A visit from a world champion, a big promotion, and a historic victory. The Paddock Radar from the Nürburgring.
A visit from a world champion
On Saturday, the Nürburgring welcomed a special guest. Kevin Großkreutz – 2014 World Cup winner, multiple German champion and cup winner – visited Max Reis during the opening race. The footballer headed onto the starting grid, where he was given the lowdown on the HRT driver’s Ford Mustang GT3. He then jumped into the Pace Truck to lead the field into the race, before watching the action unfold from the pit lane. “It was very interesting and totally new territory for me,” said Großkreutz. “The cars are very impressive, particularly the buttons on the steering wheel – that has to be seen to be believed. Max gave me a few insights and explained how tiring it is to drive those cars.” Großkreutz was so impressed that he definitely intends to return in the future.
Aston Martin on top
It was a very special weekend for Comtoyou Racing and all Aston Martin fans. Jamie Day became the first Aston Martin driver to secure pole position in the ADAC GT Masters since 2008 at the Sachsenring. Back then, it was Frédéric Makowiecki who started from the very front of the grid in an Aston Martin DBRS9 for Hexis Racing. Makowiecki had to settle for second place in the race itself. Not so Day and Baudouin Detout: they produced a commanding display to claim their maiden victory in the ADAC GT Masters and present their team, Comtoyou Racing, with its first success since joining the series this season. For British manufacturer Aston Martin, it was the first win since 2012 in the ADAC’s GT3 series. Back then, Christoffer Nygaard and Kristian Poulsen won race two at the Sachsenring in an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 run by Young Driver AMR.
Promotion to Junior driver
A special honour was bestowed upon championship leader Finn Zulauf. Shortly before the Nürburgring weekend, the driver from Königstein im Taunus was named an official Lamborghini GT3 Junior. “It is a great honour, and feels cool, to have taken this step and now be able to officially represent the Lamborghini brand,” said Zulauf. “It goes without saying that this nomination will only be the first step, and I will continue to work even harder.”
Patient visit in the paddock
He may not have been able to drive in the weekend’s races, but he was not going to miss out on a trip to the Nürburgring. Razoon driver Colin Bönighausen broke his right leg in a work-related accident after the Lausitzring, and was replaced by Alexander Tauscher for the two races at the ADAC Truck Grand Prix. “It is hard for me not to be able to drive here, but there is nothing I can do about that. However, I will be back behind the wheel at the Salzburgring,” said Bönighausen, optimistically. The operation on the break was successful, and his leg is healing very well.
From winner to winner
Felix Hirsiger and Finn Zulauf received their trophies from none other than Nicki Thiim at the podium ceremony after the opening race at thMax Hopp and Max Reis – darts meets motorsporte Nürburgring. Just days after bagging a brace of victories at the Norisring, the DTM driver could not resist dropping into the ADAC GT Masters at the Nürburgring to visit his team, Comtoyou Racing. Thiim also presented DTM team principal Gottfried Grasser and Gerhard Tweraser with their trophies for winning the Pro-Am class.
Darts meets ADAC GT Masters
The HRT garage briefly became a darts arena at the Nürburgring. Max Hopp, the “Maximiser”, popped in to throw a few arrows. He was the German number one for a long time, and played in the PDC World Championship on several occasions. Max Reis had the opportunity to play with him a little at the ADAC Truck Grand Prix. “I have known Max for a long time, and am a big darts fan. I play myself now and again. I was delighted that he visited me here at the Nürburgring, thanks to one of my sponsors,” said Reis.
New crowd record
As it is every year, the ADAC Truck Grand Prix was once again a real crowd puller. 135,000 spectators flocked to the circuit in the Eifel region in 2026 – 1000 more than last year – and were captivated by the trucks and the thrilling races in the ADAC GT Masters.
