Sandritter (24) and BMW Z4 co-driver Jens Klingmann (23) secured their maiden ADAC GT Masters win at the Sachsenring in early June, and just a few days ago, the young Bavarian passed the professional pilot´s test in the USA: "My main aim is still to be a successful racing driver, but if that doesn´t work out, I at least have an interesting and exciting alternative lined up as a helicopter pilot."

With his high-adrenaline family background, Sandritter was never destined for a desk job: he is the son of ex-stuntman and extreme sports organiser Jochen Schweizer. The 24-year-old was inspired by his father to take up the two current strands of his career, driving fast cars and flying helicopters. Schweizer gave him an exceptionally practical gift on his 18th birthday - a vehicle from his own fleet.

ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup as an entry to motorsport

"I drove 50 kilometres on the Salzburgring in a Funcup Volkswagen Beetle which was a gift from my father," recalls Sandritter, who had previously tried his hand at ski racing. "My instructors certainly noticed I was there, because they couldn´t shake me off." Sandritter then took part in an evaluation course for the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup. "From a field of several hundred applicants, I was selected for a cockpit." His racing career took an upwards turn in 2012 when he graduated to the ADAC GT Masters and spent his rookie year driving a beefy Chevrolet Camaro.

The helicopter training also came in the form of a gift from his father´s extreme sports business. "I had always dreamed of training as a helicopter pilot, but it seemed unattainable. Thanks to a series of lucky coincidence, I eventually got the chance after all." Sandritter sees motor racing and flying as complementary activities: "When you´re flying a helicopter, you need the same level of perfection as in motorsport. Whether in a racing car or in a helicopter, there is no room for compromise."

Sandritter passed a milestone in his racing career at the Sachsenring when, after an unsteady start to the season, he secured his first podium and first race win in the ADAC GT Masters on the challenging circuit in Saxony with its extreme changes in elevation. A result that came as a huge relief: "The 2012 ADAC GT Masters season was a learning year for me. The Chevrolet Camaro was a spectacular car, but unfortunately it wasn´t competitive. That was obvious to everyone, which meant I was able to concentrate on learning and gaining experience without any pressure whatsoever for results. This year, though, I´m driving for one of the out-and-out top teams in the series. That obviously increases the pressure, because with a top-quality vehicle such as the BMW Z4, there is no scope for making excuses."

Turnaround at the Sachsenring after a difficult start to the season

In the first four races of the current campaign, Sandritter and co-driver Jörg Müller (43) scored only a single point. Müller then had to miss out on the Sachsenring weekend due to injury. "We had an enormous amount of bad luck in those first few races, getting bumped by other cars or failing to finish due to accidents. It was getting me down, but I never lost my self-belief."

Following the victory at the Sachsenring, Sandritter is now back together with Müller and preparing for the next race at the Nürburgring (2nd - 4th August). "The weekend at the Nürburgring certainly won´t be easy. I suspect that we are in for a tough race there and at the Red Bull Ring in Austria the following weekend. We just need to scoop up as many points as we can, because the remaining tracks on the calendar should be more favourable." Sandritter´s next career target is to finish high up on the ADAC GT Masters leader board at the end of the season. But that´s one thing that nobody can or will gift him.