Motorsport legends at the Nürburgring: No fewer than three FIA world champions have made the trip to the Eifel this weekend. Keke Rosberg (69, SF), Formula 1 champion in 1982, is there to support the outfit that he founded and which bears his name – Team Rosberg – in the ADAC GT Masters. It has been quite a successful weekend for them too, as Aaro Vainio (24, SF) and Michele Beretta (23, ITA) driving a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 registered their best result of the season in Saturday’s race. Two former World Rally champions are also watching the action at the Ring. Three-time title holder Juha Kankkunen (59, SF) is cheering on his son Niko (19, SF) in the ADAC TCR Germany series, while 1984 champion Stig Blomqvist (72, SWE) has accepted an invitation to present the trophies in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.
Bringing on talented youngsters: Girls on Track Karting Challenge is the name of an event taking place on a kart slalom course that has been set up in the old paddock of the Nürburgring. It is part of an FIA campaign organised by Women in Motorsport to provide young girls with their first experience of the sport at no cost to themselves. The event is being led by Rally Dakar champion Jutta Kleinschmidt.
Flash photography: Camp David, the official fashion partner of the ADAC GT Masters, arranged for a fan to hold a professional photo shoot in the pit lane on Thursday evening with ADAC GT Masters driver Mike David Ortmann (18, GER) in attendance. The delighted winner of the competition also enjoyed the racing action throughout the weekend.
Social media star: Another guest at the Nürburgring was TV presenter and YouTube star JP Kraemer. The 37-year-old visited IronForce by RING POLICE Fan World, which was set up by the team in the paddock for its home race, and signed autographs for fans. DJs provided the entertainment and there were interviews with drivers. There was also a car exhibition featuring the Porsche 911 GT2 in which Uwe Alzen (50, GER) won the 1995 ADAC GT Cup. IronForce by RING POLICE are contesting their first season in the ADAC GT Masters. They have entered a Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Jan-Erik Slooten (33, GER) and Lucas Luhr (39, GER).
Rally ace at ADAC GT Masters: Rally driver Marijan Griebel (29, GER) was also an honoured guest at the Nürburgring during the ADAC GT Masters weekend. Griebel, who is currently second in the German Rally Championship with Peugeot, will be driving a Citroën DS3 WRC in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland in just under two weeks’ time (16th - 19th August). He visited several garages, including that of Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard (37, GER, KÜS Team75 Bernhard). Bernhard, who himself occasionally competes in rallies, showed the two-time Junior European Rally Champion around his Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Birthday surprise: YACO Racing team boss Uwe Geipel received a very special gift from his family for his 60th birthday. The former rally driver, whose last competitive outing was in 2011, was entered in the Eifel Rallye Festival, sharing the cockpit of a Toyota Corolla WRC with YACO Racing team manager Burkhard Hesseler. “That was terrific fun,” said a delighted Geipel. He has another milestone to celebrate on Sunday when his team compete in their 100th Super Sports Car League race.