ADAC GT Masters·30.4.2018

ADAC GT Masters: Comments after the second race: Observations from the paddock following Sunday's race at Most

Maximilian Götz (Mann-Filter Team HTP, Mercedes-AMG GT3), winner in general classification: "Things could not have gone better for us today. It's great to have our first win of the year. That was important for the championship. After our bad luck on Saturday, when we came away empty-handed, it was important to score a lot of points. By contrast, today went superbly well, with pole position, fastest race lap and the victory. I'm absolutely delighted. The team worked hard after yesterday's DNF to give us a car that would enable us to put in precisely this sort of performance. It was perfect. The most critical situation was at the start, because I had the Corvette alongside me, and everyone knows what a strong car that is. Also, Daniel Keilwitz is also a good starter. We were level going into the first corner, but I was on the inside and managed to hold on to the lead. After the brief safety car deployment, I had a good restart and was able to sail away and create a cushion for Markus."

Markus Pommer (Mann-Filter Team HTP, Mercedes-AMG GT3), winner in general classification: "What a perfect day! Maxi handed me a decent lead, and I initially put my foot down. Later on, though, I took it a bit more steady. After the retirement on Saturday, I wanted to get the car safely to the finish. I thought I could hear some sort of noise and told the team so on the radio. But it turned out to be nothing. I then drove to the finish without taking any risks. It's great to have achieved a victory with the team on only my second outing for them. You can see that everything works smoothly and that Maxi and I are an effective partnership. Things just keep getting better."

Marvin Kirchhöfer (Callaway Competition, Corvette C7 GT3-R), P2 in general classification: "I'm very pleased. We were hoping to stay in the Top Five, and we managed to maintain that position. So, success all round! Many thanks to everyone in the team for putting in a big effort all weekend and pushing so hard."

Daniel Keilwitz (Callaway Competition, Corvette C7 GT3-R), P2 in general classification: "The weekend was super. To finish second twice is a terrific result for us. Of course, we would have liked to win, but we just lacked a certain something. The start was okay, but Maxi Götz is much too clever and I couldn't get past. I then tried to nurse the tyres for the second stint of the race. We came away with a good haul of points, which was important."

Robert Renauer (Precote Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P3 in general classification: "Going into the race, we hadn't expected to finish third again. We could not have secured a podium through our own efforts, though, but were very fortunate, because the Mercedes was handed a penalty for cutting the pit stop short. My car went really well. I was easily able to keep up with the leading group and had moved up one position by the time of the driver change. The situation in the championship is now looking encouraging, but with 25 points for a win, we can't rest on our laurels and will have to keep working hard."

Mathieu Jaminet (Precote Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P3 in general classification: "That was an excellent weekend for our team. Third place means that we were able to extend our lead in the championship. I got away well in the race and quickly gained a position. The pit stop then went as planned, and Robert had a completely error-free drive. Good qualifying is very important on such a narrow track, as collisions can always occur, particularly at the back of the field."

Alessio Picariello (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P6 in general classification, winner in the Pirelli Junior class: "Today was significantly better than yesterday when we were involved in the pile-up at the start. I had a good stint and managed to close the gap on the cars in front of me. Sixth overall and victory in the Junior class is a good way to round off the weekend here at Most, which is a track I really like."

Christopher Mies (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P6 in general classification, winner in the Pirelli Junior class: "The race was OK. Sixth place from grid position eleven was the maximum today. At last, our first points of the season. I'm very pleased for the team that we finished in the points with both cars. Onwards and upwards now!"

Jens Klingmann (MRS GT-Racing, BMW M6 GT3), P10 in general classification: "We're pleased with the way the weekend went - it was a big improvement in performance compared to the season opener at Oschersleben. We started off very well with third place in qualifying on Saturday. I feel confident about the upcoming races. Unfortunately, we're a little bit off the pace in the race as compared to the competition. Nevertheless, the preconditions at Most were better than at Oschersleben, as the track here with its medium-fast and fast corners is better suited to the car. The relationship with the team and with my partner Christopher Zöchling is really good. I'm feeling confident about the upcoming races."

Mirko Bortolotti (ORANGE1 by GRT Grasser, Lamborghini Huracán GT3), P12 in general classification: "This was our first time here in Most, and I think we did a great job and focused on the race as much as was possible. It was a good day for our car, and the setup felt terrific in the end. We did ourselves proud as a team and made a fantastic job of things."

Klaus Bachler (KÜS Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P14 in general classification: "The car was really good in qualifying, and we were heading for the Top Five. Sectors 1 and 2 were good, but unfortunately, I hit traffic twice in the third sector, and you've only got two chances there with the tyres. Still, P12 on the grid was OK. I got off to a good start and then found myself sandwiched between two cars in Turn 1. Someone pushed me into the gravel trap in Turn 2, and I found myself in another situation where I had to take evasive action in Turn 13. But the car was good, and the speed was there. We can even compete relatively high up the field with a bit more luck in certain situations."

Rolf Ineichen (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3), P15 in general classification, winner in the Pirelli Trophy class: "I think we got the maximum with 15th overall and the Trophy win. Our car was perfect. Everything went fine, but no way could we have finished any higher."

Christian Engelhart (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3), P15 in general classification, winner in the Pirelli Trophy class: "Qualifying was rubbish, and we expected more from the race itself. We tried our best, but it did not go our way."

Indy Dontje (Mann-Filter Team HTP, Mercedes-AMG GT3), P16 in general classification: "Most annoying, because the podium and victory in the Pirelli Junior classification were very close. But that's just the way it is in motor racing. Little things can decide a race."

Mikkel Jensen (BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW M6 GT3), P20 in general classification: "It's annoying that we didn't get more out of this weekend. I could have achieved more in qualifying on Saturday. A podium would definitely have been on the cards with a better position on the grid. Still, I'm learning with every weekend. I like my team and team-mates. We have a lot of fun and work very well together. I'm confident that the results will come."

Lucas Luhr (IronForce by RING POLICE, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P24 in general classification: "Qualifying didn't go well for us, but there was a big improvement in the race. I promptly used the confusing situation at the start to overtake one or two opponents. We were unlucky with the pit stop, though, because another car was blocking the way. We had to wait and lost time as a result."

Timo Bernhard (KÜS Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), DNF: "The start was good. I'd found a good gap, but then, Pierre Kaffer forced me into a spin. He said sorry afterwards but explained that he'd been hit himself. It can't be helped, but then you have to expect it when you're starting from so far back. I wasn't too happy with our car's balance. The car was poor all weekend. We need to take a look and see what's causing it. After all, we were quite a bit further up the field at Oschersleben. This wasn't a good race weekend for us. There were one or two things that we need to clarify, but we're also taking some positives away with us. At the Red Bull Ring, we definitely intend to get back into the Top Ten, into the points and perhaps even finish higher up the field."