ADAC GT Masters·1.10.2016

ADAC GT Masters: Comments after Race 1 : Observations from the paddock after the 13th race of the season

David Jahn (KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3-R), winner: "That was our fourth consecutive victory in a Saturday race - I think we can safely claim the title of Saturday champions. A really great result in such a difficult wet race. I wasn't quite sure how good I would be in the rain, but it all worked out perfectly. I took the lead as early as the third corner, which is precisely what I had hoped. From that point on, I controlled the race from the front. Regarding the championship, we'll continue to give the maximum, and we just have to wait and see what the others do."

Kévin Estre (KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3-R), winner: "All I had to do was defend the lead that I inherited from David through to the finish. It may have looked elementary enough to a bystander, but it certainly wasn't. In a wet race, there are so many things that can happen. At the entry to the Mercedes Arena, there was some oil or maybe coolant on the track. Luckily, David told me about that. It was really slippery there. Our car worked very well. I think we could have gone faster at any time if we had sensed the Audi closing the gap behind us."

Christopher Mies (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), P2 in general classification, winner in Junior category: "Yes, our position has obviously improved. We had a two-point lead going into the race weekend, and now it's twelve. But it's not over till it's over. We found the race quite tough. We reckoned on being quick in the rain. However, it was apparently too wet at the start. We had no chance against the Porsche. Things got better for us as the track dried. Overall, we're satisfied with second."

Marvin Dienst (bigFM Racing Team Schütz Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3-R), P3 in general classification, 2nd place in Junior category: "Our first podium finish. Marvellous! I was quick right from the start and moved up from fifth to second. I then put pressure on David (Jahn), but it wasn't enough for an attack. That wouldn't have been right anyway, because he's a championship contender. I just stayed with him. The first few laps were really very wet. We were aquaplaning all over the place. Things got better as the race progressed."

Christopher Zanella (bigFM Racing Team Schütz Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3-R), P3 in general classification, 2nd place in Junior category: "Third place is an excellent result after the problems we had earlier this year. It gives the entire team a feeling of satisfaction. I did indeed rejoin the track in second place after the pit stop but had to let the Audi through. In any case, I didn't really want to interfere in the championship battle."

Fabian Hamprecht (Bentley Team ABT, Bentley Continental GT3), P5 in general classification, 3rd place in Junior category: "From 18th to fifth. What a great charge! We kept well out of all the scraps and overtook other cars when we could. Wherever it wasn't possible, we didn't try. During his stint, Christer (Jöns) then burnt one fast lap after another into the tarmac."

Christer Jöns (Bentley Team ABT, Bentley Continental GT3), P5 in general classification, 3rd place in Junior category: "The car ran superbly well. The race was incredibly good fun. Every time I managed to draw level with an opponent, I was subsequently able to overtake. The Corvette being driven by the current second-placed pairing was in front of me towards the end of the race. I obviously didn't want to put them in any danger, so I dropped back a couple of times, but then I still managed to pull off a safe overtaking move."

Daniel Keilwitz (Callaway Competition, Corvette C7 GT3-R), P6 in general classification: "We know that we're not at our strongest in such rainy conditions, but it was still going quite well for us in the heavy rain at the beginning of the race. That surprised everyone in the entire team. It got more difficult as it began to dry. Traction increasingly became a problem. We're now hoping that it will be dry on Sunday. If we can place among the Top Three in qualifying, then we might still have a small chance of winning the title."