BMW query severity of Macau GT World Cup winner Engel’s penalty for Vanthoor conflict

BMW driver Dries Vanthoor has questioned the severity of the five-second penalty given to eventual FIA GT World Cup winner Maro Engel after the pair collided in Macau.

Vanthoor had already slipped to 3rd behind Antonio Fuoco’s Ferrari within the early phases of the race and was making an attempt to maintain Engel’s Mercedes at bay when the latter clipped the BMW M4 by way of the Solitude Esses.

The Belgian was despatched into the limitations and retirement with suspension injury, whereas Engel profited from a collision between Raffaele Marciello and Antonio Fuoco to triumph by 11s.

The 5s penalty imposed on Engel in the direction of the top of the race subsequently had no influence on the end result, main BMW Motorsport boss Andreas Roos to say the incident “was not appropriately penalised”.

A “dissatisfied” Vanthoor added: “In case you push one other automotive off, you shouldn’t be capable of win the race. 

“For me, it’s a no-go what occurred at present – however it’s what it’s, it occurred.”

Engel apologised for the incident within the post-race press convention and stated he had tried the cross in a good a part of the observe as a result of the BMW’s superior straight-line efficiency restricted his choices elsewhere.

“It’s unlucky – undoubtedly not on goal,” Engel instructed Motorsport.com of the conflict. 

“I went for a transfer down the within and he reacted and pulled over and we simply barely made contact. 

“It was a small contact nevertheless it unsettled him sufficient to maintain sliding and tag the wall. No unhealthy intentions there, I used to be simply attempting to make a transfer.”

Engel revealed he had encountered radio issues on his Group GMR Mercedes all through the weekend and could not ensure that the penalty he had been given throughout the race was 5 seconds.

“I used to be simply flat out the final two laps attempting to construct as a lot hole as potential,” he added. “So it was a giant aid crossing the road and understanding we’d completed it.”

It was Engel’s fourth GT victory across the streets of Macau and he described it as a “loopy weekend”.

“Once I noticed it was raining – really I heard it final night time, it woke me up, that’s how onerous it was raining! – I felt this was our alternative,” Engel stated. 

“We noticed within the dry we didn’t actually have the prospect to compete with the BMW and the Ferrari so I’m simply over the moon and really, very proud to take this win.”