With the first two free practice sessions, held today on the Guia Circuit in Macau, the 2025 FIA GT World Cup race weekend officially got underway. Three Ferrari 296 GT3 cars took to the demanding 6.2 km circuit, two fielded by Harmony Racing alongside the AF Corse entry. The Chinese team entrusted the number 83 car to 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, official driver Yifei Ye, joined by fellow countryman Yi Deng, who is on track representing Winhere Racing with the number 37. The Italian squad, meanwhile, handed over the number 50 296 GT3 to Antonio Fuoco, who was already a standout performer in last year’s edition.

Early verdicts. The dry, though not yet very rubbered-in and, indeed, decidedly dirty track even on the normal racing line, characterised the first free practice session. It was Yifei Ye who stood out in the session, second just 755 thousandths behind Vanthoor’s Porsche (2’16”451), before being involved in a violent collision with the barriers. Antonio Fuoco set the sixth fastest time, less than four tenths behind the other Ferrari official driver, while Deng ended the session eleventh – a positive result.

In the second free practice session, Ye again led the group of Ferrari drivers, with the sixth best lap time, just over a second behind Picariello, who topped the session with a time of 2’15”966. Antonio Fuoco was eighth with a 2’17”141, three tenths ahead of Deng in the third 296 GT3.

Schedule. Tomorrow’s programme features the qualifying session which, for the first time, will be followed by the Superpole, involving the ten fastest drivers from qualifying who will each have a new set of tyres and just two laps in the fight against the clock.

Qualifying 1 will take place from 3.40 p.m. to 4.10 p.m., while Qualifying 2 will see the cars on track from 4.30 p.m. to 4.55 p.m. The starting grid will determine the order for the qualifying race, scheduled for Saturday from 2.35 p.m. to 3.40 p.m., while the race awarding the title will take place on Sunday, 16 November, from 12.35 p.m. to 1.50 p.m.