Munich: The battle for the 2016 ADAC GT Masters title is about to be decided. The 'semi-final' of the Super Sports Car League will take place this weekend (19th - 21st August) with the penultimate race weekend of the season at Zandvoort. An exciting battle is raging between Corvette and Audi at the head of the standings, since Jules Gounon (21, F) and Daniel Keilwitz (27, Germany, both Callaway Competition) have a lead of only 14 points on Connor De Phillippi (23, USA) and Christopher Mies (27, Germany, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport). A total of 100 points can still be won by the winners of the season's four remaining races. Apart from the ADAC Formula 4 and the ADAC TCR Germany, the meeting on the North Sea coast has another season highlight in store with the legendary Masters of Formula 3 race. SPORT1 will broadcast both ADAC GT Masters races live on Saturday and Sunday at 13:00 on free-to-air TV.
Corvette and Audi best placed in battle for title
Exciting races, six different winning teams, 28 different drivers on the podium - the previous races in this tenth anniversary season of the ADAC GT Masters have provided plenty of variety and excitement throughout. In the drivers' championship, an exciting battle is developing as the main contenders, series newcomer Gounon and ADAC GT Masters record winner Keilwitz go head-to-head in their Corvette C7 against De Phillippi, who is also new to the Super Sports Car League and his more experienced Audi team-mate, Mies.
"We're back in the title race," said a delighted De Phillippi, who secured his first win of the season at the Nürburgring together with Mies. "That gave us a tremendous boost. There are still 100 points in all up for grabs in the last four races, and we're going to concentrate on taking as many of them as possible. We'll do all we can in our bid to become champions, right up until the very last corner of the last race." Team-mate Mies is also relishing the task ahead: "Zandvoort should actually really suit our Audi, but then again, I can see that the Corvette could have the advantage in the finale at Hockenheim. If we can pull out a small lead in the Netherlands, then all things will be possible in the end."
The Circuit Park Zandvoort, a spectacular circuit with unique features all of its own, will be the scene for the penultimate slugfest between the ADAC GT Masters teams. Located directly on the North Sea, the drivers must know how to deal with a track surface that can be sandy, depending on which way the wind is blowing. The track layout with its crests, fast sections and banked curves is a classic drivers' track. Demands on cars and especially tyres are high. "The tarmac here is more abrasive than at other circuits used by the ADAC GT Masters," said Anna Playford, Trackside Engineer at exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli. "In addition, the track's grip levels change continuously. That can affect tyre wear in cooler conditions, especially in view of the high speeds and heavy loads imposed by the banked turns."
There are seven Dutchmen in the current field of entrants, all looking forward to their home fixture at Zandvoort: Audi drivers Xavier Maassen (36, NL, Aust Motorsport) and Peter Hoevenaars (21, NL, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport), Nissan driver Christiaan Frankenhout (34, NL, MRS GT-Racing), Kelvin Snoeks (28, NL) and Jaap van Lagen (39, NL) from Lamborghini team HB Racing WDS Bau and Corvette driver Loris Hezemans (19, NL, Callaway Competition). Plus, former Zandvoort winner Jeroen den Boer (28, NL, Schubert Motorsport) who has worked as an engineer at Schubert Motorsport for the past two years, will be returning to the cockpit, sharing an M6 with Claudia Hürtgen. The local favourites have previously done well at Zandvoort, achieving success in three of six races staged by the Super Sports Car League in the Netherlands with success for den Boer in 2012 and in 2014 for van Lagen, who won both races. The man from Ede is back again in 2016. "It's always nice to race in front of your home crowd," said van Lagen. "I know the track inside out. I also have very fond memories of it thanks to my two successes in 2014."
Kévin Estre (27, F) was van Lagen's team-mate back then two years ago. After missing the first three ADAC GT Masters race weekends due to clashes of dates, the Frenchman joined KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard at the Red Bull Ring and has been enjoying a run of success ever since. He has taken the most points of all the teams from the past four races, including two wins, in the Porsche 911 along with team-mate David Jahn (25, Germany). "Things are really going well for us at the moment," said Estre. "We're improving with every race, both as drivers and as a team. We've found a good set-up for the Porsche. We'll have to wait and see whether it will bring us another top-notch result at Zandvoort, but I think that this circuit will suit other cars more."
The Trophy class for amateur drivers is also still wide open. Rolf Ineichen (38, CH, GRT Grasser-Racing-Team) in a Lamborghini has a lead of only eight points on fellow Swiss driver, Remo Lips (33, CH, RWT Racing) in the Corvette Z06.R. Things are even closer in the Junior standings for drivers under 25. Connor De Phillippi has 161 points as compared to rival Jules Gounon's 159.
Support programme highlights
Fans at Zandvoort will be treated to almost 20 hours of tarmac action from six different series. Apart from the ADAC GT Masters, the ADAC Formula 4, ADAC TCR Germany, the Special Touring Car Trophy and the Renault Clio Cup Central Europe are also gearing up for the final dash to the end of the season. Another very special season highlight will take place on Sunday evening with the Masters of Formula 3 when the world's best Formula 3 drivers will go head-to-head in the 26th edition of the traditional race. Previous winners have included Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Paul Di Resta and Max Verstappen.
Access to the standing area in the dunes is free with a 'dunes ticket' which can be downloaded at www.cpz.nl. Grandstand tickets, including access to the paddock, are available at www.adac.de/motorsport, starting at 20 euros.