Gary Hauser (31/LUX) and Markus Pommer (32/Untereisesheim) have done it. The Duqueine D08 drivers were crowned champions of the Prototype Cup Germany, which is organised by the ADAC and Creventic, with races to spare at TT Circuit Assen. The Racing Experience duo won one race and finished runners-up in the other at the 4.555-kilometre circuit in the Netherlands. That means they can no longer be caught at the season finale, which takes place at the Nürburgring in mid-October.
“Markus is a very analytical driver with a lot of experience. He knows exactly what he is doing in a race car. Gary is a very relaxed driver and brings an element of calm to the team. They both complement each other perfectly – and that gives everyone a lift,” says team manager Lea Mauer, full of praise for her two drivers. “We are thrilled with the title. The whole team has done an awesome job all season. There have been no DNFs, the car and drivers have always been reliable. As such, we can confidently say that we are worthy champions.”
Hauser/Pommer have consistently been among the front-runners in a strong Prototype Cup Germany field throughout the whole season. The season-opener at the Hockenheimring yielded their first success: a second place and a race win. The duo consequently left the circuit near Heidelberg as championship leaders. “Hockenheim was obviously a highlight, especially as it is my home track,” Pommer recalls. “In the Sunday race, Gary gave me the car in second place. I only managed to overtake the leader right at the end. It was a really hard-fought win. But motorsport is great fun when it’s like that.”
After a second and third place at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, they briefly waved goodbye to the top of the table. Fifth and fourth place on the famous Formula 1 track at Circuit Zandvoort may have been the pair’s only two results outside the top three, but it was still sufficient to see Hauser and Pommer regain the overall lead – a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the season. “Zandvoort was a curious weekend. I only narrowly missed out on pole position for the Saturday. Then the start of the race did not quite work out. After that, it was all very eventful and chaotic. On the Sunday, I was fourth and could not find a way past the car in front. All in all, you could say that we regained the championship lead, because our closest rivals had an even more disappointing weekend,” says Pommer, recalling the event in the Dutch dunes on the North Sea coast.
They extended their lead with another race win and a third place at the Norisring, giving themselves the opportunity to wrap up the title with races to spare at the penultimate race weekend in Assen. “We never expected to be champions with races still to come,” says Hauser. “We always drove with our heads this season and also had good pace. That was the key to winning the title.”
Markus Pommer is a well-known figure in German motorsport. After starting out in karting, he switched to single-seater racing in 2007. He then started in Formula ADAC the following season. In 2012, he finished fourth in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. In 2014, he won the title in the German Formula 3 Cup. Two years later, in 2016, he made the move to the ADAC GT Masters where he is one of the most successful drivers with six race wins to his name. Pommer then shifted his focus to prototype racing in 2021 and 2022, when he lined up in the LMP2 class in the European Le Mans Series. The 32-year-old made his debut in the Prototype Cup Germany in 2023, and was crowned champion at the first attempt. “I put the title right up there with the one from Formula 3. However, the success in the Prototype Cup Germany feels a little nicer, as I had had a lot of bad luck in recent years. As such, it feels twice as good to finally be back on top. It is a very important time right now, as it is breathing new life into my career. I am just happy and grateful.”
Pommer completed his masters in real estate business last year and works for the family business in the construction industry. Gary Hauser is not a full-time professional either. The driver from Luxembourg studied business administration and economics and works as an accountant. His motorsport career began in karting, after which he switched to Belgian Formula Renault. This was followed by seasons in the German Formula 3 Cup and the Boss GP series, in which he drove a GP2 car. Now 31 years old, he has been at the wheel of an LMP3 car since 2017. Hauser knows the Racing Experience team well, as team principal Christian Hauser is his father and team manager Lea Mauer his wife. “It is very special to race in a family team. We all love motorsport and enjoy the time together, but are still extremely professional.”
It remains to be seen whether the new champions will be back to defend their title in the Prototype Cup Germany. “It is too soon to talk about any plans for the 2024 season,” says Hauser. “However, I definitely want to be involved again.” Pommer is of a similar opinion. “I had a lot of fun in the Prototype Cup Germany – partly because it allowed me to race in the ADAC environment again. If it is possible and convenient, then I would happily come back for more next year.”
