After chalking up three race wins and finishing runners-up in 2019, Mirko Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart are making way for Franck Perera and Albert Costa in the number 63 car. Former Toyota F1 test driver Perera has prior knowledge of the team and the ADAC GT Masters, having already won races and booked pole positions in the series. His Spanish team-mate has made only two guest starts in the Super Sports Car League back in 2017, so for him it will be relatively uncharted territory.

"It's important that we're up there among the front-runners right from the start," says Perera. "In the ADAC GT Masters, you can't afford to get your season off to a slow start, because the competition is getting tougher every year. So it's good that both the team and I already have a lot of experience in the series. This will make it easier for Albert to adapt to the ADAC GT Masters and to learn quickly. I made his acquaintance at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and we got on well together right away. We'll make a good team."

This gives Perera confidence for the season ahead: "I already had a good year with Rolf Ineichen in 2019 when we almost always qualified near the front of the grid. Lamborghini have really made a big step forward with the Evo version of the Huracán GT3. That was already evident last year when the car was fast on all the tracks on the calendar. Consequently, the only objective for us has to be the title. However, we know only too well how competitive the ADAC GT Masters is."

30-year-old Costa is also aware of the challenge, having got a feel for the ADAC GT Masters when he stood in for the injured Daniel Keilwitz at the Nürburgring in 2018, sharing a Callaway-Corvette with subsequent champion Jules Gounon: "I realised back then the high standard of competition. Now I'm looking forward to my first full season in the series as a Lamborghini works driver. I'm excited about the prospect, because the ADAC GT Masters is one of the world's most prestigious racing series and Grasser are absolutely one of the top teams. I've already driven for Grasser and partnered Franck in the 24 Hours of Daytona. That will certainly be a big help, because a lot of things are new for me. For example, there are four circuits I don't know yet - the Lausitzring, the Sachsenring, Zandvoort and Oschersleben. I will be preparing for the new tracks on the race simulator. The experience I gained in 2017 will certainly come in handy. For example, I know the routine for the weekend and how it differs from other series I have previously competed in."

The knowledge that he is following in the illustrious footsteps of long-time Grasser drivers Bortolotti and Engelhart doesn't worry Costa either: "I'm glad that there is some pressure. I can handle it well. I'm very happy to be in this position, because it is the ambition of every driver to be given the opportunity to drive for such a strong team and have such a great car. So I'm actually feeling rather relaxed about the whole situation, because I know that I have the tools to be successful."

In addition to the Huracán GT3 Evo driven by Perera and Costa, GRT Grasser Racing Team will be fielding two other GT3 sports cars made in Italy. Niels Lagrange will partner Clemens Schmid, while Steijn Schothorst will share a cockpit with Tim Zimmermann.