Herbert Handlos can start to think about putting the champagne on ice - with four races to go before the end of the season, the Porsche driver from TONINO Herberth has a lead of 85.5 points in the Gentlemen standings on team-mate Dominic Jöst. Handlos can win the first match ball in his Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Sachsenring (September 19th-21st). If the 31-year-old Austrian has managed to extend his lead on the opposition to 100 points after the two races in Saxony, then no one can take the Gentlemen title from him.

Handlos has taken the Gentlemen class by storm in his debut year in the ADAC GT Masters. Aided by Alfred Renauer, the Porsche driver has eight wins from twelve races to his name. Corvette drivers Remo Lips and Toni Seiler (both Callaway Competition) were the only ones able to beat Handlos this season. This excellent debut in the ADAC GT Masters is entirely characteristic of the short but successful motor racing career enjoyed by Handlos. The Austrian is only in his third full season in motorsport. He first began racing in Porsche club sport three years ago, contesting Porsche's one-make cup. His first car race back in 2011 started with a long distance event when he lined up in a diesel Volkswagen Scirocco for the 24 Hours of Dubai. "We were a wild bunch," said Handlos, looking back with a chuckle at his first tentative steps in motor racing.

This year, Handlos made a brave move from Porsche club sport to the ADAC GT Masters. Handlos, who works in the timber industry, already knew TONIO Herberth from the Porsche Alpine Cup. "The chance to drive in the ADAC GT Masters this year simply popped up, so I took it. The series is very tough, but I've improved tremendously. I get great support from all of my team-mates, but I first had to learn to use the structures that underpin such a professional team. Many things that I have to do in the ADAC GT Masters are new to me, such as recording data, but the team give me great support." So far, Handlos has never regretted his decision to compete in the ADAC GT Masters. "The ADAC GT Masters is a huge challenge and very tough, but I'm not interested in contesting any other series."

Handlos was racing with an eye to clinching the title even in the last few races: "The points scoring system in the Gentlemen class means that you have to drive very tactically." Handlos has another objective in the two remaining race weekends at the Sachsenring and in Hockenheim apart from securing the Gentlemen title - to finish in the points overall and secure a place in the Top Ten. Handlos and Alfred Renauer have already succeeded in taking a P5 in the second race at Oschersleben. "Our goal in the remaining races is to finish well up the points table," said Handlos.