Tim Zimmermann will contest his third season in the German GT Championship in 2022. He impressed on his debut in 2020, winning the Pirelli Junior competition. This year, the 25-year-old will line up alongside champion Christopher Mies at the wheel of one of three Audi R8 LMS evo II run by the Montaplast by Land-Motorsport team, as he joins last season’s championship winning team. In an interview, the former ADAC Stiftung Sport driver from Langenargen discusses his perfect start to life in the ADAC GT Masters, a season of learning, and the anticipation of a new environment.

2022 is your third season in the German GT Championship. What have you learned from your first two years in the ADAC GT Masters?

My debut in 2020 was an incredibly good start to the series, as I won the Pirelli Junior competition. In contrast, last season was unfortunately less successful and rather difficult. I have had ups and downs in my first two years of GT3 racing. I have learned an incredible amount as a result. The last year was very demanding and a learning experience in many ways. Although the result at the end of the season was disappointing, I still have great confidence in my skills, as I know what I am capable of. I am now looking forward to the new challenge with Land-Motorsport. The team has shown on multiple occasions that it is among the best. It is a great honour for me to drive the championship winning car. It shows me that the team believes in me, and that is a good feeling.

You will be switching manufacturer for the coming season. How big a challenge will it be to line up in the new Audi R8 LMS evo II instead of a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo?

I think the change of manufacturer from Lamborghini to Audi will be the smallest hurdle for me. With the new Audi R8 LMS evo II and the new engine, I don’t expect any major changes in performance compared to the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo. The aerodynamic components will definitely make the biggest difference. Audi’s new rear spoiler concept is very interesting and finding out what works well, or even not so well, with it will be an exciting process. Otherwise, the two cars are very similar. That is definitely an advantage for me.

A new car also means a new team. What was pivotal in your decision to work with Montaplast by Land-Motorsport?

I spoke to multiple teams and looked to see which team would suit best. Everyone knows that Land-Motorsport is a fantastic team and we got on superbly at our first meeting. We struck up a good understanding, which made the decision easy for me. It was not just about the team’s success in the past, but it is also important to me to be able to present all my sponsors. To do that, I need a lot of space on the car. That was one important topic, and fortunately we came to a quick agreement on that too.

How does it feel to be driving the championship winning car with the number 1 on it?

There is obviously a certain degree of pressure, some of which I put on myself. The new season marks the start of a new chapter and everyone starts from scratch. For this reason, I am trying not to be too intimidated by the number 1 on the car, but am instead focussing on what lies ahead of us. The excitement about the great new environment is definitely the overwhelming feeling.

What did you get up to during the winter break, and are preparations already underway for the coming season?

I was very busy during the winter months, met sponsors, and was definitely not bored. However, I also went on holiday and was able to relax and recharge my batteries in Thailand. As a team, we are currently in the middle of our pre-season preparations. We are testing a lot and working on our processes.

Have you already set your goals for this season?

Everyone wants to compete at the front of the field, and everyone wants to win. We are no different. However, we are also aware of the strength in depth in the ADAC GT Masters and that the battle for the championship will not be an easy one. We will do our best and obviously fight to defend the title.