Munich: A joint event with the DTM, new supercars, new teams, new drivers, more prize money and a new format for race weekends – the ADAC GT Masters has introduced some exciting changes for 2016, the tenth season since the series was first inaugurated. We would like to give you an overview of the most important innovations prior to the season opening on the weekend of 15th-17th April at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Firstly, however, the strong TV presence remains unchanged in 2016. SPORT1 will again feature all races live and in their entirety. Germany´s leading sports channel will start broadcasting from Oschersleben at 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Race schedule
The third ADAC GT Masters fixture of 2016 will mark a major highlight of the season when the Super Sports Car League and the DTM come together at the Lausitzring for a joint race weekend (3rd-5th June). So for the first time since 2008, fans can once again enjoy thrilling action from Germany´s two most popular racing series.
Cars
The Audi R8 LMS, BMW M6 GT3, Corvette C7 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Porsche 911 GT3 R – no less than six new supercars or the latest versions of those cars will line up for their first full season in the ADAC GT Masters.
Teams
Of the 19 teams, seven will be tackling their first season in the ADAC GT Masters: ADAC NSA/Attempto Racing Team, Aust Motorsport, Bonaldi Motorsport, Car Collection Motorsport, HB Racing, KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard and Montaplast by Land-Motorsport. In addition, Precote Herberth Motorsport, GRT Grasser-Racing-Team and Phoenix Racing will be returning to the ADAC GT Masters fold.
Drivers
From ‘A´ for Åhlin-Kottulinsky to ‘Z´ for Zanella – many newcomers to the ADAC GT Masters will be battling it out in 2016. Some of the most notable names among them include Formula E driver and ex-Formel ADAC champion Daniel Abt (23, DEU), Le Mans winner Guy Smith (41, GB) and GT rising star Laurens Vanthoor (24, B).
Standings
A competition for amateur drivers will continue to be staged alongside the drivers´ and team championship, but the Gentlemen class has been rebranded as the Trophy category. There will also be a completely new classification for young talents aged under 25.
Prize money
Prize money will be considerably increased for 2016. Altogether, a total of 500,000 euros will be paid in cash and prizes. In each of the 14 races, drivers in the overall standings will compete for prize money amounting to 25,000 euros. In the Trophy and Junior Cup, drivers can win tyres provided by ADAC GT Masters exclusive tyre partner Pirelli for use in the 2017 season.
More action on Saturdays and Sundays
The two ADAC GT Masters race days will be much more exciting for fans. As of this season, 2016, qualifying for the two races will take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings a few hours before each fixture, which means that the supercars will be out on track far longer than was previously the case on those days. Drivers and teams will take part in two one-hour practice sessions on Fridays to ‘warm-up´ for the races.
Support programme
An exciting newcomer, the ADAC TCR Germany, is set to join the ADAC GT Masters event package. The touring car series will contest two 30-minute races at seven race weekends in all, six of which will be under the banner of the ADAC GT Masters.
Unchanged: Open access to paddock
Once again in the 2016 season, the ADAC GT Masters will enable fans to take a good look behind the scenes. The open paddock, autograph sessions on Saturday afternoons and the Pit Walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings will give fans a terrific overview of what´s happening.
All ADAC GT Masters races will once again be broadcast live and in full during 2016 by SPORT1 on free-to-air TV. The 2016 ADAC GT Masters season opens on the weekend of April 15th-17th, 2016, in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Tickets are available in advance online at www.adac.de/motorsport from 20 euros upwards.