Leading Macau GP contenders support decision to end qualifying race behind safety car

Heavy rain had made the Lisboa area of the Guia circuit treacherous, despite other parts remaining dry, and the final three laps were therefore completed under caution

Leading Macau Grand Prix contenders have backed the decision to finish the Formula Regional World Cup qualifying race behind the safety car amid heavy rain on part of the circuit.

The 10-lap contest had been red-flagged when the rain arrived and several drivers skated off at Lisboa, the stoppage allowing teams to fit wet weather tyres.

While much of the 3.8-mile Guia track appeared bone dry at this point, rain had intensified at the crucial section around Lisboa.

The race resumed behind the safety car after a 10-minute delay but remained under caution for the final three laps as the conditions were deemed unsafe for racing.

Noel Leon, who finished third for the KCMG by Pinnacle Motorsport squad, said the key factor was the spray being produced in that section of the track and supported the decision to finish behind the safety car.

"It was a lot of spray at 60kph or 80kph [behind the safety car], so for sure at 200kph it would’ve been a lot of spray," he told Autosport.

"We don't want to race under safety car conditions but, at the end of the day, safety is most important so it was a great decision from the race director."

Red Bull Junior Oliver Goethe, who challenged Ugo Ugochukwu at the start of the race before having to settle for second, agreed it was the correct decision despite wanting to fight back against his McLaren-supported rival.

"As much as I wanted to win the race, for me, for safety reasons, it was definitely the right call to end the race under safety car," MP Motorsport driver Goethe told Autosport.

"It was completely wet, I already had so much spray and I was [only] P2 and we were going very slowly.

"I can imagine, if we were pushing at high speed, the guys behind having so much spray, it’s not the safest.

"I believe it was definitely the right call, especially because there was only one lap left.

"No one had driven in the wet, the rest of the race was in the dry, so I think it would’ve been complete chaos if they restarted it. I’m glad they didn’t."