Hendrik Still and Philipp Gogollok win Saturday’s race in the Eifel Mountains. ADAC Stiftung Sport driver Thomas Rackl and Linus Hahne impress with second place. Youngster Storm Gjerdrum is the top Rookie in his first GT4 race.
Thrilling action, plenty of overtaking, and excitement right down to the final corner: Saturday’s ADAC GT4 Germany race was not for the faint-hearted – and produced a Porsche victory for the first time this season. Local favourite Hendrik Still (38/Kempenich) and Philipp Gogollok (19/Bad Homburg, both AVIA W&S Motorsport) were victorious, ahead of Linus Hahne (21/Oelde) and ADAC Stiftung Sport driver Thomas Rackl (17/Berching, both ME Motorsport) in a BMW M4 GT4. Their ME Motorsport team-mates Philip Wiskirchen (21/Euskirchen) and Tim Reiter (26/Ostfildern) completed the podium and with that the best result in ADAC GT4 Germany so far for the team from Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Championship leader Jay Mo Härtling (22/Sprockhövel) started the race from pole position in a Mercedes-AMG GT4 for SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm. However, 718 Cayman GT4 driver Still wrested the lead from him on lap two with a remarkable manoeuvre. Despite this, the man of the opening stages was without doubt BMW driver Reiter, who stormed through to fourth place from 13th on the grid. By the time the pit stop window opened, Reiter had taken second place behind race leader Still. Jan Philipp Springob (24/Olpe), in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 run by COSY Racing by ESM, and Härtling completed the top four at this point. Another man in fine form was Thomas Rackl, who had skilfully worked his way from 15th on the grid to fifth place. After the obligatory driver changeover, Still’s team-mate Gogollok retained the lead and ultimately went on to take the win, and with it victory in the Junior competition too. Reiter’s partner Wiskirchen moved into second place ahead of Rackl’s team-mate Linus Hahne, who slotted into third place thanks to an early pit stop. The two ME Motorsport BMWs spent the rest of the race embroiled in a thrilling battle for the runner-up spot, with Hahne eventually coming out on top.
Fourth place went to the BMW of Gabriele Piana (38/ITA) and Berkay Besler (25/TUR, both FK Performance Motorsport). Enrico Förderer (18/Leuterod), who took over from pole-sitter Härtling, ended the race in fifth place. That was enough to ensure they continue to lead the Drivers’ Championship. In sixth place were Niels Tröger (22/Dresden) and Andreas Jochimsen (27/DNK, both FK Performance Motorsport) in a further BMW. Springob’s team-mate Storm Gjerdrum (16/NOR) crossed the finish line behind them in seventh place, which earned the young Norwegian victory in the Rookie competition in his very first GT4 race. Raphael Rennhofer (18/AUT) and Emil Heyerdahl (23/NOR, both Wimmer Werk Motorsport) were eighth in a Porsche, ahead of the Aston Martin of Marek Böckmann (28/Lautersheim) and Anton Paul Abée (28/Hamburg, both Prosport Racing). Rounding out the top ten were Denny Berndt (20/Berlin) and Max Rosam (20/Taunusstein, both Razoon - more than Racing, Porsche).
Hendrik Still – winner for AVIA W&S Motorsport: “It is crazy to win here at my home event. There are many friends here, and my dad is stood right next to me. I am super proud. At first, I did not think that we had a chance over the full distance, but the team did a super job and found a perfect set-up.”
Philipp Gogollok – winner for AVIA W&S Motorsport: “I still don’t know what to say – it hasn’t sunk in yet at all. The team did an incredible job. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to drive the number 1 car. Hendrik opened a lead at the start, and I was able to maintain that. Just super!”
Thomas Rackl – second place for ME Motorsport: “We are full of emotions, as I did not expect this result having started from 15th on the grid. I had super pace and was also able to look after the tyres for Linus. I knew he could still make something happen. And he did precisely that. I am more than happy with second place.”
Linus Hahne – second place for ME Motorsport: “It is only my third race weekend in ADAC GT4 Germany, and I already have my first podium. At first, I could not grasp what had happened during the cool-down lap. The overtaking manoeuvre against my team-mate was obviously tricky. It was important to keep it fair, but also to keep an eye on the cars approaching from behind. We ultimately handled the situation well, as we are on the podium with both cars. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Tim Reiter – third place for ME Motorsport: “I got off to a perfect start. I did the same thing here three years ago. From that point on, I overtook a few more rivals, as the BMW was running really well today. I would like to dedicate the podium to my mother. Last year, I made a mistake in a race on her birthday and failed to finish. Now I have made amends and am super happy.”
Philip Wiskirchen - third place for ME Motorsport: “After qualifying, I am actually a little surprised by the podium. However, Tim had a great start and handed the car over to me in a promising position. We then had a slight issue with the set-up, which affected the tyre performance. Despite that, I am obviously very pleased with third place. I hope we can repeat it tomorrow.”
