Local driver Filipe de Souza made history yesterday as the first local driver to win the Wynn Macau Guia Race.
Souza was also the champion of the nine-lap TCR Asia Challenge – Race 1, which was held on Saturday.
Souza, 46, told reporters on the sidelines after the post-race press conference at the Macau Grand Prix Building that he was “lucky” to win the race and was very grateful, adding that during the race, he was “a little worried” as a safety car had been dispatched many times to “disrupt my rhythm”, with the car behind getting closer to him.
According to Souza, the track was more “slippery” than expected and he “almost” lost control when entering the Mandarin Oriental Bend on the last lap, but fortunately, “I controlled it until entering the bend.”
During the last lap of the nine-lap TCR Asia Challenge-Race 2, Yan Cheuk Wai from Hong Kong rear-ended fellow Hongkonger Lo Sze Ho which pushed the latter into the barrier at the Mandarin Oriental Bend, so the race was immediately stopped and red flagged.
Four racers, including Lo, who remained conscious, were admitted to hospital after the car crash.
Souza said he felt sorry that Lo, 31, was caught up in the accident, adding, “I hope he will be fine because friendship is always first in racing.”
Souza added he expected to win the race, pointing out that when the “serious accident” happened in the last lap, he knew that a red flag would be raised to end the race.
Souza said: “Overall, I am very satisfied with today’s results that have reached my competition goal.”
The second-place and third-place winners were Lo and Yan, 39, from Hong Kong respectively despite not finishing the race.
Local racer Filipe de Souza talks to reporters during yesterday’s post-race press conference at the Macau Grand Prix Building. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
