The 71st Macau Grand Prix will forever remain a moment etched in memory for KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport, as the team clinched a pair of 3rd-place finishes at the inaugural FIA Formula Regional World Cup.
With partners KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) and IXO Models, the Motorsport Ireland-licensed team entered two drivers—Noel León and Mari Boya—in the competitive 27-car grid. León, who competed in last year’s FIA F3 World Cup, was fast right from the get-go and was 4th in Free Practice 1, while Boya was in 8th. This momentum carried into Qualifying 1 where they posted times for P2 and P4, respectively, before a red flag nullified their laps. Unfortunately, rain had fallen onto the 6.120 km circuit by the time the session resumed with Boya having to settle for P11 and León in P13.
Determined to bounce back, both drivers returned to the track on Friday with a mission. León topped the time sheets in Free Practice 2, while Boya was in a close 5th. Their strong performances translated into P3 and P5 in Qualifying 2, positioning KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport for promising results in the upcoming races.
León got off to a clean start during the Qualifying Race on Saturday and maintained position as the field funneled into to the tight right-hand turn at Lisboa. Boya, while avoiding the first-lap chaos, was later excluded from the race after receiving outside assistance when he stalled on the grid. It then proved to be near-impossible to overtake on the Guia Circuit with León still in P3. The race was later cut short with four laps remaining due to rain, awarding León a well-deserved step on the podium with a 3rd-place finish.
Sunday’s main race began behind the Safety Car, as sections of the track were still damp. But with the FR World Cup on the line, it sparked a massive multi-car pileup at Lisboa bringing out the red flag even before a lap was completed. Both drivers were lucky to have escaped unscathed.
The race resumed but saw more chaos, with another incident bringing out the Safety Car after only a few corners. More crashes plagued every restart, ultimately turning the event into a dramatic two-lap sprint to the finish. León delivered another stellar performance, securing his second 3rd-place finish of the weekend. Boya, meanwhile, fought his way through the field to conclude an eventful 71st Macau GP in 7th place.
KCMG is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across Europe and the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies, manufacturers and racing organizations, and has been involved in a wide range of Formula, GT and Le Mans prototype endurance racing series across the globe.
In 2021, the group launched KCMG Driver Development Project (KCMG-DDP), which aims to develop young drivers who have the potential to race for the team in the future. KCMG manages, trains and invests in their drivers as they move up the motorsport ladder and will have a range of opportunities while progressing through the KCMG-DDP, given the multiple championships the team competes in and manufacturers it is partnered with.
IXO Models is specializes in the creation of high-quality die-cast and resin scale models, featuring an extensive range of vehicles including classic cars, rally cars, trucks, and motorbikes. IXO combines cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and meticulous attention to detail, producing licensed replicas that are highly valued by collectors worldwide.
Enya is an Irish artist of world renown. Winner of 4 Grammy awards, nominated for both Oscars and Golden Globe awards and has won seven World Music Awards.
John O’Hara, Pinnacle Motorsport Team Director: “Noel and Mari were both quick all weekend and we knew we had a shot. In the end, they were able to deliver strong results for KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport with Noel securing 3rd in the Qualifying Race on Saturday and World Cup on Sunday, while Mari was 7th. The Macau GP is one of the toughest and most prestigious races in the world and to finish here on the podium is truly special.”
Noel León: “Thank you so much to all the guys from KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport for the hard work. It was a very tough weekend. I got hit from behind at the start of the Qualifying Race and almost ended in the wall. Then, everyone behind me wanted to send it to be on the podium during the World Cup. But in the end, I’m happy with my Top 3 finish on Saturday and Sunday.”
Mari Boya: “Since the beginning we showed good pace in wet conditions and especially in the dry where we were super quick. Unfortunately in the Qualifying Race we had an issue and couldn’t start the race, but on Sunday we made a really good comeback. Clearly we had the potential to fight for everything but it’s like this in Macau. I enjoyed the experience a lot and I’m really thankful to all the team. I think we did a really good job and for sure I will do it again.”
Accompanying KCMG IXO by Pinnacle Motorsport in the FIA Formula Regional World Cup are KCMG, ENYA, IXO Model Cars, LOH Motorsport, and Motorsport Ireland.
