ADAC GT Masters·15.4.2018

ADAC GT Masters: Comments after the second race: Reactions from the paddock after Sunday's race

Mirko Bortolotti (ORANGE1 by GRT Grasser, Lamborghini Hurácan GT3), P1 overall: "That was just perfect! Our performance was really good. We made no mistakes and are very pleased. Many thanks to the team and to Lamborghini. We got the maximum out of today. We were on the right lines with the car from first practice onwards and made the right decisions about set-up, which obviously helped. What a fantastic achievement by the team to give us such a car!"

Andrea Caldarelli (ORANGE1 by GRT Grasser, Lamborghini Hurácan GT3), P1 overall: "To finish the weekend with a win is fantastic. Christian Engelhart and I didn't scrap with one another so that we could draw away from the field, and then Mirko took the lead shortly after the pit stop. Our strategy worked. The track here isn't easy, and you have to keep an eye on the tyres, which we did!"

Rolf Ineichen (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Hurácan GT3), P2 overall, P2 in Pirelli Trophy classification: "Christian secured an excellent grid position for us with pole, but more importantly, the team put the car back in working order after my smash. A big thank you to all concerned. Our result is the well-deserved reward for all the hard work. The car was great. I had to nurse the tyres a bit towards the end, but it was fun!"

Christian Engelhart (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Hurácan GT3), P2 overall, P2 in Pirelli Trophy classification: "I'm very pleased. We had a terrific race. Our great result in qualifying was the cornerstone for today's result. I had an extremely good stint in the race on fresh tyres, and me and Andrea Caldarelli pulled out a good lead on the rest of the field. I'm extremely happy with what we've achieved. Days like today are rare indeed!"

Luca Ludwig (HB Racing, Ferrari 488 GT3), P3 overall: "Everyone in the team did a great job. Third place is proof that the Ferrari's first outing was a success. I think we can feel very positive as we look ahead to the next round of races. I got a good start. The other drivers braked a bit early, and then I went for it. That worked well and was the key to our good lap times at the start of the race."

Dominik Schwager (HB Racing, Ferrari 488 GT3), P3 overall: "Many thanks to the whole team. The car ran perfectly, and we made the right choice with set-up. I had to fight a bit towards the end. Our pace was good, but the Porsche behind us was also very strong. After the safety car period, I got the feeling that the car was running better again. Unfortunately, there was only one more lap after that, because it felt like maybe I could attack the Lamborghinis. Still, we're very happy with third place. Nice to get this result on Ferrari's return to the fray!"

Mathieu Jaminet (Precote Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P4 overall: "I had to really ease off to avoid serious accident and a retirement following the collision on the first lap. After that, I was able to gain a few places even though overtaking is very difficult at this track."

Markus Pommer (MANN-FILTER Team HTP, Mercedes-AMG GT3), P5 overall: "The car ran like a dream! I was really able to attack, especially at the beginning of my stint and after the safety car period, and its consistency over the distance was also excellent."

Christopher Friedrich (Car Collection Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3), P6 overall, P1 in Pirelli Junior classification: "I'm very pleased. We've managed to make good progress with the car's development since yesterday, as Saturday was a bit of a mixed bag. Lance did a great job in qualifying and we were well placed as he handed over the car to me. What a great end to a good weekend!"

Lance David Arnold (Car Collection Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3), P6 overall, P1 in Pirelli Junior classification: "We made massive changes to the car before qualifying, which paid off. We could at last feel the tyres reaching their peak. We were a bit unsure whether it would also work well in the race, but the car was nice to drive. I'm pleased for the whole team that we made progress throughout the weekend."

Timo Bernhard (KÜS Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P7 overall: "A good result! We secured our first points of the season with seventh place in the second race. That was important after just missing out yesterday. We were consistently in the Top Ten throughout the weekend and have an excellent basis, on which to work. We've learned a lot once more. We have new people in our team, so P7 sends out an important message. We can now prepare for Most and attack again."

Frédéric Vervisch (Aust Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), P8 overall, P2 in Pirelli Junior classification: "I'm very pleased with the points we secured. That was our goal. We did a good job and were the best of 13 Audis. Nevertheless, we have to go on improving the car."

Nicolaj Rogivue (Aust Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), P8 overall, P2 in Pirelli Junior classification: "I'm very happy with second place in the Junior stakes. The car was difficult to drive. We had a lot of oversteer, so the result is good, also because we were the best-placed Audi in the race."

Ricardo Feller (BWT Mücke Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), P10 overall, P3 in Pirelli Junior Trophy: "It was a great first race. This opening round wasn't at all bad. I think we can look forward to having a good year."

Christopher Haase (BWT Mücke Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), P10 overall, P3 in Pirelli Junior Trophy: "You're not doing too badly if you can finish in the Top Ten in the ADAC GT Masters with 35 cars in the field. Ricardo Feller really flew out on track even though he doesn't yet have a driver's licence! Our team did a great job, but we still have some homework to do."

Klaus Bachler (KÜS Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P12 overall: "P12 at the finish line - we did quite well at pushing forwards. We worked hard over the weekend. Adrien's speed in the race and mine too were also quite good, but overtaking is practically impossible here. It's tough when you don't qualify up front."

Clemens Schmid (AutoArenA Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3), P13 overall: "Of course, it's not easy starting from 25th on the grid, especially since the other drivers' behaviour at the start was a bit too rough for my liking. But the car was very good in the race and we made the best of it."

Jan-Erik Slooten (IronForce by RING POLICE, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P22 overall, P3 in Pirelli Trophy classification: "Our set-up was better than in the first race, but we still have a lot of work to do. We had plenty of exciting but fair scraps out on track in the second race and moved up six places."