A special race weekend awaits the GRT Grasser Racing Team at the Red Bull Ring: the ADAC GT Masters is virtually on the doorstep of the most successful Austrian racing team in the German GT Championship. In an interview, team principal Gottfried Grasser discusses his childhood memories of Formula 1, the features of the alpine circuit, and his goals for the second round of the season.

The team from Knittelfeld, just a few kilometres from the Red Bull Ring, fields no fewer than four Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo this season – more than any other team in the ADAC GT Masters. The team has shone at its home event on several occasions in the past: in 2015, it took victory at the first attempt on its debut with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3. Two years later, the team won the fastest race in the history of the series. Last year, Grasser drivers were on pole position for both races.

How important is this race weekend to you and your team?

Gottfried Grasser: “The Red Bull Ring is a great circuit and located in a beautiful region. As the track is right on our doorstep, racing there is always very special. It has a unique flair, as there is an incredible association with the event. And I am delighted that fans will be allowed at the racetrack again.”

Are you extra motivated for your home event?

“The whole team is always very motivated, whenever we travel to a racetrack. However, we always have an extra smile on our faces at the Red Bull Ring. The fact that you can sleep in your own bed on the race weekend also helps to create a positive atmosphere.”

What are the features of the Red Bull Ring?

“At first glance, the track only consists of seven corners and looks really simple. However, it has two characteristics: in the first part, top speed is very important and there are only very slow corners. In contrast, high cornering speeds are crucial in the second part. As such, you always have to decide which way to go when setting the car up: for top speed or cornering speed. That makes the circuit very special. You don’t get that balancing act anywhere else. The fascinating thing is that it often balances itself out in the end, regardless of which way you opt for.”

As local favourites, do you have a home advantage?

“Not really, as the Red Bull Ring is one of the circuits, at which we do the least testing. We line up with our race cars all over the world, and often simply do not have time to test at the Red Bull Ring. We obviously know the circuit well, but the more important factor is whether or not the track suits your car.”

You grew up near to the Red Bull Ring. What is your oldest memory of the circuit?

“I can remember attending the last Formula 1 race at the old Österreichring as a boy in 1986. I had to go to the medical centre at the circuit, because I had been stung by a bee. The worst thing was not the pain, but the fact that it meant I missed the start of the Formula 1 race. Back then, I often went to the circuit with my cousin and friends, as there was always something going on. As such, I have a lot of associations with the circuit. Even when it was not used for a few years, I still went there on several occasions to check out the ruins.”

When did you drive at the circuit for the first time?

“I drove a car at the circuit in the mid-1990s. In a race car, it was about 1997 in a Formula Opel belonging to Walter Penker, who had a team at the Red Bull Ring at the time.”

What have been your highlights so far at your home event in the ADAC GT Masters?

“Our victory in 2015, on the debut of the new Huracán GT3, was rather special. We managed to win at the first attempt with the new car in the series. That was very impressive and is something that we will never forget. However, there are many other memories – including from our early years. These come to the fore again whenever I travel to the circuit. After a crash in 2013, for example, we managed to get the car repaired in the workshop with just ten minutes remaining until qualifying. Every race weekend has something special that you take away from it.”

What are your goals for this year?

“A home win would be wonderful, but it will not be easy. If we get everything right and don’t make any mistakes, it is possible. We will do our best.”

With four Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo, the GRT Grasser Racing Team is fielding more cars in the ADAC GT Masters than any other team. Is that a big challenge?

“It is a great challenge. Personally, I have always wanted to face this challenge and try out new methods. Motor racing is like a gearbox, all the individual gears have to interlock perfectly for everything to run smoothly. We are not only running four cars in the ADAC GT Masters this weekend, but also a fifth car in the USA. On the Hockenheim weekend, we will have seven cars in action around the world. But it is a lot of fun and great to see how the employees are rising to the challenge.”