Official test sees ten teams prepare for season opener at the Dekra Lausitzring. Moritz Wiskirchen sets top time of 1:20.805 minutes.
Klettwitz. For the young drivers in the ADAC GT Masters, the official test on 7th May at the Lausitzring formed the dress rehearsal ahead of the opening round of the season. Ten teams, with a total of 25 drivers and six manufacturers, took the opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the season opener. In glorious sunshine and temperatures around 13 degrees, the protagonists used both the new slick from tyre partner Pirelli and the innovative and climate-friendly new fuel for the first time. The season kicks off from 23rd to 25th May at the Dekra Lausitzring, where it features on the DTM platform. Tickets start at € 59 and are available at dtm.com. Admission is free for under 16s.
The fastest time at the 3.478-kilometre circuit came courtesy of SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm. Moritz Wiskirchen (22/Euskirchen) stopped the clock at 1:20.805 minutes in his Mercedes-AMG GT3. “We tried a few things and made some adjustments in a few places. On the whole, we are already very well set for the opening race weekend,” said Wiskirchen. Team-mate Jannes Fittje (25/Langenhain) added: “The new tyres feel similar to drive on. In my opinion, they are a bit more durable and easier to handle, which could suit the young drivers.”
In second place was Alexander Fach (22/Fach Auto Tech). The Swiss clocked a time of 1:21.176 minutes in his Porsche 911 GT3 R. Rounding out the top three was newcomer Simon Birch (18/DEN/razoon - more than racing) – also at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R – with his fastest lap of 1:21.530 minutes.
The Ford Mustang GT3 run by Haupt Racing Team was making its ADAC GT Masters debut at the test day at the Dekra Lausitzring. “I had my first day in the Ford and must first get used to the size, weight, handling and general feel compared to my previous car,” said Jonathan Cecotto (25/Venezuela), son of former Formula 1 racer, DTM driver and motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto. “Generally speaking, I am delighted to be back racing in an ADAC Series, ten years after my time in ADAC Formula 4.”
Another new addition to the ADAC’s GT3 series is Scherer Sport PHX with the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2. “The focus for us was on familiarising ourselves with the Audi. We feel very comfortable as a team and have been happy with the performance so far,” said Denis Bulatov (26/Cologne). The hardest workers were Carrie Schreiner (26/Völklingen) and Alain Valente (28/CHE/both Land-Motorsport). They racked up a total of 185 laps in their Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2. The two manufacturers with the largest contingent of three cars at the Lausitzring were the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, run by FK Performance Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport, and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 of LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler by GRT and Paul Motorsport.
