MUNICH, Germany — This weekend, ADAC GT Masters will embark on its 250th race as part of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.
The anniversary race in the Eifel will see a premiere — The ADAC GT Masters will debut this weekend with a new format consisting of an endurance race on Saturday and a sprint race on Sunday.
The event will be broadcast live on SPEED SPORT 1.
With the new race format, the battle for the top of the table between the leaders Tom Kalender and defending champion Elias Seppänen in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and their closest rivals Leon Köhler/ Maxime Oosten in the BMW M4 GT3 will enter the next round.
The ADAC GT Masters is now celebrating its anniversary at the place where it all began in 2007 — at the Nürburgring. Back then, Christopher Haase and the Italian Gianni Morbidelli crossed the finish line in a Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 as the first ADAC GT Masters winners during the 24-hour race.
The series is now in its 18th season, making it the longest-running GT3 racing series in the world. On the anniversary weekend, the championship will start with a new format: with the Saturday race, the drivers will be taking part in an endurance race lasting 80 minutes for the first time. This requires teamwork and good tactics, because compared to the tried and tested format, two pit stops are required, one of which is for a tire change.
Action is also guaranteed at the 250th race on Sunday. In the 40-minute sprint, the drivers will have to increase their pace again, as they will have less time to fight for position.
In the battle for the championship, two-time season winners Seppänen/Kalender are currently in the lead with 84 points in their Mercedes-AMG GT3. Just seven points behind, the BMW M4 GT3 of two-time winners Oosten/Köhler is following closely behind.
“With the victory in Sunday’s race in Zandvoort, we have secured ourselves a good starting position,” said Köhler. “We want to attack again at the Nürburgring and try to take the lead.”
Third-placed Jannes Fittje and Finn Wiebelhaus in another Mercedes-AMG GT3 are also within striking distance with 57 championship points.
At the anniversary weekend in the Eifel, guest starters will be joining the field of seven brands: the two Mercedes-AMG GT3s from Schnitzelalm Racing and a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo from the HP Racing International team will be joining the field of participants.
Julian Hanses and Marcel Marchewicz as well as Jay Mo Härtling and Moritz Wiskirchen will be competing for the Mercedes-AMG team from Bad Hindelang. Coach McKansy and Gerhard Tweraser will be taking their place in the Italian bull.