Duel for the Drivers crown between Owega/Wiebelhaus and Fourie/Zimmermann. Two-way battles in the Pro-AM Cup and Team competition come to a head. Concert highlight: “DTM Powerstage presented by Pirelli” with Kamrad and H-Blockx.
Drama is guaranteed at the finale of the ADAC GT Masters at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. The iconic circuit near Mannheim will host the final two races of the season on the DTM platform from 3rd to 5th October. Two 60-minute sprints will determine the new ADAC GT Masters champions, as Ford goes up against BMW in an age-old racing classic. The titles are also still up for grabs in the Pro-AM Cup, the “Road to DTM”, the Team competition and the Silver Cup. The Sunday race will be broadcast live on TV, with coverage on Sport1 starting at 15:00. Both races will also be shown live at 15:05 on Saturday and 15:15 on Sunday on Sport1.de, Joyn, ServusTV ON and youtube.com/ADACMotorsports, as well as being replayed in full on Sky Sport Mix in the evening after each race. Tickets for the finale start at € 49 and are available at dtm.com. Admission is free for under 16s when accompanied by an adult.
Duel for the ADAC GT Masters crown
For the 13th time in the history of the ADAC GT Masters, the final round will take place in Hockenheim, and fans can look forward to an enthralling battle for the title. Salman Owega (20/Cologne) and Finn Wiebelhaus (19/Obertshausen/both Haupt Racing Team) lead the Drivers’ Championship, having amassed 180 points in their Ford Mustang GT3. Their rivals, Leyton Fourie (20/RSA) and Tim Zimmermann (29/Langenargen) from FK Performance Motorsport, follow with 140 points in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Zimmermann expects many guests at his home event, but is keen to stress where his focus will lie: “I must try to distance myself from that, as we are ultimately here to battle for the championship. I am not putting myself under any pressure. I will just drive and see what happens. It is not over until it is over.”
Team-mate Fourie is taking a similar approach. He lists Hockenheim as his second home circuit, because he has driven more laps there than at virtually any other racetrack. “Starting the final weekend in second place in the championship is definitely a motivation for me. Finn and Salman are first and have something to lose. Our job is to put them under pressure,” says the ADAC GT Masters rookie, who is optimistic ahead of the visit to the 4.574-kilometre circuit. “My qualifyings are usually very good there. I have always really enjoyed the laps, particularly sector three. BMW has always been good in Hockenheim, although there are obviously a lot of variables. However, from a driving perspective, I feel very good.”
Meanwhile, the hunted will be trying not to get too stressed out. For 2023 champion Owega, this would be title number two in the ADAC GT Masters. Wiebelhaus would be crowned champion for the first time – at his home race, just 100 kilometres from his home of Obertshausen. “That does not put me under any pressure. We are out in front and need only to react to what the others do. They have to take greater risks to catch us. With that in mind, I am relaxed – and so is Salman,” says Wiebelhaus. “I love the atmosphere at the Hockenheimring and am always impressed by how many fans come to support us.”
The title races at a glance
The battle between Haupt Racing Team and FK Performance Motorsport also dominates the Team standings. HRT and the Ford Mustang GT3 lead with 299 points, followed by the BMW team from Bremen on 237. The top two cars from each team score points towards the Team competition.
In the Pro-AM Cup, for pairs consisting of aspiring young drivers and ambitious amateurs, there will be a battle between reigning champions Fach Auto Tech and the challenger Liqui Moly Team Engstler by GRT in Hockenheim. Alexander Schwarzer (36/DEU) and Alexander Fach (23/CHE) lead the way in the Porsche 911 GT3 R, courtesy of six class victories. Trailing them by 32 points are Jonas Karklys (36/LIT) and Emil Gjerdrum (18/NOR) in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, who have four wins to their name. “I will approach the races as I always do. I won’t be thinking about the title. However, I am better prepared physically and mentally,” says defending champion Schwarzer. “We will do everything we can to deliver another strong performance with the team and to finish both races, so that we can enjoy Sunday afternoon.”
The winner of the “Road to DTM” competition can look forward to financial support in the form of the entry fee for the coming DTM season. Wiebelhaus is top of this classification with 210 points, ahead of Owega on 201. 38 points off top spot is Fourie in third place. Porsche driver Simon Birch (18/DNK/Razoon – more than racing) and Sandro Holzem (21/Polch/Schubert Motorsport) in a BMW M4 GT3 Evo are 52 and 54 points back, but still have a mathematical chance of securing the funding. The duos both receive points for race results, with up to ten points awarded to the individual’s tally for qualifying results. Penalty points are also deducted from an individual’s points total.
The championship in the Silver Cup is a reflection of the overall standings. Here, Owega and Wiebelhaus again lead Fourie and Zimmermann, with the title presumably set to be decided between these two pairs. In third place, 52 points back and with an outside chance, are Birch and Leo Pichler (23/AT/Razoon – more than racing).
Party on Saturday evening with Kamrad and H-Blockx
Regardless of who celebrates winning titles, all DTM ticket holders can look forward to a free musical spectacle on Saturday evening (4th October). Rising star Kamrad and cult band H-Blockx will perform from 19:00 on the “DTM Powerstage presented by Pirelli”, behind the south stand (Südtribüne – block A).
