The ADAC GT Masters will stage the fourth of eight race weekends in total this year at the Nürburgring. After a summer break of around two months, the Super Sports Car League is about to get the second half of the season under way. Local driver Christopher Mies (Audi R8 LMS ultra) from the Rhineland heads the standings in the run-up to his home race. The 24-year-old and team-mate René Rast are on 75 points and not only lead the drivers' standings ahead of the fixture at the historic circuit in the Eifel but also top the team rankings with Prosperia C Abt Racing (96 points). In this interview, 2011 ADAC GT Masters runner-up Christopher Mies talks about the Super Sports Car League and his goals for the Nürburgring race.

The ADAC GT Masters is about to begin again after a break of almost two months. How have you prepared for your home race at the Nürburgring?

"I've not had much free time since I've been competing in other events. I've only had one free weekend. As a motor racing driver, you quickly find your rhythm during the season. Consequently, there's actually no special preparation, because you train every day, go cycling or jogging. I try not to put any pressure on myself for the home race at the Nürburgring - even though many friends, family members and sponsors will be at the track. Among the entire field of drivers, I must be one of maybe three that know the Ring best, so there's no need to do anything special to prepare for the race there."

What do you think makes the ADAC GT Masters so special?

"The ADAC GT Masters is characterised by its extremely competitive nature. The teams in the Super Sports Car League expend a lot of effort, and racing is very tight. One second covered 16 cars in practice last time out at the Sachsenring, and it's always a tough fight in the race itself. Even if one make of car may be at an advantage over the other brands depending on the track, it all evens itself out during the season. Of course, I would love to pull away from everyone with a comfortable lead, but it has never happened in the four years that I've been driving in the ADAC GT Masters. I think we will again see exciting scraps for position at the Nürburgring. Spectators can look forward to seeing some thrilling overtaking manoeuvres. Then there are the pit stops. My team-mate René Rast and I can swap drivers in 14 seconds."

Where do you have to be extra careful at the Ring when you have a lead on the opposition?

"The Nürburgring is practically made for overtaking. The best place is directly at the end of the start/finish straight at Turn One, then there's the Mercedes Arena entrance and exit, running through Turn Three as well. Passing is hard on the short connecting loop. It's easier in the NGK chicane. There are three, four, five places at the Nürburgring where it's easy to have a go at attacking your opponent. You must never forget to look in the rear-view mirror, though. Attacking is one thing, as we all know, but making a move stick is quite a different matter, since each vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages. In our Audi, for example, we are a bit faster running through the turns because of the car's excellent aerodynamics. Then there are the others, such as Porsche and BMW, who enjoy an advantage on the straights."

How do you see the competition in terms of performance?

"I'm satisfied with our performance. So far, we've done better on aggregate than the competition and have built up a lead in the championship standings. But it's very apparent that the other teams are just waiting to seize the main chance and grab our place at the top. Team Schubert are right behind us with their BMW Z4 GT3, but Porsche and Corvette are looking strong once again this year."

You take a lead in the championship standings with you to the Nürburgring, but what are your expectations for the race?

"It's a great feeling to head the championship table. However, we cannot afford to relax even though a 16-point lead might sound a lot. Bearing in mind that there are 25 points for a win, it's easy to see that the balance of power in the standings can change very quickly. We cannot afford to make any mistakes and need to secure points. We aim to win at the Nürburgring. If, contrary to expectations, our performance is down, we must be sure to still come away with as many points as possible."