ADAC GT Masters·22.5.2022

Paddock Radar from the Red Bull Ring

KTM boss Stefan Pierer and Motorsports Director Pit Beirer at the Red Bull Ring. Record DTM champion Bernd Schneider and former Formula 1 driver David Brabham. More than 2000 guests of BWT at the Red Bull Ring.

KTM boss visits the Red Bull Ring

Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG, visited the Red Bull Ring together with his Motorsports Director, Pit Beirer. Pierer presented trophies during the ADAC GT Masters podium ceremony. He and Beirer also watched their race cars in the ADAC GT4 Germany and the Fanatec GT2 European Series, which featured KTM board member Hubert Trunkenpolz, who celebrated his 60th birthday at the Red Bull Ring.

Old acquaintances: Bernd Schneider and David Brabham © Photo: ADAC

Motorsport legends Bernd Schneider and David Brabham at the ADAC GT Masters

David Brabham, son of the legendary Sir Jack Brabham, was a busy man at the Red Bull Ring. Together with record DTM champion Bernd Schneider, he presented the trophies at the ADAC GT Masters podium ceremony. His super sports car, the spectacular “Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept”, started in the GT2 class on the support programme for the ADAC GT Masters. The Brit also met some old acquaintances from his time as a driver. Brabham shared a cockpit in the Peugeot Le Mans Team with former Formula 1 driver Christian Klien, who was making a guest appearance in the German GT Championship in Spielberg. He also raced alongside Klaus Graf of Rutronik Racing for the Panoz team in the American Le Mans Series. He gave the command “Drivers, start your engines” ahead of the opening ADAC GT Masters race on Saturday.

Summit at the Red Bull Ring © Photo: ADAC

Summit at the Red Bull Ring

Stéphane Ratel, founder and CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group, and ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss met the principals of the teams in the ADAC GT Masters to exchange ideas at the Red Bull Ring. On the agenda were current and future developments in GT racing, as well as the backgrounds to SRO’s new GT2 class. For many years, the ADAC has worked closely with the SRO Motorsports Group in various different areas. For example, the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany use SRO’s recognised and balanced car classification, which uses data from global series to ensure the competition is fair.

2500 BWT employees experienced motorsport up close and personal © Photo: ADAC

More than 2000 BWT guests experience motorsport up close and personal

Series partner BWT invited more than 2000 guests to the race weekend at the Red Bull Ring. The guests of the water technology company were well looked after in the BWT event tent and experienced three days of motorsport at first hand in their own specific grandstand. They were able to check out the company’s sustainability concept, which is helping the environment with the “Bottle-Free Zone” initiative at each ADAC GT Masters event, which allows spectators, drivers and teams to do without single-use bottles.

The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series made its race debut in Spielberg © Photo: ADAC

Race debut with big-name driver pairing

The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series made its first race outing on the support programme for the ADAC GT Masters at the alpine rollercoaster in Spielberg. The 734-hp car from Affalterbach was put through its paces during a guest start in the Fanatec GT2 European Series. Sharing the driving duties were legendary German racing driver Bernd Schneider and SRO boss Stéphane Ratel. The spectators at the Red Bull Ring had a rare opportunity to see the Mercedes-AMG, of which only 55 have been produced, live and in action.

Christopher Högfeldt from Sweden wins the 2022 ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship © Photo: ADAC

Thomas Voss honours the new champion of the 2022 ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship

ADAC Motorsports Director Thomas Voss honoured the winner of the der ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW mobility+, Christopher Högfeldt, in Spielberg. The Swede won the title by just one point after a breath-taking finale. Högfeldt takes over as champion from Moritz Löhner, who had won the title three times in a row.

Christopher Haase lined up in his 150th ADAC GT Masters race on Saturday © Photo: ADAC

Milestone: 150 races in the ADAC GT Masters

Christopher Haase from Kulmbach reached a special milestone in Spielberg. The experienced driver from the Montaplast by Land-Motorsport team contested his 150th ADAC GT Masters race in the #28 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring. Haase was on the grid when the GT series was launched in 2007, and was the inaugural champion. This year, he is contesting his 14th season in the German GT Championship and is mentor to his 16-year-old partner, Salman Owega from Cologne. Haase was unable to make any real impact in his milestone race, but the Audi driver took it in his stride. “I had imagined a rather different result in my 150th race, but that is not so important in a moment like that. I am just proud to have lined up in so many races in the ADAC GT Masters, and hope there are many more to come,” said the 34-year-old.

Crowd favourite: The event stage © Photo: ADAC

Event stage: a crowd favourite

The event stage in the paddock proved to be a real crowd-puller at the Red Bull Ring. Away from the action on the track, visitors were well entertained with information, interviews and music. The “Meet the Drivers” session, which gave fans the opportunity to meet the fastest drivers, pose for selfies and collect autographs, was particularly popular.

Smile, please: GT power in the ADAC GT Masters

On Thursday evening, the teams in the ADAC GT Masters, ADAC GT4 Germany and the Fanatec GT2 European Series flexed their muscles. More than 60 cars had to be moved into position for a group photo with the GT2, GT3 and GT4 cars. It was worth the effort though, as the result was a unique photo.