In Michael and Johannes Kapfinger, and Juliano and Sandro Holzem, there are not one but two pairs of twins in this year’s ADAC GT Masters. That brings the number of sets of twins to have raced in the iconic series to four.
Michael and Johannes Kapfinger line up in a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Team Joos by Twin Busch. The two youngsters from Passau came to the ADAC GT Masters seeking a new challenge, and have formed a strong team together. The young drivers immediately demonstrated their potential, finishing third in the Sunday race to claim their first podium at the opening round of the season. The brothers from Lower Bavaria currently lie eighth in the Drivers Championship with 77 points. “We are identical in many ways, not just our looks. That is probably why we get on so well. However, if one of us finds a faster line or is better somewhere, then we always discuss it. Only that way can we continue to develop and get the maximum out of our package. For me, there is nothing better than starting alongside my twin brother,” says 21-year-old Michael passionately. The word “Twin” also stands out in the team name. It refers to the company belonging to Marc and Dennis Busch, who also raced in the ADAC GT Masters in 2017.
This season’s second pair of twins are Sandro and Juliano Holzem from Polsch, who are battling for points for the Land Motorsport team. Sandro raced in the DTM last year and also made a number of guest starts in the ADAC GT Masters. The two 20-year-olds are now contesting the full season together in the iconic series. Their best result came in race seven of the season, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The youngsters from the Rhineland-Palatinate were sixth across the finish line and consequently climbed into 12th place in the Drivers Championship. It is proving to be a fascinating experience for team principal Christian Land: “We have already had siblings sharing one of our cars in the ADAC GT Masters, in the form of Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde. However, twins are something new for us, and rather unique. Sandro and Juliano may look similar at first glance, but when you work closely with the two of them you notice what strengths and characteristics each one brings to the table. It is definitely fun working with them both.”
The first twins in the ADAC GT Masters were Alfred and Robert Renauer, who are also the best-known in the history of the series. Alfred started a total of 73 races, while Robert is one of the series’ most prolific starters, with 153 appearances to his name. He also claimed five pole positions and seven race wins. After finishing runner-up in the championship in 2013, he finally won the ADAC GT Masters title in 2018. However, this was not alongside his brother, but with Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet. Despite this, Alfred was still involved in the title win, as he had taken on the role of team principal at championship-winning team Herberth Motorsport.
