Six local racers will join the grid of the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) season finale on the streets of Macau next month, following a rigorous selection process approved by the FIA.
The event will see a record 31 cars take to the grid for the renowned touring car street race, with all six of the Macanese entrants having met strict criteria by the national ASN.
The entry is spearheaded by André Couto, who has previously contested the famous event numerous times, including eight times as part of the WTCR predecessor the WTCC.
Couto, who won the Macau Grand Prix in 2000, has been nominated by the TCR China promoter, and has recently been competing in the TCR China championship with MacPro Racing in a Honda, with the outfit having wrapped up the title earlier this year.
Filipe Clemente de Souza has also been a regular on the WTCC races in Macau and will race an Audi RS3 LMS alongside Lam Kam Sam for Champ Motorsport.
Billy Lo Kai Fung will race an Audi RS3 LMS for TSRT Zuver Team, whilst Rui Valente will enter with PCT-IXO Models Racing Team in a Volkswagen Golf GTi.
Completing the wildcard entry is Kevin Tse Wing Kin in a Teamwork Motorsport Audi RS3 LMS.
The participation of all six drivers has been approved by the Macanese ASN and the FIA following a ‘rigorous selection process’.
“Although we always managed to welcome one or two drivers from Macau during the TC1 era, the cost and scarcity of the former WTCC cars did not make it easy for local drivers to join the Macau grid,” said WTCR Promoter François Ribeiro.
“Given the amount of TCR cars running in Asia, the scenario is now very different from the TC1 regulations.
“We have received around 20 enquiries from local drivers but we obviously could not accommodate them all. As well as counting as the Guia Race, WTCR Race of Macau is the deciding event of the 2018 season with prestigious FIA titles up for grabs.
“We have therefore worked closely with the FIA, the Macau ASN and the TCR China promoter to ensure the drivers handed wildcard status are ready for the high-level competition they will face, and will be capable of qualifying within the lowered 105 per cent limit.
“With 31 cars on the grid, the Macau finale promises to be a great spectacle with all the action live on television around the world.”