Florian Spengler has now been an established figure in the strong field of professional drivers plying their trade in the ADAC GT Masters for a decade. He picked up another top-ten result alongside Markus Winkelhock on his most recent outing in Zandvoort.
Flashback, 24th April 2011: Spengler, 23 years old at the time, is making his ADAC GT Masters debut in Oschersleben at the wheel of a BMW Alpina B6 GT3 run by Liqui Moly Team Engstler. He had previously caused something of a shock, qualifying 17th out of 40 starters – ahead of drivers like former champions Christopher Haase and Tim Bergmeister, eventual works drivers like Maximilian Götz and Philipp Eng, and ex-Formula 1 star Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Together with team-mate Alex Plenagl, he battles his way into the top 15 in the race, before a collision ultimately results in the duo finishing 21st. A lot has happened since then. Now with 109 starts under his belt, Spengler is one of the most experienced drivers in the history of the racing series. Of the current field of 54 drivers, only six have lined up in more races than the Swabian.
BMW Alpina, McLaren, Lamborghini and Audi: Spengler’s super sports car career in the ADAC GT Masters makes for impressive reading. “I would like to have another go at driving the Alpina with the experience I have today. That was a huge ship, but the engine was brilliant. A really great car. My current Audi is also a top car. The record of the R8 LMS speaks for itself. I have also driven underdog cars now and again, which in contrast was not always easy, as there was very little support from the factory.”
The highlight of a decade of ADAC GT Masters was a podium in a Lamborghini in Zandvoort in 2017. “It was great to stand on the rostrum there. I have also enjoyed a few top-three results in the Pirelli Trophy, but to make it onto the overall podium is obviously totally different. Given the little practice I get – as a rule, I only drive on the seven race weekends – that is pretty decent. Unlike many drivers in the field, I am not a professional: I work for the family business during the week. However, it is great fun to drive in the ADAC GT Masters and to go head to head with the best GT3 drivers. I am very grateful to my partners for supporting me during these difficult times, and for allowing me to do what I do. Together with my team-mate Markus Winkelhock, I am obviously trying to make the very best of the situation.”
Spengler currently leads the Pirelli Trophy competition in his Audi. “We have had our ups and downs at the race weekends so far. The most successful event was the one in Zandvoort, where we finished in the points twice and were seventh on the Sunday. I am happy with that weekend. It was great fun and showed once again that, if you start towards the front of the field, it gives you the possibility to stay there and fight with the front-runners.”
“It is great fun driving with ‘Winki’,” says Spengler, praising his team-mate. “Everything comes together superbly. He is a Swabian, I am a Swabian. Although I have been around for a long time, I can still always learn from him. And it is also working out superbly with Car Collection. The atmosphere is very good and everyone is very motivated.”
Spengler is confident ahead of the fourth race weekend of the season at the Lausitzring. “I hope that we can carry the momentum from Zandvoort and back up those results at the Lausitzring. It is vital to secure a good starting position in qualifying. I want to stay at the top of the Pirelli Trophy competition and win the tyre package come the end of the year. That would really help me with my planning for next year. It would be great to pick up a few top-ten results in the overall classification. That is our goal. A podium would be a dream, but a lot of different factors must come together for that to happen, and it is obviously not easy against the experienced works drivers.”