The Whit outing to the dunes of Circuit Zandvoort produced emotion, cakes and stunning fightbacks in the ADAC GT Masters. The Paddock Radar from weekend two of the ADAC’s GT3 series.
Kings of the comeback
With one win and two further podiums to their name, the FK Performance Drivers were the high-flyers in Zandvoort. However, the team’s two BMW M4 GT3 Evo had to plough their way through the field after two tricky qualifying sessions, making them the comeback kings in the dunes. Tim Zimmermann/Leyton Fourie and their team-mates Eduardo Coseteng/Julian Hanses gained a total of 26 positions across the two races. Zimmermann and Fourie climbed a remarkable nine places in one race: having started from eleventh on the grid on Saturday, they came home second and were actually in contention for the win right down to the finish. The impressive displays in the Netherlands are reflected in the overall standings. FK Performance Motorsport currently leads the Team competition, while Zimmermann and Fourie trail the leaders by just one point in the Drivers’ Championship.
Birthday party in the paddock
It was a very special Saturday in Zandvoort for Fach Auto Tech: driver Alexander Fach celebrated his 23rd birthday. The outfit led by team principal and father Alex Fach took the opportunity to have a little party. There was even a cake for the birthday boy. Fach gave himself a great present in qualifying the following day, landing his Porsche 911 GT3 R on second place on the grid in the Zandvoort rain.
First pole for Jannes Fittje
Cries of joy, clenched fists and emotional moments. It is safe to say that Jannes Fittje from SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm was pretty happy with his first pole position in the ADAC GT Masters. No wonder: the Mercedes-AMG driver had waited four years and 311 days for this moment – since making his ADAC GT Masters debut at the Lausitzring in 2020. “The plan was not for it to take so long to get my first pole. They were long years, but good things come to those who wait. I have always liked the rain, and luck was on our side in this qualifying session,” said a delighted Fittje. However, the joy did not last long. The 25-year-old defended his position at the start, but soon dropped to the back of the field with a technical issue, which ultimately forced him out of the race.
Celebrations at Paul Motorsport
The trip to the Dutch dunes was certainly worth the effort for Dresden-based Paul Motorsport. On Saturday, the team claimed its maiden ADAC GT Masters victory with Finn Zulauf and Simon Connor Primm. One day later, Zulauf backed up that success with pole position – the rookie’s second in just two qualifying sessions in the ADAC’s GT3 series. The win was not to be this time, but the two youngsters did make it onto the Silver Cup podium in third place and now lie fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. The family team also had cause for celebration in the DTM: Maximilian Paul, who runs the team alongside his father Tobias, claimed his first podium in the opening race in Zandvoort.
The Eifel calls
Seven of the drivers in the ADAC GT Masters will take time out to compete in the ADAC Ravenol 24h Race between race weekends. Four drivers line up in the SP9 class: Jannes Fittje in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, Dennis Fetzer and Salman Owega share a Ford Mustang GT3, and Nico Hantke takes on the challenge in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo. Moritz Wiskirchen starts alongside his brother in a BMW M4 GT4 in the SP 8T class, while Finn Zulauf will put pedal to the metal in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport in the Cup 3 category. Carrie Schreiner will be making her sixth appearance in the endurance classic, having made her debut back in 2019. The 28-year-old drives a BMW M4 GT4 in the AT3 class.
