Dominik Baumann is gearing up for his third season in the ADAC GT Masters. After driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG prepared by HEICO Motorsport for the past two years, the reigning FIA GT3 European champion is now planning a change of badge on his grille. In 2013, the 20-year-old intends to contest the series in a BMW Z4 GT3. To get into the swing of things, the talented young driver from the Tyrol will be lining up for Schubert Motorsport in the 24 Hours of Dubai next weekend.

"The 24-hour event in Dubai will be my first outing in a BMW Z4 GT3 and also as a member of the Schubert Motorsport team", says Baumann ahead of his first engagement of the new year. "We are also intending to contest the 2013 ADAC GT Masters and to enter several VLN endurance races at the Nürburgring."

Baumann´s team-mates in the Arabian Gulf marathon are four-time ADAC GT Masters race winner Dominik Schwager, BMW works driver Dirk Adorf, Abdulaziz Al Faisal (who achieved a podium finish in his ADAC GT Masters debut at the Sachsenring in May) and Faisal Binladen. Baumann will be in good hands with Schubert Motorsport in Dubai: the Oschersleben-based outfit already have one 24-hour race win in the Middle East to their credit - that was in 2011, also with a BMW Z4.

Baumann first entered the ADAC GT Masters in 2011 and has so far notched up five podiums. The former Formel ADAC driver ended the 2011 season as best-placed driver in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.