Munich. After an absence of four years, BMW M Motorsport is returning to the most spectacular GT city race in the world in 2023 – the FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN). On 18th/19th November, BMW M Team WRT and ROWE Racing will each field a BMW M4 GT3, as they take on the ultimate challenge in the concrete canyons of the legendary ‘Guia Circuit’. A proven Macau expert starting for ROWE Racing is Augusto Farfus (BRA). The BMW M works driver won the race in 2018. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) is set to make his Macau debut in the car run by BMW M Team WRT with a design in the colours of Premium Technology Partner Shell.
Both BMW M Motorsport teams have raced in Macau on several occasions in the past and have a wealth of experience. BMW M Team WRT won the FIA GT World Cup in 2016 and also has more podiums to its name. ROWE Racing started with the BMW M6 GT3 in both 2016 and 2017. The team then made it onto the podium with two cars in 2019, finishing second and third. Farfus won both qualifying and the main race in 2018, at the wheel of a BMW M6 GT3 run by BMW M Team Schnitzer. The Brazilian finished fourth when BMW M Motorsport made its most recent appearance back in 2019, before the pandemic.
Quotes ahead of the FIA GT World Cup:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “It is fantastic to finally return to Macau this year, for the first time since the pandemic. I actually was there myself for the Formula 3 race, a long time ago, and am really looking forward to being involved in the FIA GT World Cup for the first time. This will also be the first outing for the BMW M4 GT3 at the ‘Guia Circuit’. However, over the past two years the car has shown that it has what it takes to win on any kind of track. ROWE Racing and BMW M Team WRT are among the best GT teams in the world and both have a lot of experience in Macau. The same can definitely be said of Augusto Farfus as a driver. I am sure that he will show his class there once again, as well as being able to offer Sheldon van der Linde valuable advice on his debut in Macau. Augusto’s tips, the support of BMW M Team WRT and Sheldon’s own outstanding talent will ensure that he soon finds his feet at what is a new circuit for him. I am confident of that.”
Augusto Farfus (#11 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing): “Macau is a magical place, and a very emotional one for me personally. The event is definitely one of the highlights of the season and I feel honoured to be able to represent BMW M Motorsport again. I have enjoyed a lot of success there in the past, particularly my victory in 2018. I am confident that we will have a very strong package with my friends at ROWE Racing and the BMW M4 GT3.“
Sheldon van der Linde (#32 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT): “I grew up with the race in Macau and watched it every year. I always hoped that I would one day get the chance to drive there myself. That opportunity has come along, and I am incredibly grateful to BMW M Motorsport and my partner Shell for making this possible. I will listen carefully to the advice of my friend and fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus, who has a wealth of experience there. That will hopefully speed up my learning process! I am counting down the days until the event is finally here.”