Title contenders top testing in Macau

O’Young in third

Rob Huff and Yvan Muller have begun their world title showdown in Macau by setting the two fastest laps in today’s test session.

The track was slippery after a morning shower. The session kicked off thirty minutes in late because the marshals had to fix the barriers at the “R” bend, following a crash during some support race practice.

Gary Kwok was the first to make a mistake, spinning at Moorish Hill. He rejoined, but soon afterwards Charles Ng hit the barriers at the Melco Hairpin. The front left wheel loose, his BMW limped to a stop a few hundredths metres further, which forced the session to be red-flagged with twenty minutes to go.

Shortly before the disruption, Kristian Poulsen had set the fastest lap of 2:52.813, but by the time the session resumed the track had dried up and the duo Alain Menu-Yvan Muller significantly moved the mark forward.

This progression saw Muller being clocked at 2:43.791, then Menu improving to 2:42.575. On the following lap Muller set another provisional fastest time of 2:38.931 and Menu responded with 2:38.830.

With three minutes left Tiago Monteiro jumped on top with a lap of 2:37.491 that was soon outpaced by Muller’s 2:36.025. Just before the chequered flag dropped, the Frenchman improved again to 2:35.549, but Rob Huff settled the matter for good stopping the watches at 2:34.681.

Behind the two title contenders Darryl O’Young set an impressive third fastest lap – and best of the Yokohama Trophy – of 2:36.466.

A couple of other drivers had moments. Philip Ma spun at Moorish Hill and rejoined, while Michel Nykjær dived the nose of his car into the wall on top of the Faraway straight.