It came to pass at Circuit Zandvoort in 2026: 16 years old at the time, Storm Gjerdrum claimed his first podium finish in the ADAC GT Masters. Big celebrations followed among his team, FK Performance Motorsport. Among those celebrating was a member of Haupt Racing Team: his 19-year-old brother Emil. Out on the track, the two brothers are rivals. Away from the track, Emil is just as happy about Storm’s podium as his little brother would be two weeks later, when Emil got to spray the champagne twice at the Lausitzring.

“We are both very ambitious and help each other,” says Emil. They analyse videos and data, and train hard together. However, one thing is very important to the brothers: “We obviously don’t discuss any data or any internal information from our respective teams.”

After all, Storm Gjerdrum shares the BMW M4 GT3 Evo with Fabio Rauer at FK Performance Motorsport, while Emil Gjerdrum is striving for success alongside Max Reis in a Ford Mustang GT3 belonging to Haupt Racing Team. “It felt a bit strange at first,” Emil reveals. “But nobody makes a big thing of it. I eat with his team, and he does so with mine. Both are very friendly and welcoming.”

The two went head-to-head on the track at the very first race weekend of the season, at the Red Bull Ring. “It goes without saying that we should just focus on driving, but it was a bit special and I thought: oh no, that’s my brother ahead of me,” laughs Storm, who is contesting his first season in the ADAC GT Masters. Emil adds pragmatically: “I obviously drive just as I would against any other opponent. Perhaps sometimes a little more cautiously, as I know that my parents will receive both the invoices if I crash into my brother.”

Racing: the family sport

The brothers and their family live not far from the Norwegian capital Oslo, on the tranquil island of Nesoya, which is connected by bridge to the mainland. Motor racing is deeply ingrained in the Gjerdrum family: their grandfather used to race as a hobby, and was accompanied by their father Mads. So it was, that he too started out in vintage motorsport at the age of 18. From childhood, life for Storm and Emil Gjerdrum was all about weekends together in an old Mercedes van at the racetrack, barbecues in the evening and no-nonsense racing. “Our father let us try out a wide range of different sports – particularly the less expensive ones,” Emil chuckles. “However, we both wanted to race karts and did a lot to make that happen. Nothing else made sense to us.”

Emil’s involvement in ADAC GT4 Germany ultimately came about through his father Mads, who got to know Mücke Motorsport during a historic event in 2013. When it came to plotting the future, Mads Gjerdrum rang Berlin and, a little while later, Emil was lining up for Mücke Motorsport. After two years, he made the step up to the ADAC GT Masters in 2025. Storm started out in the ADAC Touring Car Junior Cup, contested a few races in ADAC GT4 Germany, before making his debut in the ADAC’s GT3 series as a guest starter at the Salzburgring in 2025. At the start of the current season, he and Rauer made history as the third-youngest driving duo in the ADAC GT Masters.

Against each other, for a stronger togetherness

“We compete virtually 24/7,” says Storm, laughing. When the two are not battling it out in a car, their competitiveness transcends to other levels. “Being brothers helps us in general, as I always want to be better than Storm, and he would like to be better than me,” Emil admits. “If Storm goes jogging, I have to go to. And vice versa. We push and motivate each other away from the track.”

The winter is no exception in this regard. “In Norway, the lakes are frozen and we drive on them,” says Storm. “It is similar to driving in the wet. We have spikes on the tyres, but you need good car control. That also helps us when we go racing.” It goes without saying, in a country as mad about winter sports as Norway, that the two brothers also enjoy various types of skiing. Storm also plays tennis and football, while Emil focusses solely on training for his race outings.

Family power in a Mini Cooper

They include vintage Mini Cooper races in identical cars. Father Mads also lines up here, and goes head to head with the two youngsters. “We built the cars ourselves from scratch. It is fun to work as a mechanic on the side, and to repair things,” says Emil, who has thus developed a good understanding of how hard and stressful the work of a mechanic can be. “This way, we can really appreciate the efforts of the team.”

Whether changing the engine or gearbox, the brothers know where to lend a hand. The technology in their GT3 cars is far more sophisticated, but the two are hungry to learn and strive to achieve a comprehensive understanding of these cars. This is definitely not a bad thing as they continue on their career path, which again looks like taking both brothers in the same direction. “We want to be professional racing drivers,” says Storm. “Preferably works drivers, of course. Motorsport is our dream. Simply to drive without having to go looking for sponsors and financing opportunities.” Emil adds: “Travelling the world and being paid for racing. My ultimate goal is the DTM. I have been in this paddock for four years, and it would definitely be a dream come true to drive in that series.”