GT Masters: Feller makes the breakthrough 🎥
FIRST VICTORY On the fourth weekend of the ADAC GT Masters at Zandvoort (NL), Ricardo Feller took his first victory in the GT3 sports cars. His Bernese Audi colleague Patric Niederhauser continues to lead the standings. After several exclamation marks in various GT3 races, Ricardo Feller entered the ADAC GT Masters winners' list for the first time at Zandvoort. On the dune circuit [...]
After several exclamation marks in various GT3 races, Ricardo Feller entered the ADAC GT Masters winners' list for the first time at Zandvoort. On the dune circuit in the Dutch seaside resort, the 19-year-old from Aargau won the second of the two one-hour races together with Belgian Dries Vanthoor.
Clever and safe to a double victory
As both Audi R8 cars from Montaplast by Land Motorsport occupied the front row of the grid, pole setter Christopher Mies and Dries Vanthoor took no risks in the first half of the race that would have jeopardized success for the 2016 champion team. To prevent both sports cars from having to stop at the same time in the mid-race window, Feller's partner stayed out two laps longer.
Vanthoor pushed so hard in this phase that the Swiss was in the lead after the driver change. He solved his task brilliantly, didn't let himself get nervous under the pressure of the chasers and brought home his first GT victory safely and without damaging the tires. The joy and relief afterwards were correspondingly enormous.
Ricardo Feller: "It finally worked out. We've had the speed everywhere so far, but we haven't had the necessary luck, and we've also made mistakes. The first victory is a mega feeling. I hope we continue like this because now things are suddenly looking better again in the championship. Fortunately, we've got two races at the Nürburgring again next weekend."
The highlights of the race in 80 seconds:
Ellis also on the podium
Philip Ellis also experienced his best weekend in the ADAC GT Masters to date. The Swiss by choice from Zug delivered a very good groundwork with third place on the grid in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, for which he and Fabian Vettel (younger brother of the four-time world champion) were rewarded with third place behind the two Land Audi cars. Close behind, the Lamborghini Huracán of Rolf Ineichen and Franck Perera (F) finished fourth.
Niederhauser remains in front
The day before, Patric Niederhauser's second place on the grid looked like another podium for the man from Berne. However, together with his South African partner Kelvin van der Linde, he came away empty-handed in 17th place. At least the race winners from Most (CZ) scored eight points in the second race to maintain their position at the top of the standings. This was also thanks to two zeros from their direct pursuers Pommer/Kirchhöfer on Callaway Corvette, who braked ignition misfires in the first race and a pit drive through penalty set them back in the second race.
