ADAC GT Masters reaches 250 races: Premiere for new format at milestone event at the Nürburgring

Milestone for the ADAC GT Masters: this weekend (12th to 14th July), as part of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, the series lines up for its 250th race. The momentous race in the Eifel Mountains is also the stage for a premiere: the ADAC GT Masters has a new format this weekend, consisting of an endurance race on the Saturday and a sprint race on the Sunday. The battle at the top of the table between championship leaders Tom Kalender (Hamm/Sieg) and defending champion Elias Seppänen (FIN/both Landgraf Motorsport) in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, and their closest rivals Leon Köhler (Erlenbach am Main) and Maxime Oosten (NL, both FK Performance) in a BMW M4 GT3, enters the next round with this new format. Sport1 is broadcasting both races, from 14:45 on Saturday and 15:00 on Sunday.

The ADAC GT Masters will celebrate reaching this latest milestone at the place where it all began in 2007: the Nürburgring. Back then, Christopher Haase and Italian Gianni Morbidelli were first across the finish line in a Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 on the support programme for the 24-hour race. The series is now in its 18th season, making it the longest-running GT3 racing series in the world. The championship starts with a new format at the milestone race weekend: Saturday’s race will see the drivers contest an 80-minute endurance race for the first time. Teamwork and good tactics are essential here. This is because, unlike with the tried-and-tested format, two pit stops must be made, one of which must include a tyre change. Action is also guaranteed in the 250th race on Sunday. The drivers must up their pace in the 40-minute sprint race, as they have less time for overtaking manoeuvres.

In the title race, Seppänen and Kalender currently have their nose in front with 84 points, having claimed two victories so far this season in their Mercedes-AMG GT3. Lurking just seven points back is the BMW M4 GT3 of Oosten and Köhler, who also have two wins to their name. “Victory in the Sunday race in Zandvoort has put us in a good position. We want to go on the attack again at the Nürburgring and try to take the lead,” says Köhler. Third-placed Jannes Fittje (Langenargen) and Finn Wiebelhaus (Obertshausen/both Haupt Racing Team) in another Mercedes-AMG GT3 are also within striking distance on 57 points.

Guest starters will enhance the field, which includes seven different manufacturers, at the milestone weekend in the Eifel: with the two Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Schnitzelalm Racing and a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo run by the HP Racing International team, a further three cars will take their place on the grid. Julian Hanses and Marcel Marchewicz start in one of the cars for the Mercedes-AMG team from Bad Hindelang, with Jay Mo Härtling and Moritz Wiskirchen sharing the driving duties in the second car. Coach McKansy and Gerhard Tweraser line up in the Italian bull.