By On schedule at 7:30 PM local time, first qualifying proceedings opened for international road racers at Macau.
With live timing at a premium, it was difficult to tell who was setting the pace, during early stages of Q1.
Once information regarding lap times was made public, rapid Guia Circuit debutant David Datzer jumped to the top of the leader board, lapping almost sub 2 minutes 33 seconds.
Dafabet Racing’s Rob Hodson then took control but by only 0.003 of a second!
IRRC front runner Datzer then regained P1, lapping at 2 mins 31.861 seconds.
Not too long afterwards, top free practice speedster Erno Kostamo, set a new quickest lap time, lapping in the low 2.31’s.
At the halfway point of first qualifying, the top five order was Kostamo, Datzer, Hodson, Lukas Maurer, WH Racing’s Julian Trummer.
With ten minutes to go, Finnish ace Kostamo registered the first sub 2 mins 30 seconds lap time.
Kostamo’s lap (2.29.727), gave him a decent advantage over Datzer and multiple Manx GP winner Hodson.
Just as timed action came to a close, Kostamo consolidated provisional pole, circulating the uncompromising Guia Circuit in 2 minutes 29.192 seconds.
Datzer, Hodson remained second, third quickest whilst respective fourth to sixth fastest racers were 18 plate holder Maurer, Sheridan Morais and accomplished Mountain Course exponent Trummer.
Macau GP – first qualifying result:
1 – Erno Kostamo – 2.29.192
2 – David Datzer – 2.31.861
3 – Rob Hodson – 2.32.476
4 – Lukas Maurer – 2.33.019
5 – Sheridan Morais – 2.33.401
6 – Julian Trummer – 2.33.844
7 – Andre Pires – 2.35.007
8 – Raul Torras Martinez – 2.36.199
9 – Laurent Hoffmann – 2.37.138
10 – Joey Thompson – 2.39.283
11 – Paul Williams – 2.39.875
12 – Kamil Holan – 2.40.663
13 – Nadieh Schoots – 2.42.588
14 – Timothee Monot – 2.43.996
Photo credit: Macau Grand Prix
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
