It didn't end well for the solo Aston Martin at the Macau Greater Bay Area GT3 support race

We understand that Tanoto’s first introduction to the Motorsport Services AMR Asia provided GT3 car was a simple one-day test back in Malaysia just before the car was shipped to the Chinese special administrative area in time for this weekend’s event with just the bare minimum of experience.

That proved to be so during the opening half hour Free Practice session as the #17 car first spun to later run wide again but clip the armco barrier, bringing out a red flag as a result but despite that, Tanoto was at least able to secure a top 10 time of 2:32:525 albeit over eleven seconds behind the pace setting Mercedes AMR GT3 of former AMR racer Darryl O’Young.

Unfortunately for all, that incident was to be considered as minor as during Qualifying, a further spin for the #17 car at the final Fisherman’s Corner saw the car stranded across the track and facing oncoming traffic. Despite red flags again being waved for some time prior, the #33 Audi still managed to exit the blind corner at racing speed to impact heavily into the front offside quarter of the Aston Martin.

Luckily, both drivers escaped serious injury but both cars were unable to participate within Sundays Greater Bay Area GT3 support race as a result.

Maybe the tight street circuit of Macau is not quite the place to debut in any form of race car or compete on a track far beyond that of your existing skillset – a criticism aimed at many other drivers who competed within the race programme of last weekend!!

Photo credits – Team / Macau GP