Schubert Motorsport drivers win for the first time in the ADAC GT Masters. Zimmermann and Fourie of FK Performance Motorsport make it a double podium for BMW. Haupt Racing Team duo Reis and Gjerdrum complete the podium in a Ford.

The long wait is over: Sandro and Juliano Holzem (22/Polch/both Schubert Motorsport) have claimed their first victory in the ADAC GT Masters at the Dekra Lausitzring. The twins, at the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3, came home 3.141 seconds ahead of fellow BMW drivers Tim Zimmermann (29/Langenargen) and Leyton Fourie (20/ZAF/both FK Performance Motorsport). This was win number 14 in the ADAC GT Masters for the experienced Schubert Motorsport team. The two BMW pairs were joined on the podium by Max Reis (19/Ramstein) and Emil Gjerdrum (19/NOR/both Haupt Racing Team) in a Ford Mustang GT3. "That is a big weight off my shoulders. We have often shown that we are capable of winning, and have often come close, but kept having bad luck in the past. A big thank you goes to our team for the good strategy and great car," said a delighted Sandro Holzem. His twin brother was also beaming with joy: "It is like we have finally broken the curse. We are very happy. We have waited so long for this victory, and the performance has always been there. We have finally done it. In my first stint, I tried to maintain the pace and avoid making any mistakes. I am very relieved that our efforts have finally been rewarded."

An earlier shower meant that the Dekra Lausitzring was still damp at the start of the first endurance race of the season, while the heat had also relented slightly, with the ambient temperature around 26 degrees and the track temperature down to 32 degrees. Sandro Holzem, who started the race from pole position, remained unchallenged at the head of the field, followed by Kiano Blum (19/AUT/Haupt Racing Team) in a Ford and the BMW of Zimmermann. Behind them, Felix Hirsiger (28/CHE/Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport) in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 overtook Colin Bönighausen (21/Isernhagen/Razoon - more than Racing) in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The first phase of pit stops shook the field up a little. While almost all the teams opted for the longer stop with a tyre change, Schubert Motorsport and the Ford Mustang of Reis and Gjerdrum stayed on older tyres, which allowed the Haupt Racing Team duo to climb into second place - just ahead of their team-mate Niklas Kalus (21/Duisburg/Haupt Racing Team), who had taken over from Blum in the Ford. Kalus made contact with the wall whilst battling for position, and ultimately had to retire from the race. Meanwhile, Fourie had already closed in from behind in the BMW, and he spent almost his entire stint scrapping with Gjerdrum for second place. "We did not expect that kind of pace in the race, but are obviously not complaining. The car was in good nick in these conditions," said Fourie. "We were really fast on the new tyres, but the turbulence behind the Ford made it tricky to find an opportunity to overtake. To be fair, I have to say that Emil defended his position very well."

The eventual winners remained in the lead after the second pit stop phase, but initially came under pressure from Zimmermann while they were still on cold tyres. Championship leader Hirsiger came out of the pits in third place, as the Porsche 911 GT3 R of Leo Pichler (24/AUT) and Colin Bönighausen (21/Isernhagen/both Razoon - more than Racing) had run out of fuel in the pit lane entrance. The resulting safety car saw the field bunch up again, and Reis, who now had a fresh set of tyres on his Ford Mustang, first caught and then passed Hirsiger. "I knew from last year that it is a big advantage to have fresh tyres at the end. Especially as it was still damp during the first pit stop phase, which would have made it more difficult to get the tyres up to working temperature. The safety car obviously also helped ensure that I was able to push again", said Reis. "I am very happy. We have finally made it onto the podium, having had a very tough season so far, because we have had far more pace than we were ever able to show."

Felix Hirsiger (28/CHE) and Finn Zulauf (21/Königstein im Taunus/both Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport) eventually came home fourth and successfully defended their lead at the top of the table. Fifth place went to Storm Gjerdrum (16/NOR) and Fabio Rauer (19/Stolberg/both FK Performance Motorsport) in another BMW, ahead of Mark Kastelic (18/SLO) and Pavel Lefterov (28/BGR/both Razoon - more than Racing) in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. Local favourite Simon Connor Primm (21/Großschirma) and his team-mate Robin Rogalski (25/POL/HGL Racing) were seventh in their Audi, while Alain Valente (29/CHE) and Joseph Ellerine (22/ZAF/both FK Performance Motorsport) ended the race in eighth place in a BMW. They were followed over the finish line by Jamie Day (20/GBR) and Baudouin Detout (25/FRA/both Comtoyou Racing) in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Rounding out the top ten were John Paul Southern (24/USA) and Jonas Karklys (36/LIT/both Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport) in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2.

Sport1 will broadcast the second endurance race in the ADAC GT Masters at the Dekra Lausitzring live on free-to-air TV from 15:05 on Sunday. The race will also be streamed live on Joyn, ServusTV On and youtube.com/ADACMotorsports. Qualifying will be live on the ADAC YouTube channel and Joyn from 08:30 tomorrow morning.