ADAC GT Masters·9.6.2019

Paddock radar from ADAC GT Masters in Austria: Ex F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya at Red Bull Ring

ADAC GT Masters drivers in photo shoot: In the run-up to the race weekend at the Red Bull Ring, Sebastian Asch (33, GER, HB Racing), Marvin Dienst (22, GER, Schütz Motorsport), Christian Engelhart (32, GER, Orange1 by GRT Grasser) and Marvin Kirchhöfer (25, CH, Callaway Competition) showed that they are multi-talented, not just as racing drivers but also as models. They were in the pit lane last Wednesday afternoon for a photo shoot with series partner, herrenausstatter.de, who were taking photos for the upcoming autumn/winter catalogue and the new promotion for the online shop. herrenausstatter.de have been partners of the Super Sports Car League since the start of this season. The company logo is also displayed on the collar fasteners of the drivers' overalls.

Ex-F1 star at Red Bull Ring: Seven-time grand prix race winner Juan Pablo Montoya came to Spielberg to watch racing this weekend. The 43-year-old was at the track to support ADAC Formula 4 driver Alessandro Famularo (15, YV, Prema Powerteam). Montoya presented the trophies at the ADAC GT Masters awards ceremony on Saturday while on Sunday, he gave the drivers the signal to start their engines by holding up the famous "Drivers start your engines" sign sponsored by series partners, Camp David.

Nice to see you!: TV presenters Tanja Bauer and Julia Josten were also at the Red Bull Ring. While Tanja has worked for years on Sky's Formula 1 broadcasts, Julia presented the live broadcasts from the ADAC GT Masters in 2015 and 2016 for SPORT1. Dirc Seemann, editor-in-chief at the sports channel, was also at the ever popular race weekend in the Alps.

Austrian pop: Viennese singer-songwriter, 22-year-old Tina Naderer and her band entertained fans with their music during the Pit Walk on Saturday. She has previously appeared as a contestant on the TV show, The Voice of Germany, singing her debut single, Bleibst du bei mir (Stay with me).

Having a laugh!: The spectators looked on in amazement as the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo came in for its mandatory pit stop on Saturday. Waving light sabres, Darth Vader and his storm troopers were there to receive them. "We wanted to come up with something really special for our home fixture, so we had our mechanics dress up in Star Wars costumes," said Team Principal, Gottfried Grasser, whose outfit comes from Knittelfeld, just a few kilometres from the Red Bull Ring. "We certainly caused a bit of a stir. A journalist from Japan even contacted me about it." A video of the pit stop is on the ADAC's YouTube channel at youtu.be/0k4B6Iso1nw.

Winter sport in summer: Ferrari driver Sebastian Asch (33, GER, HB Racing) and Audi colleagues, Max Hofer (20, A, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) and Patric Niederhauser (27, CH, HCB-Rutronik Racing), took part in a contest with a difference on Friday. The three of them went head-to-head for a three-way shoot-out between Germany, Austria and Switzerland in a curling competition in the Red Bull Ring paddock. The winner was ADAC GT Masters championship leader, Niederhauser. "It was pretty ace to be curling in summer. That was my first time ever and it was really great," said Sebastian Asch.

Special milestone: Mercedes-AMG driver Maximilian Götz (33, GER, Mann-Filter Team HTP) contested his 100th ADAC GT Masters race on Sunday. The 2012 champion first raced in the Super Sports Car League in 2010 at Hockenheim. Audi driver Elia Erhart (31, GER, EFP by Tece) will also reach a minor milestone on Sunday for his 50th start in the ADAC GT Masters.

Le Mans fever: No less than four ADAC GT Masters drivers will be competing next week in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's premier sports car race. Stefan Mücke (37, GER, BWT Mücke Motorsport) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (37, NL, Team Zakspeed BKK Mobil Oil Racing), will both drive Ford GTs in the one-day classic and are already in France. Aston Martin works driver Maxime Martin (33, B, Propeak Performance) and Porsche driver Thomas Preining (20, A, Precote Herberth Motorsport) are still racing this weekend at the Red Bull Ring. "Le Mans is the top highlight of the year. It's the big one," says Martin. "After having problems in 2018, we're now more confident but it will be very close. On test day, just one second covered 15 GTE cars. It won't be easy, but we intend to secure a win in class." Thomas Preining is the only one of the four ADAC GT Masters drivers to be making his first appearance at Le Mans: "Of course, the race is very special. It's simply unique with all the razzmatazz surrounding it, the parades and the atmosphere. Still, I'll try to approach the race like any other and not let it drive me crazy. The race will be tough, for sure, but I'm really looking forward to it."