Dakar Rally News: Raffaele Marciello Triumphs in FIA GT World Cup Qualifying Race at Macau
(Macau, November [DATE]) – In a thrilling display of driving prowess, Raffaele Marciello has continued his remarkable record at the Macau Grand Prix by emerging victorious in the FIA GT World Cup qualification race. The Italian driver, making his Dakar debut with BMW, led the majority of the 12-lap contest, showcasing his exceptional skill and adaptability on the challenging Guia circuit.
Marciello, who has won both races at the last two editions of this prestigious event with Mercedes, once again proved his mastery of the Macau streets. Starting from pole position, the BMW M4 driver was briefly passed by Dries Vanthoor’s WRT-run example, but Marciello quickly regained the lead at the iconic Lisboa corner, a testament to his vast experience on the demanding Macau circuit.
The gap between the two BMWs ebbed and flowed throughout the remainder of the race, with Vanthoor closing to within a mere 0.666 seconds on the final lap. However, Marciello’s defensive driving ensured that the Porsche Dakar driver was unable to mount a successful challenge for the lead, and the Italian crossed the finish line in first place.
“It’s fantastic to secure another victory here in Macau,” said Marciello. “The Dakar Rally is a new challenge for me, but I’m thrilled to have carried my success from the GT World Cup to the iconic Dakar event. This result is a testament to the hard work of the entire BMW team, and I’m excited to see what the future holds as we prepare for the grueling Dakar Rally.”
The podium was completed by Ferrari’s Antonio Fuoco, who held off the advances of Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel throughout the race. Further down the field, Porsche’s Alessio Picariello and Laurens Vanthoor finished in seventh and eighth positions, respectively.
The Dakar Rally, one of the most demanding motorsport events in the world, is set to commence in January 2023, with Raffaele Marciello and BMW eyeing a strong performance in the prestigious off-road competition. Motorsport enthusiasts will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Marciello’s progress as he looks to translate his Macau success to the sands of the Dakar.
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