Antonio Fuoco has hit out at a “dirty move” from Raffaele Marciello that cost the Italian a chance of taking Ferrari’s first FIA GT World Cup win in Macau.
Fuoco had shown impressive pace amid the tricky wet conditions of the Guia circuit’s streets, passing Dries Vanthoor for second with a move at R Bend a couple of laps after the race began in earnest, having started behind the safety car.
He was then pressuring the leading BMW M4 of Marciello, having closed a 1.6-second gap to nothing in just one lap.
With two tours to go, Fuoco executed another move at R Bend to grab the lead, but Marciello attempted to fight back immediately.
The Toro Racing driver looked to regain the advantage at Lisboa but ended up hitting the back of the AF Corse-run Ferrari 296, sending them both down the escape road and enabling Mercedes driver Maro Engel to prevail instead.
While Marciello retired to the pits, Fuoco finished down in ninth and was critical of his rival.
“He touched me because otherwise I would’ve made the corner,” Fuoco told Motorsport.com.
“He touched me on the back and he was not even able to stop his car, so imagine where he braked.
“The car was amazing, we were really fast – there is not much to say.”
Raffaele Marciello, TORO Racing powered by MCG BMW M4 GT3
Photo by: Macau GP
Marciello admitted BMW was on the back foot in the main contest’s wet conditions, after he and Vanthoor had finished comfortably clear of the rest in Saturday’s dry qualification race.
However, Marciello blamed Fuoco for their clash, which ended the BMW driver’s hopes of scoring a third successive FIA GT World Cup victory.
“It was going very well, two laps to go and, even if we were not quick, I believe I was under control because sector one I was always very strong in Mandarin,” Marciello told Motorsport.com.
“Then Antonio did a great move overtaking me in the last corner – they had more pace because I was around two seconds slower per lap.
“I then tried to overtake him in Lisboa but, unfortunately, he moved under braking. I had nowhere to go.”
Follow the live action from this year’s Macau Grand Prix on Motorsport.com and Motorsport.tv.
