The ADAC GT Masters returns from its summer break with the second event of the season outside of Germany from 5th to 7th September – and with a notable premiere: now in its 19th season, the ADAC’s GT3 series is taking its competitors and fans to a new racetrack – the Salzburgring.
The ADAC GT Masters is once again forging new paths with the Austrian circuit, which opened in 1969 and has hosted the Motorcycle World Championship in the past. The track itself is surrounded by tranquil forests just ten kilometres from Mozart’s city of Salzburg. It is 4.255 kilometres long and features six left turns and six right-handers, as well as a gradient of 3.8 percent. A number of drivers and teams tested at the circuit in the run-up to the event, and were impressed.
Highlight: ‘Paddock Corner’
“The highlight is the long right turn at the end of the home straight,” said Jannes Fittje. The SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm driver hit top speeds of over 240 km/h in the ‘Paddock Corner’. “That is one of the fastest turns I have ever driven through. It is really demanding, and exciting for the race.”
Finn Wiebelhaus, who currently leads the Drivers’ Championship alongside his Haupt Racing Team partner Salman Owega, was also full of praise for this section, and for the new ADAC GT Masters circuit in general. “There are slow, medium-fast and fast corners. You have a bit of everything, which means the car must be well balanced in all areas,” said the 19-year-old. “If everything comes together and the car is running well, the circuit is a lot of fun – particularly the high-speed turn eight.”
Local favourite Tim Hütter, who lines up for Liqui Moly Team Engstler by GRT in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, spoke of a slightly different race atmosphere, due to the surrounding trees and countryside. “The circuit is very unique, but still really cool,” said the young driver from Hörsching near Linz. The 18-year-old finds the most exciting section to be the chicane after the start/finish straight – the slowest and narrowest point of the track, and the first challenge for the drivers after the start. “Another highlight is the long straight, which you can really take flat out.”
Nordschleife feeling at the Salzburgring
Ford driver Dennis Fetzer was impressed by the perfect mix of fast turns and slow, technical corners. The 24-year-old particularly liked the banked turn four. “Generally speaking, I like old circuits, like the Nordschleife, which have a background steeped in tradition,” said Fetzer. Fittje felt similarly and also spoke of the ‘Nordschleife feeling’. “There are no run-off zones – you are straight onto the grass then into the barriers.”
The few run-off zones, the tight chicanes at the end of the long straights, and the high-speed turn eight promise to produce some thrilling racing at the Salzburgring. Overtaking manoeuvres are also possible, in certain circumstances. “If you manage to stay in touch in the first few corners, it is possible to overtake from the slipstream on the straights. However, it will obviously not be easy,” Fittje emphasised.
Plenty of grip in wet conditions
The drivers were particularly impressed by the good conditions in the wet. It rained heavily in the morning of the second day of testing, and conditions were still rather unsettled in the afternoon. “The track has a lot of grip in the wet and was good fun, although it does have a few pitfalls,” said Ford driver Wiebelhaus. The balance of the car must be particularly good at high speeds, in order not to skid.
Mercedes racer Fittje was also positively surprised by how good the conditions were at the Salzburgring. “I was a bit concerned, but there is still plenty of grip, even in the rain,” said the driver from the SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm team. “You feel really safe in wet conditions.” Only in the uphill section were there one or two incidents of aquaplaning, which the organisers will have addressed by the race weekend.
