ADAC GT Masters·17.3.2020

HTP Winward Motorsport with two Mercedes pairings: Experienced HTP drivers, Maximilian Götz and Indy Dontje, will partner each other again in 2020

With their two formidable pairs of drivers, German-American team, HTP Winward Motorsport, intend to have a big say in who wins the title in the ADAC GT Masters this season. Former DTM driver, Maximilian Götz (34, GER) will share a cockpit with Indy Dontje (27, NL) as they did last year. Philip Ellis (27, GB) is also still at HTP but will have the support of an awesome new partner in his Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, reigning FIA GT World Cup champion, Raffaele Marciello (25, ITA).

The outfit from Altendiez near Koblenz won the team competition in the 2018 ADAC GT Masters as HTP Motorsport but will compete under the name HTP Winward Motorsport in 2020, thereby recognising an increase in collaboration with the Americans from Winward Racing that first started in 2017. The two Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos racing under the banner of the German-American partnership will continue to use start numbers 47 and 48.

Maximilian Götz and Indy Dontje will share the drive in the familiar #47 Mamba liveried in the bright yellow-green colours of Mann-Filter component suppliers. The two of them celebrated a win and finished third in the standings in 2019 just one point behind the runners-up. Car number 48 has changed its livery to white and blue and now bears the logos of Knaus Tabbert, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of caravans and motorhomes. Philip Ellis also has a new partner in the cockpit, Raffaele Marciello, who is of Italian parentage but was born and lives in Switzerland. He was a test and reserve driver for the Sauber Formula 1 team and has driven the Mercedes-AMG since 2017. He became a works driver in 2018 and won the Blancpain GT title. He has contested four races in the ADAC GT Masters so far and should take part in 14 more during 2020.

Apart from fielding a strong line-up in the ADAC GT Masters, HTP Winward Motorsport intend to increase their commitment to bringing on young talent and during 2020, will race a production-based GT sports car in the ADAC GT4 Germany which will once again form part of the ADAC GT Masters support programme. Two promising youngsters, whose names have not yet been announced, will contest the series, driving a current spec Mercedes-AMG GT4 from 2020. The 'baby' Mamba prepared by HTP Winward Motorsport will also race in Mann-Filter livery.

"We are strengthening our presence in the German motorsport scene with race outings in the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany while at the same time, taking our youth training programme to a whole new level," said Christian Hohenadel, Team principal at HTP Winward Motorsport. "Ideally, we can now support young talents from the HTP Kart Team/CV Performance Group as they make their way via GT4 up into the top echelons of GT racing." Hohenadel was a competitor in the ADAC GT Masters for many years and knows the motor racing scene like the back of his hand. He has been a member of HTP Winward Motorsport's senior management team since November 2019.