DTM / ADAC GT

HRT heads to Oschersleben with large squad

DTM
ADAC GT Masters
24 Apr. 2024 • 8:12
The DTM and ADAC GT Masters will kick off the new season at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben next weekend. The Haupt Racing Team will be travelling to the Magdeburger Börde with a large line-up of five Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Two Mercedes-AMG GT3s will fight for the championship in the DTM under the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT banner. Three further cars will be on the grid in the ADAC GT Masters for the team from Drees.
Photo : HRT

As last year, Luca Stolz (GER) and Arjun Maini (IND) will be battling for victories and points in the DTM under the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT entry. Luca Stolz, who was the best-placed Mercedes-AMG driver in the DTM last season with one race win and three other podium finishes, will once again be competing with the number 4 Mercedes-AMG GT3, which will go out on track this year in the full livery of team partner Merbag. Team-mate Arjun Maini will line up in the #36 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the livery of lubricant partner Mannol, as he did last year, with only minor changes to the details. Maini made a valuable contribution to HRT's performance as the best Mercedes-AMG team last year with consistent points-scoring results.

 

The reigning team champions from HRT will field the largest line-up in the long-established ADAC GT Masters in 2024. In line with the concept of promoting young talent, the Haupt Racing Team will field three Mercedes-AMG GT3s with young drivers. The #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be driven by a particularly promising driver pairing. Defending champion Salman Owega (GER) will share the cockpit with Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver David Schumacher (GER), who is switching from the DTM to the ADAC GT Masters. Jannes Fittje, who is well established in GT3 racing, and newcomer Finn Wiebelhaus (both GER) will be in the grey sister car with starting number 3. The 24-year-old Fittje finished the past ADAC GT Masters season in a strong third place in the championship. ADAC GT Masters rookie Wiebelhaus put in a strong performance in the run-up to the season with seven race wins in the GT Winter Series. The third #5 Mercedes-AMG GT3 is shared by youngsters Kwanda Mokoena (RSA) and Max Reis (GER). The South African Mokoena gained his first experience in the ADAC GT Masters last year, while two-time German karting champion Max Reis will be contesting a race in a GT3 car for the first time. The light blue car of Mokoena and Reis will certainly be an eye-catcher on the ADAC GT Masters grid.

 

bluechemGROUP new partner in the ADAC GT Masters

Ahead of the season opener, the Haupt Racing Team welcomes bluechemGROUP as a new team partner to the HRT family. The bluechemGROUP is a globally active group of companies with partners in over 120 countries. Its success is based on the development and patenting of consumption-orientated and environmentally friendly products with the highest quality standards, which are complemented by modern workshop, industrial and service concepts. The partnership with HRT focusses on the innovative system cleaning and care products of the PROTEC+ brand. In addition to use under the toughest racing conditions, the collaboration also aims to optimise existing technologies in order to meet the increasing demands of the market. In the ADAC GT Masters, the bluechemGROUP with its PRO-TEC and PROTEC+ brands will adorn the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Jannes Fittje and Finn Wiebelhaus.

 

The DTM broadcasts all sessions of the race weekends live in the international livestream on the racing series' YouTube channel. In German-speaking countries, ProSieben and ServusTV broadcast the DTM live on television. The opening races at Oschersleben will start at 13:30 CEST on Saturday and Sunday. The ADAC GT Masters races (both at 15:15) will be broadcast live on Sport1.

 

Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer Haupt Racing Team: "After a very intensive winter, we are delighted that things are finally getting underway in Oschersleben. This year, we can start the new season together with the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters for the first time. We are going into the first race weekend with a good feeling. We have gained a lot of knowledge during the preparations and our youngsters have already shown their potential. The challenge will be great again in both the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters, but we are optimistic that we can be successful in both series. In addition, we are pleased to welcome another strong partner at our side in the bluechemGROUP. We are very proud to be working with this globally active and experienced company."

 

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