SJM GUIA

Sunday, November 16
Heat Two
Weather: Dry and overcast

HUISMAN TAKES HISTORIC SJM GUIA RACE

Dutchman Duncan Huisman secured an historic third consecutive victory in the SJM Guia race at the 50th Macau Grand Prix on Sunday after a relatively straightforward lights-to-flag win in the restarted second heat.

The first attempt at starting the race had to be aborted after Paul Poon spun his car at Police and blocked the track. Andy Priaulx, who had briefly led away at the start of that original race, then went off at Lisboa after his engine failed and he did not make the restart.

Huisman had no problem holding his lead at the start from fellow BMW driver Franz Engstler, who maintained his second position to the chequered flag with little trouble from eventual third place finisher Marc Hennerici.

Huisman, who is the first man to win three Guia races as well as three on the trot, was clearly delighted with his victory. He said: "It means a lot to me. I am now in the history books and this is the reason why I came here to race."

Engstler was equally happy with his second placed finish after avoiding the accident-hit first heat. He said: "I want to thank the team for this result. They did a good job. In the second race I tried to push hard to catch Huisman in the first few laps but he was too fast and I realised I would not be able to race him."

Hennerici had to fight hard for his third-placed finish. The BMW driver stayed out of trouble through the double-header, having originally qualified in ninth place, to grab a brilliant third place finish. He fought hard with Peter Scharmach and grabbed third place as he dived down the inside at Lisboa on lap seven.

"A week ago my target was only to be in the top ten but now I am on the podium so I am very happy," he said. "I had a hard fight with Peter but I waited for him to make a mistake and then I finally had a chance to pass him."

Scharmach lost a further position to Briton James Kaye on lap nine and, after a brief collision between the pair, eventually crashed at San Francisco Bend. Kaye was delighted with his result. He said: "We had a very busy weekend and only arrived Wednesday night with no engine and gearbox - so the mechanics have not had much sleep. But this is a fantastic result for my team and I am so happy to be the first Briton home."

Issued on behalf of the Macau Grand Prix Committee by PR Plus Limited