VIPs in Hockenheim: The ADAC GT Masters welcomed many prominent guests to the finale. Matthias Feltz, first Vice-president of the ADAC e.V., visited the final weekend on Sunday and presented trophies to the ADAC GT Masters winners. Ski jumping legend Sven Hannawald was also there, as was former Mainz 05 goalie, Heinz Müller. Hennig Meyerhof, Director of Sales and Michael Mews, Chief Sales Officer at Postcon and Christian May, Managing Director of Alfred Kärcher-Vertriebs GmbH, who was recently appointed fifth member of Kärcher's global management team, visited the ADAC GT Masters on Saturday. Adrian Bosshard, President and CEO of Certina, watched Sunday's exciting title decider. Frank J. Delesen, Managing Director and CEO of Pirelli Germany, was a keen spectator during the entire race weekend.
Certina explains technicalities of motor racing timekeeping: Certina has been the official timing partner of the ADAC GT Masters since the start of the 2015 season. During a visit to the timekeeping office on Saturday afternoon, a representative from the Swiss sports watch manufacturer explained to a number of journalists just how complex and technically demanding precise timekeeping is in motorsport.
Workshop for sponsors: On Friday, the ADAC invited partners of the ADAC GT Masters to a sponsors' workshop in Hockenheim. ADAC Director of Motorsport Lars Soutschka reviewed the 2015 season and looked ahead to 2016. RaceRoom and Pirelli spoke about their involvement in the Super Sports Car League, while TV partner SPORT1 gave an overview of their plans for the new season. A keynote speech about motivating sponsors given by the Jung von Matt Sports agency rounded off the workshop.
A look behind the scenes: On Saturday evening, around 200 guests from Certina, Pirelli and Abarth took a look behind the scenes of the ADAC GT Masters and the ADAC Formula 4. At an event held in the evening, Formula 4 drivers explained the technology behind their cars to small groups of guests. Several drivers kept them entertained with amusing anecdotes about their season in the ADAC High-Speed Academy.
Balance of performance: The concept of balance of performance ensures equality of opportunity between the various designs of vehicles in the ADAC GT Masters. On Friday afternoon, the DMSB (German Motor Sport Association), which is responsible for maintaining the balance of power in the ADAC GT Masters, invited representatives from teams and manufacturers to a presentation, setting out how the classification system works. In a frank, clear manner, the DMSB explained to teams and manufacturers the analysis procedure used to ascertain the balance of power.
Start signal for ADAC Germany TCR: The new ADAC TCR Germany, which will be launched in 2016, made its first public appearance in Hockenheim. Four touring cars from the new series which will be jointly staged next year by Engstler Motorsport and the ADAC, were on display in the paddock. Many teams and drivers took the opportunity to find out more about the ADAC TCR Germany. The touring car series will line up next year as part of the ADAC GT Masters.
Fan magnet - new super sports cars: The ADAC GT Masters introduced the new supercars for the 2016 season in Hockenheim. The new BMW M6 GT3, the Mercedes-AMG GT3, the new Audi R8 and the Porsche 911 were displayed in the paddock and proved to be a magnet for fans.
World premiere for new Corvette: A fifth new supercar for the 2016 season celebrated its world premiere on Saturday afternoon in the Hockenheim paddock. Callaway Competition presented the new C7 GT3 R which will replace the successful Z06.R GT3 next year. The seventh-generation Corvette was developed and built by Callaway in Leingarten. The Corvette is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine which develops 600 bhp.
Looking ahead to 2016: At a media breakfast on Saturday morning, ADAC Sports President Hermann Tomczyk and ADAC Director of Motorsport Lars Soutschka spoke with journalists about the respective seasons in the 2015 ADAC GT Masters and ADAC Formula 4 and looked ahead to 2016. Apart from the successful launch of the ADAC Formula 4 and the outlook for the ADAC GT Masters in 2016, the new TCR ADAC Germany was also a topic of conversation. Franz Engstler gave details regarding the concept behind the new touring car series which will be run jointly by Engstler Motorsport and the ADAC e.V., starting in 2016.