Italian racer Antonio Fuoco (No.50) sealed a commanding win in the FIA GT World Cup yesterday, overcoming pressure in the final laps to claim both his first Macau victory and Ferrari’s first-ever triumph at the Guia Circuit on the last day of the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP).
Fuoco, driving his Ferrari 296 GT3, led from the start and held off a strong challenge from Swiss-Italian racer Raffaele Marciello in a BMW M4 GT3 (Evo), with German racer Laurin Heinrich finishing third in his Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).
Speaking to the media after his victory, Fuoco said that his poor result in last year’s race here had been on his mind throughout the event. “Last year was really tough to accept, but as always we never give up,” he said. However, this time, with the team finding balance early in free practice and securing pole, he credited their consistency. “We have been on point throughout the weekend and I want to thank the guys because they pushed really hard for this race.”
Fuoco maintained control from the opening laps through a late safety-car restart, holding off Marciello’s BMW, which was, according to him, “faster on the straights”. The Ferrari showed strong pace across all sessions, completing what Fuoco described as “a really perfect weekend since the beginning”.
Speaking to the Post, Fuoco said the final laps were especially demanding. “Macau is always challenging. When you are in front and you have a small gap on the last two laps, you need to be really focused because it’s so easy to make mistakes”, he said, adding that he focused “corner by corner” to avoid overthinking the finish.
Moreover, crossing the finish line triggered an emotional release tied to last year’s loss. “First thing that comes to my mind is the race of last year… it was a redemption”, he said.
“We returned with all the same crew, the same people, and in the end, it worked.” Fuoco’s win also marked Ferrari’s first GT World Cup victory in Macau. When asked about returning next year, he said it was too early to confirm, adding only that “the last two weeks have been amazing” following his WEC (2025 FIA World Endurance Championship) successes and now a Macau triumph.
Italian racer Antonio Fuoco (No. 50) races ahead of the pack during yesterday’s Macau GT Cup – FIA World Cup. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
Fuoco celebrates on the podium after winning yesterday’s Macau GT Cup – FIA World Cup.
