Oschersleben: One, two or no champion? 🎥
TWO SWISSERS HUNTING FOR THE TITLE The final starting position for Patric Niederhauser in the ADAC GT Masters and Julien Apothéloz in the GT4 Germany is somewhat better than for Nico Müller in the DTM. At Oschersleben, they have to defend their championship lead for the last time. For the 13th time in 14 seasons of the ADAC GT Masters, the decision will not be made until [...]
For the 13th time in 14 seasons of the ADAC GT Masters, the decision will not be made until the season finale. As many as ten drivers from Audi, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche still have a chance of securing the drivers' title.
Always score well
The championship leaders Patric Niederhauser and Kelvin van der Linde with Rutronik Racing's Audi R8 LMS will be able to achieve a first at Oschersleben. No team has yet managed to successfully defend the title.
The duo has so far claimed one win and three further podium places, but their consistency is particularly impressive. They are the only drivers in the field to have scored points in all twelve races so far.
Penalty transfer as a handicap
However, they have a handicap this weekend. As a result of the pit stop offense at the Lausitzring (Niederhauser was not properly strapped in after the driver change), they will be moved back five positions on the grid on Saturday.
Patric Niederhauser: "It's a shame that this has now been added to the list. Because overtaking is not as possible at Oschersleben as it was last time at the Lausitzring. But purely for driving, I think this track is cool."
Zero-defect job is necessary
In his opinion, the 3667-meter track at the Magdeburger Börde usually suits the Audi. On the track, which has been used at least once a year since the start of the ADAC GT Masters in 2007, Audi and Lamborghini have been the most successful brands so far with five race wins each.
Patric Niederhauser: "That's why I'm positive about the final. In Lausitz, we were lucky that the weather wasn't so good, otherwise we might have done worse. Now everything is open again. We simply can't make any mistakes and have to get the maximum out of both races."
Niederhauser again strongest Swiss
In other words: At least one race win is still needed. But that applies to all six teams and their drivers who still have a mathematical chance of winning the title.
Another Swiss is not one of them. Jeffrey Schmidt, who had proven his speed with the Callaway Corvette with his second place on the grid in the second Lausitz race and the lead of a few hundred meters, could at most advance into the top 10 of the championship with a second top result like Philipp Frommenwiler on Mercedes, who also won once at the Sachsenring.
Swiss driver in front of Swiss car
Julien Apothéloz and Luci Trefz have a little more breathing room to catch up with their championship pursuers as the leaders in the ADAC GT4 Germany. Their consistency with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 of HTP Winward Motorsport is comparable to that of Niederhauser/van der Linde. Only they and a second, significantly less fast pairing have scored points in all rounds so far.
First pursuers with a 15-point gap - with 50 points still up for grabs - are Italy's Gabriele Piana and Germany's Michael Schrey in the BMW M4 driven by Martin Kroll of Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport from Aargau.
Watch out for aggressive competition
Because they have held the top spot in the standings for five races and their second win of the season at the Sachsenring, the Swiss and the German are determined not to relinquish it under any circumstances. They will not change their approach, although their nervousness is likely to increase.
Julien Apothéloz: "Everything has worked very well so far. We'll again weigh up the risks in the fights for position. But we know that the competition will be more aggressive because they have nothing left to lose. We'll adjust to that and then see what comes of it."
To always score points, you need not only skill but also luck and quick reactions. Luci Trefz had this when he narrowly escaped a violent crash in the striking yellow Mercedes in Race 2 at the Lausitzring.
Live on many channels
The event of the year will take place without the participation of spectators and will be held in accordance with a hygiene and infection control concept developed by the ADAC GT Masters and approved by the authorities.
Both GT3 races will be broadcast live by Sport1 from 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. So if you want to keep up to date, you'll have to zap back and forth between the DTM at Hockenheim and the GT Masters at Oschersleben.
The first GT4 race can be seen on Saturday from 3.45 p.m. on free TV on Sport1, the second on Sunday at the same time on Sport1+.
In addition, all races are available online in livestream on the website of Sport1, ADAC and on Youtube to see.
Stand ADAC GT4 Germany Stand ADAC GT Masters
