ADAC Masters: stomping ground for the Swiss 🎥
STRONG PRESENCE The ADAC GT Masters starts its 14th season three months later than planned. The proportion of Swiss drivers in the field of 33 sports cars is enormous and gives hope for success. The season starts on August 1st. In the teaser filmed a week ago during the test drives in Lausitz, Simona [...]
In the teaser filmed a week ago during the tests in Lausitz, Simona de Silvestro, Jeffrey Schmidt and Patric Niederhauser talk about the championship that is about to begin.
On the first weekend in August, the Lausitzring will kick off a compact racing calendar with a total of seven events in four months. Despite the special circumstances caused by the coronavirus crisis, the Super Sports Car League once again guarantees a superlative starting field.
Niederhauser starts his title defense
33 GT3 cars from seven different manufacturers (Audi, Bentley, BMW, Corvette, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche) and numerous well-known drivers with experience including Formula 1 compete for the coveted title in the world's strongest national GT racing series.
In the middle of it all are some ambitious Swiss with high expectations, led by defending champion Patric Niederhauser and his South African partner Kelvin van der Linde. Apart from his appointment as Audi works driver, nothing has changed for the Bernese driver, which means he is ideally placed to fight for the title.
Nevertheless, "Nidi" remains realistic.
Patric Niederhauser: "Everyone's score is zero again, everyone has the same chances. Defending the title is clearly our goal, but of course we also know how high the standard is. This year it feels even higher than in previous years. Of course, we also need a bit of luck, but we are well prepared."
Balanced field
Due to the high power density, it is difficult to identify a favorite. In the official pre-season test, more than 20 vehicles were within a second of each other.
The absolute best time in the test was set by the Ticino rider competing for Italy Raffaele Marciello in the Mercedes-AMG from HTP-Winward Motorsport, which he shared with the Zug-based Philip Ellis (sailing under the British flag).
Schmidt in the Callaway works team
Everything is different, with the exception of the field of activity, at Jeffrey Schmidt. After three years with Audi customer teams, the 26-year-old from Liestal is tackling his fourth season in the ADAC GT Masters with Callaway Competition for the first time.
In the German Markus Pommer, he has an experienced and fast partner to drive the works Corvette. His objectives are correspondingly high,
Jeffrey Schmidt: "As an experienced driver in one of the best teams, the demands on me are naturally very high. That's why my goal is clearly to finish in the top three in the championship."
Feller and Ineichen in good Audi teams
The candidates for victory must also include Ricardo Feller and Rolf Ineichen be counted. The young driver from Aargau must hope that Mücke Motorsport can deliver what is expected from the reorganization and strategy of the Berlin team.
With the Belgian Audi Team WRT, however, the experienced driver from Lucerne knows that he has a team behind him that can always win, as they did last Sunday at the GT World Challenge Europe opener in Imola. Feller and Ineichen also have team partners who should not prevent them from winning.
Return of Frey and Frommenwiler
After a year's absence from the ADAC GT Masters, the Rahel Frey and Philipp Frommenwiler back here. The 30-year-old from Thurgau will be driving a Mercedes-AMG for the experienced German team Schütz Motorsport for the first time.
The Audi customer sport works driver supports the German privateer Hendrik van Danwitz at Aust Motorsport. Any points win would be a success for the former race winner.
In the second Audi R8 LMS from Aust is Nikolai Rogivue on the road, for whom podium places would be the highest of feelings.
Simona on a new floor
At least of all Swiss people knows Simona de Silvestrowhat lies ahead for her. After more than a decade in the USA, Australia and Formula E, pretty much everything is new for the 31-year-old Porsche works driver.
However, with Klaus Bachler as her partner and Team Bernhard, the GT newcomer has an experienced team behind her that will do everything for her. Incidentally, she, Rahel Frey and Carrie Schreiner are three women in the top-class driver line-up.
Live on TV or Internet
So the chances of success or at least a podium finish in the first race on Swiss National Day are high.
The races will be broadcast live on SPORT1 on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, from 12:30 pm. They can also be watched online in the livestream at sport1.de, adac.de/motorsport and youtube.com/adac.
ADAC GT Masters 2020:
- August 1-2: Race 1+2 Lausitzring
- August 14/15: Race 3+4 Nürburgring
- September 19/20: Race 5+6 Hockenheimring
- October 3-4: Race 7+8 Sachsenring
- October 17/18: Race 9+10 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg (A)
- October 31/November 1: Race 11+12 Circuit Zandvoort (NL)
- November 7th/8th: Race 13+14 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
Start list ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring
