather had helped make such a result possible.
“In a dry race, it would’ve probably been a little bit less exciting,” Farfus added. “When I saw the weather this morning, they asked me what I think and I said, ‘we might win or we might lose’. It was a complete gamble in this race.
“I’m very pleased to go home with the second place.”