Hong Kong driver Jonathan Hui plays catch-up in GT World Challenge Europe title defence opener
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History-making Hong Kong driver Jonathan Hui returned to defend his Endurance Cup championship crown in a P6 finish at the 3 Hours of Imola in Italy on Sunday.
Sporting the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time – in what is his fourth consecutive season in the GT World Challenge Europe – Hui had called it the “worst qualifying session for me in years” on social media.
“This weekend was always going to be about learning and that’s what we did,” said Hui, who despite missing preseason testing due to Covid-19 restrictions set the fastest time of all bronze-rated drivers.
The team cited low track temperatures, a jam-packed roster, and an ill-time safety car for only managing to qualify in a disappointing P10 in the newly introduced Gold Cup.
“I was surprised how quickly I adapted,” Hui said, describing the first few laps as “like driving on ice”.