Max Hart: “Being able to go straight into Q2 is a good result”

Max Hart was upbeat after the FIA TCR World Tour qualifying in Macau, going into Q2 and finishing 12th after inking a last-minute deal to drive a Cupra of SP Compètition this weekend.

“I was quite happy to get into Q2, my first time, I don’t know how many laps I have in this car, maybe 15-20, and I’m already into Q2,” Hart told TouringCarTimes.

“The pace is quite good compared to my team-mate, which is important for me as a driver. Of course I know Macau a little bit better than Aurelien (Comte), he has only been once here, I’ve been twice.

“I’m overall happy, but also mildly disappointed to not make it into the top ten, only two-and-a-half tenths off, but what can we do now, only look forward to the race.”

Hart’s main focus for the races is to keep it between the barriers, having crashed in Race 2 last year.

“The first strategy here is to not crash,” said the Cupra driver.

“Last year I crashed at Turn 2 and Turn 3, and the first corner in the second race. I understand that you have to respect Macau and, when you do that, it pays you back.

“I’m 100% taking the lessons from last year to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes this year.”

His team-mate Comte finished in one place further behind, as the Frenchman is carrying the maximum 40 kilos of compensation weight.

“Being faster than my team-mate is something to take away, of course,” the 24-year old said.

“I’ve never driven this car, I drove the old one some time ago for one year in the UK and I have driven Hyundai ever since.

“This weekend we got a good deal and we put together a package, with a good livery from my sponsors and then being able to go straight into Q2, is a good result.”