The exciting title race in the ADAC GT Masters is set to continue at one of the toughest circuits on the calendar, as teams seek to land a 'killer' punch in the championship battle during the penultimate race weekend of the Super Sports Cars League season at the Sachsenring (September 19th-21st). At the 'semi-finals' on the roller coaster of a circuit near Chemnitz, title contenders Audi, Porsche, BMW, Corvette and Mercedes-Benz must all produce good results in both races (Saturday and Sunday live on kabel eins, from 11:45 am onwards) in order to put themselves in the best possible position for the Hockenheim finale. With four races to go before the end of the season, the top places in the standings are hotly contested, as championship leaders Kelvin van der Linde (18, South Africa) and René Rast (27, Germany / both Prosperia C Abt Racing) in the Audi R8 LMS ultra are only three points up on arch rival Jaap van der Lagen (37, Netherlands / GW IT Racing Team Schütz Motorsport) in the Porsche 911.
Audi with impressive record at the Sachsenring
In the previous twelve races, the lead in the standings has changed hands eight times between Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and BMW teams. Van der Linde / Rast took the top spot last time out at the Nürburgring, so the Audi drivers are in an excellent position at the track where Rast took a win last year.
Local boy and Audi driver Philip Geipel (27, Plauen / YACO Racing) told us: "Late braking, tidy driving and good positioning at the exit to corners are all important at the Sachsenring. There are no long straights as at other circuits, which really suits the Audi's design on the whole." Geipel and his team, YACO Racing from Plauen, are lining up with a new driver for their home fixture. Since ADAC GT Masters regular Rahel Frey (28, Switzerland) has to miss a race, ex-Formula 1 driver and FIA GT1 world champion Markus Winkelhock (34, Berglen-Steinach) will stand in for the speedy Swiss lady driver.
The Sachsenring is new to Van Lagen (27, Kösching), who is currently placed second in the standings and will be tackling the circuit along with Christian Engelhart. However, van Lagen, and his team-mate intend to compensate for their lack of track knowledge with an intensive training session. Both drivers will also line up in the Porsche Carrera Cup which will take place for the first time at the Sachsenring as part of the ADAC GT Masters' support programme. "So, I have the perfect opportunity to get in some practice," said van Lagen confidently.
BMW intend to break Audi dominance at Sachsenring
With six wins so far, the Audi R8 is the most successful sports car in the ADAC GT Masters at the Sachsenring. Last year, however, BMW made the going tough for the top dogs with a win for the compact Z4. Placed third in the standings, Claudia Hürtgen (43, Aachen) and Dominik Baumann (21, Austria / both PIXUM Team Schubert) intend to repeat that success in the BMW Z4 and secure a good position in the title fight. This is also the plan of Daniel Keilwitz (25, Villingen / Callaway Competition), who has dominated the second half of the season. The defending champion has taken four wins from the last six races in his Corvette along with Andreas Wirth (29, Heidelberg), but Keilwitz needs another brace of decent results in Saxony to improve his fourth place in the standings in the run-up to the finale.
Fan votes to decide who will partner Stolz
Fans will decide whether Mercedes-Benz leading light Maximilian Götz (28, Uffenheim / HTP Motorsport) can keep alive his theoretical chance of securing his second ADAC GT Masters title since 2012. HTP Motorsport and sponsors Buchbinder are holding an online vote to decide who will partner Luca Stolz (19, Brachbach) in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Götz is one of four drivers in the frame. He has won two races this season and is currently placed fifth in the standings with four races to go.
First title clincher at the Sachsenring
Herbert Handlos (31, Austria / TONINO Team Herberth), who leads the Gentlemen standings in the Porsche 911, already has one match point. If Handlos can finish ahead of arch rivals and fellow Porsche drivers Dominic Jöst (35, Absteinach / TONINO Team Herberth) and Wolf Nathan (45, Netherlands)/Anton Wossos (38, Greece / both GW IT Racing Schütz Motorsport) in both races, thus extending his lead to 100 points, then no one will be in a position to take the Gentlemen title from him.
Porsche Carrera Cup and EuroV8 series on support programme
A spectacular support programme will ensure that the ADAC GT Masters at the Sachsenring is one of the season's highlights. Apart from the Formel ADAC, the ATS Formula Cup and the DTC DMSB / ADAC Procar who will be staging their final races in Saxony, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and the EuroV8 series will be making their debut with the Super Sports Cars League. A field of more than 35 Porsche 911s will line up for two spectacular races in the Carrera Cup, while spectators can watch thrilling V8 touring car action in the two EuroV8 Series races, featuring the Audi RS5, BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe, Lexus IS-F and Chevrolet Camaro.