- #93 Sky Tempesta Racing secure first Bronze Cup podium of season in Monza
- Hui, Froggatt and Cheever battle to make up positions and ignite championship fight
- Brand new McLaren 720S GT3 Evo performs brilliantly at 3-hour endurance
Hong Kong’s Jonathan Hui (HKG) completed the first round of the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS (GTWC Europe) Endurance Cup, achieving a brilliant and well-earned P2 podium finish in the Bronze Cup at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza last weekend. Along with teammates Chris Froggatt (GBR) and Eddie Cheever III (ITA), the #93 Sky Tempesta Racing squad made up positions and executed a flawless race to score a respectable points haul at the season opener. The trio was involved in constant battles on track, with the class being highly competitive with several teams battling for spots on the podium. Eventually, the Sky-liveried McLaren 720S GT3 Evo edged ahead of the battle thanks to consistent driving and a strong race strategy to put all 3 drivers in P2 of the Bronze Cup standings.
The team established an early status quo by qualifying P3 in class and putting itself in a beneficial position to attack the cars in front. This was a considerable feat with the Bronze Cup consisting of 17 cars from manufacturers with the likes of highly competitive McLarens, Mercedes-AMGs, Porsches and BMWs among others. Froggatt started the race with the intention of avoiding any incidents in the jam-packed 55-car grid trying to navigate the 5.79km Monza track. The first hour was riddled with incidents as Froggatt remained consistent and vigilant, holding onto P4 right before the pit stop cycle and handing the car to the Hong Kong racing driver.
Hui stayed in the mix for the podium spots throughout his 1-hour stint showcasing composed driving and delivering strong lap times each time around the iconic Italian Grand Prix circuit. He did not make any mistakes and drove the McLaren GT3 to the limit as he continued to get to grips with the new machinery that the team is using this year. Hui also displayed fantastic pace, demonstrating his ability as one of the fastest Bronze-rated drivers in the field, a true testament to his off-season preparation.
The crew has benefitted from the new collaboration with Garage 59, which has allowed the car to be very strong and the pit stop strategy to be executed promptly. A speedy pit cycle at the 2-hour mark saw Cheever jump a position and be right on the tail of the second-placed car. The race suddenly came to life in the final hour, as a 5-car Bronze Cup battle brewed for the final 2 spots on the podium. Cheever eventually made an impressive dive into Turn 1 to pass the HRT Mercedes-AMG and pulled away from the battle for P3, solidifying their P2 in class. The end of the race was not without drama, as Cheever was very nearly running out of fuel on the final lap.
Sky Tempesta Racing is elated with the results of the first round of the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup as all three of their drivers sit in P2 of the Bronze Cup drivers’ standings, merely 7 points behind the leaders. The team is looking to continue this momentum to the upcoming season and do one better to clinch the top spot on the podium as they prepare for the Circuit Paul Ricard 1000km to be held at the world-famous French circuit from June 3 to 4, 2023.
Jonathan Hui | Driver, #93 Sky Tempesta Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
“This was a hard-earned team result and I couldn’t be prouder. We maximized our opportunities today and executed a clean race against 16 other formidable competitors in the Bronze Cup. Looking forward to keeping this momentum going and working hard towards getting back onto the top step at Paul Ricard in June!”
Chris Froggatt | Driver, #93 Sky Tempesta Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
“With such a competitive field, we knew it was going to be a tough challenge, but we rose to the occasion and gave it our all. We’re thrilled with the result and can’t wait to build on this success in the future.”
Eddie Cheever III | Driver, #93 Sky Tempesta Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
“We had a great time at the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance race in Monza this weekend! It was a tough battle out there, but everyone in the team gave it their all and came away with a great result. Looking forward to taking on the next challenge with even more confidence in the new car!”
