An alpine adventure! The German GT Championship travels to the Red Bull Ring this weekend (11th to 13th June) for round two of the season. For the first time this year, fans are able to cheer the teams on from the grandstands.
Two Porsche drivers head to the fastest track on the calendar as championship leaders in the ADAC GT Masters: defending champion Michael Ammermüller (35/Rotthalmünster) and works driver Mathieu Jaminet (26/F, both SSR Performance). Thanks to a hygiene and infection protection concept developed by the Red Bull Ring in collaboration with the ADAC GT Masters, up to 3,000 fans per day are permitted at the racetrack. TV partner NITRO will broadcast the two races live on free TV from 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday. They can also be watched free and without subscription vial livestream at TVNOW.de and adac.de/motorsport.
Key facts, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, races 3 and 4 of 14
Circuit length: 4,318 metres Layout: 10 corners (seven right, three left), driven clockwise Winners 2020, race 1: Henric Skoog/Nick Yelloly (Schubert Motorsport, BMW M6 GT3) Winners 2020, race 2: Jens Klingmann/Erik Johansson (MRS GT-Racing, BMW M6 GT3)
Favourites
After their pole position and victory on the Sunday of the season-opener in Oschersleben, Michael Ammermüller and Mathieu Jaminet take a four-point lead into the second race weekend. However the Red Bull Ring favours the second-placed pairing in the overall standings, last year’s winner Nick Yelloly (29/GB) and fellow BMW works driver Jesse Krohn (30/FIN, both Schubert Motorsport): the BMW M6 GT3 has won three of the past six races in Spielberg. Also among the favourites is the Callaway Competition Corvette C7 GT3-R. The powerful American sports car has already amassed five victories in Austria. Marvin Kirchhöfer (27/Lucerne), a three-time winner at the Red Bull Ring, and his partner Jeffrey Schmidt (27/CH) have their sights set on adding to that successful record.
Local favourites
No fewer than seven Austrians will be out to impress in front of their home crowd this weekend: Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (22/A, Küs Team Bernhard), Klaus Bachler (29/A, Precote Herberth Motorsport) and Mick Wishofer (21/A, MRS GT-Racing), the leader in the Pirelli Junior competition, will be at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R. Constantin Schöll (22/A) starts in a Mercedes-AMG run by the Zakspeed Mobil Krankenkasse Racing team, Clemens Schmid (30/A) in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo for the GRT Grasser Racing Team, which is based not far from the Red Bull Ring. Yaco Racing fields an all-Austrian duo: Simon Reicher (21/A) and Norbert Siedler (38/A) will share the driving duties in an Audi R8 LMS for the racing team, which also lines up with an Austrian licence.
Circuit
With its unique alpine backdrop, the Red Bull Ring is one of the most popular circuits in the ADAC GT Masters. The 4.318-kilometre track is also the fastest on the calendar and favours cars with a high top speed. This weekend is packed with thrilling motorsport: together with the ADAC GT Masters, the bill also features ADAC GT4 Germany, ADAC Formula 4 and ADAC TCR Germany, as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.
Fans
The main grandstand, the “Steiermark” stand and “Red Bull” stand are open to fans this weekend. Visitors can book their tickets for specific seats in advance of the event online at adac.de/motorsport. Advance ticket sale is open until 10th June. The standard 3G rules in Austria apply to all spectators: “Geimpft, Getestet, Genesen” – Vaccinated, Tested, Recovered. In order to gain access to the racetrack premises, visitors must provide evidence of a negative antigen test taken within the last 48 hours, or a negative PCR test performed no longer than 72 hours in advance, proof of having recovered from a COVID-19 infection, or a coronavirus vaccination. You can find more ticket information online at adac-motorsport.de/adac-gt-masters/faq-ticketing. Spectators planning to travel from Germany to round two of the ADAC GT Masters will find consistently updated information on entry to and staying in Austria at adac.de/news/oesterreich-urlaub-corona/.
Coverage
TV partner NITRO will provide extensive coverage from the Red Bull Ring. From 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday, the station will broadcast live from the circuit on free-to-air TV. The races and the two qualifying sessions will also be streamed online at TVNOW.de and adac.de/motorsport. TVNOW, Germany’s leading streaming platform will also show all the ADAC GT4 Germany, ADAC TCR Germany and ADAC Formula 4 races free of charge. Subscription or registration is not necessary.
Quotes ahead of the race weekend
Nick Yelloly (Schubert Motorsport, BMW M6 GT3): “After last year’s good result, I believe that we have an even stronger package this year. It is our second year in the ADAC GT Masters, so we should benefit from the experience. The goal is clearly to be up there among the front-runners in both races. We managed that in Oschersleben. The Red Bull Ring suits the BMW M6 GT3 very nicely and I also really enjoy driving there.”
Klaus Bachler (Precote Herberth Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R): “The expectations for the Red Bull Ring are big. We were extremely quick in certain conditions in Oschersleben and claimed a solid result with sixth place. We are looking for even more now. If we have a good qualifying, anything is possible. I am optimistic and looking forward to my home race.”