James Wharton made his debut at the Guia Circuit for the 71st Macau Grand Prix. The weekend was a rollercoaster of highs and lows for the Australian, ending the main race with a DNF.
The weekend began under difficult conditions. Thursday’s Qualifying 1 was significantly affected by adverse weather, with Wharton securing a P15 starting position in heavy rain. Friday’s Qualifying 2 presented further challenges, as a chaotic session with eight red flags ended prematurely for Wharton after he made contact with the barriers. Despite setting a time that would have placed him in P11, a penalty relegated him to P14 on the grid.
In the Qualifying Race on Saturday, Wharton delivered a decent performance. Starting from P14, James had a blistering start and gained four positions within the first three corners, breaking into the top 10. Despite multiple neutralizations disrupting the race, the Australian driver consistently made the best of each restart, ultimately finishing in P7, a remarkable recovery on a notoriously difficult track for overtaking.
© 2024 Dutch Photo Agency.
However, Sunday’s Grand Prix didn’t meet the promising expectations that followed Saturday’s race. A short-lived outing resulted in Wharton retiring early after making contact with the barriers at the Lisboa corner, ending his weekend with a DNF.
Reflecting on the event, Wharton acknowledged the value of his Macau experience: «The weekend didn’t go as we hoped, but that’s part of the game in motorsport. Racing on a circuit as iconic as Macau is an incredible experience, and every lap teaches you something new, even through challenges and mistakes. I’ve learned a lot and gained valuable experience. I want to thank my new team, ART Grand Prix, for their hard work and support throughout the weekend. Now it’s time to recharge and focus on preparing for the next season in Formula 3».
The Macau GP concludes Wharton’s 2024 season and marks the end of his journey with the Regional single-seater cars. With the support of ART Grand Prix, he now sets his sights on the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship, ready to take the next significant step in his racing career.