ADAC GT Masters Nürburgring – Preview

Almost All Manufactures Present

The season highlight for the ADAC GT Masters Series marks the two races in support of the Le Mans Series this coming weekend at the Nürburgring. Unlike some of the other GT3 National championships the German one still has grids of acceptable size, with 24 cars entered for the two one-hour races this weekend.

The biggest pack of the grid are the seven Audi R8 LMS entered by four teams; two cars for each of Phoenix Racing, Team Rosberg and Abt Sportsline, plus the one of Argo Racing. The championship is lead by Christian Abt, who was also involved in the developing of the R8 LMS in 2008. Second is Abt’s partner since the second weekend of the series, Jan Seyffarth. Also the third and fourth places in the championship standings go to Audi drivers, with Nicolas Armindo and Cesar Campanico manning third and Henri Moser being fourth.

The Porsche group is lead by 2008 champion Mühlner Motorsport, which brings two Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S to the Ring. The lead car is shared by Tim Bergmeister and Frank Schmickler, while Jürgen Häring und Dimitrios Konstantinou share the second one. Michael Bleekemolen’s team fields another Cup S for the boss himself and Ronald van de Laar. Former Olympic ski jumping champion Sven Hannawald and a still to be announced driver share an old Cup Porsche.

Callaway Corvette have entered three of their GT3 Vettes for Marc Hennerici/ Luca Ludwig, Christian Hohenadel/ Toni Seiler and Patrick Gerling/ Peter Rikli. All of them should be able to score championship points, while Hennerici/ Ludwig and Hohenadel/ Seiler should also be fighting for the wins. Fisher Racing brings the other full season entered US Sportscar, two Ford GTs; one for Walter Lechner Jr. and Christoffer Nygaard and the other for Marc Gindorf and Frank Kräling.

Rhino’s Leipert Motorsport once again brings its two Ascari KZR-1 to the Eifel mountains, where the awesome sounding cars are out to score more podiums; after Marcel Leipert and Daniel Keilwitz finished third in the second race at the Eurospeedway. For the past years Racing for Holland was often found in the LMS pits, but this year the teams is fielding a Lamborghini Gallardo for Jan Lammers and Marius Ritskes. Another Lambo is entered by MRP-Motorsport, driven by Michael Raja and Marc Walz. The last regular car in the series is the Ferrari F430 GT3 of Björn Grossmann and Freddy Kremer.

There are also three guest entries. Alpina once again heads to the Nürburgring, after some VLN outings and a two car assault in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, but this time the cars won’t take the turn onto the Nordschleife; staying instead on the GP-Track. Former Champ Car driver Andreas Wirth and Jens Klingmann share the driving duties in the green sportscars. JMB Racing has entered a Ferrari F430 Scuderia and Zakspeed Racing brings one of their Dodge Viper Competition Coupe up to the ‘Ring. Sascha Bert shares the car with Marc Bronzel.

Of the 12 GT3 eligible car types there are nine entered, which is a really good quota, looking at those hard economic times that have hit motorsport around the world.

Sören Herweg