Fast lap times, pit stop practice, highly motivated drivers and teams: the official pre-season test of the ADAC GT Masters in Oschersleben gave a foretaste of what spectators and fans can expect at the start of the season on April 22 at the same location.
In six sessions totaling more than eight hours, the drivers covered 3,182 laps and a distance of 11,668.394 kilometers. For the first time, the drivers tested the new tires from series partner Pirelli. This convinced in both dry and wet conditions.
For the first time, the teams filled up with the new innovative fuel “Shell Blue Gasoline 98 GT Masters”, which consists of around 50 percent renewable components and was developed by Shell exclusively for the German GT Championship. While the drivers held back on the wet track on Tuesday, the lap times on the dry track on Wednesday became faster and faster.
ADAC GT Masters live at NITRO
The ADAC GT Masters starts the new season from April 22nd to 24th in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. All races will be broadcast live on the TV station NITRO on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 p.m.
A good eight minutes before the end of the last stint, Rutronik Racing took the lead with Dennis Marschall (25, DEU) and Kim-Luis Schramm (24, DEU).
The #27 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II was the fastest to lap the 3.667-kilometre circuit in 1:22.893 minutes. Dennis Marschall: “We have a new team that has to find its feet and get used to it. That’s why the test days in Oschersleben were very important. In the end, just before the end, we were still able to secure first place. That’s a good basis, because we want to be among the front runners .”
Just 13 hundredths of a second behind, Christian Engelhart (35, GER) and Ayhancan Güven (24, GER) took second place in the #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“It was the first test with the car and the team and I still had to get used to a few things. In Christian I have a very experienced colleague who helps me a lot. We were able to try a lot at Oschersleben and achieved a great result. I I’m looking forward to the start of the season,” said Ayhancan Güven. Just 0.037 seconds behind, Sven Müller (30, DEU) and Joel Sturm (20, DEU) from Allied-Racing finished third in the #22 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
A whiff of Formula 1 wafted over Oschersleben
Sven Müller: “We simulated different racing situations, tried out several setups and finally found a very good set-up. We’ve tested before, but it’s more informative to go out onto the track together with the competition because then you know where you stand . We are well prepared for the start of the season.”
A touch of Formula 1 also wafted over the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben when Thierry Vermeulen (19, NL) was announced as a new driver for the German GT Championship. The Dutchman, who will compete for Car Collection Motorsport in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #33, is the son of Raymond Vermeulen, Max Verstappen’s manager. Thierry Vermeulen grew up with the Formula 1 world champion and promised that motorsport content from him and the ADAC GT Masters would also be shared via the Verstappen.com platform.
Christopher Haase (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #28): “The tests at Oschersleben showed how good the overall package of the new Audi is in terms of aerodynamics and engine characteristics. The setup window has gotten a lot bigger, you don’t have to fine-tune as much, which makes it easier for drivers and engineers to get in. You get in the car and you feel comfortable, which is an important factor in a series like the ADAC GT Masters, where hundredths of a second decide.”
Catsburg: “We are confident”
Nicky Catsburg (Schubert Motorsport, BMW M4 GT3 #20): “The test times weren’t particularly long and unfortunately we only had one BMW M4 GT3 available here. But we’re confident that the second car for the start of the season will be ready in two weeks . Our team is great and will certainly do everything well until the season opener. The new tires felt very good.”
Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-AMG Team ZVO, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo #8): “It was very good and important to gain experience with the new team at Oschersleben. My young driver colleague Jan is in his last stint as a newcomer to GT3 racing set a team best time. That’s a good sign. The tests went very well, the car is strong: I’m sure we have a successful season ahead of us.”
Maximilian Paul (T3 Motorsport, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo #71): “That was our first test ever at Oschersleben and we learned a lot and drew our conclusions from it. Above all, we got along well with the new tires from Pirelli. The car went smoothly and I’m looking forward to the season with Marco Mapelli. I think we have a strong package and can play a good role in the ADAC GT Masters.”
Result 1st session
1. F.Perera/A.Rougier, Emil Frey Racing, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo #19, 1:37.389 min.
2. J.Aberdein/R.Marciello, Mann-Filter Team Landgraf, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo #48, 1:37.540 min.
3. J.Aitken/A.Costa Balboa, Emil Frey Racing, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo #63, 1:37.623 min.
Result 2nd session
1. J.Aberdein/R.Marciello, Mann-Filter Team Landgraf, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo #48, 1:24.136 min.
2. S.Müller/J.Sturm, Allied Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R #22, 1:24.554 min.
3. F.Spengler/M.Winkelhock, Car Collection Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #69, 1:24.746 min.
Result 3rd session
1. J.Gounon/F.Schiller, Drago Racing Team ZVO, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo #4, 1:35.364 min.
2. D.Marschall/K.Schramm, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #27, 1:35.904 min.
3. F.Spengler/M.Winkelhock, Car Collection Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #69, 1:35.919 min.
Result 4th session
1. S.Müller/J.Sturm, Allied Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R #22, 1:23.062 min.
2. D.Vanthoor/J.Owega, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #29, 1:23.076 min.
3. C. Engelhart/A. Güven, Team Joos Sportwagentechnik, Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, 1:23.178 min.
Result 5th session
1. S.Müller/J.Sturm, Allied Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R #22, 1:23.065 min.
2. R.Renauer/K.Bachler, ID Racing with Herberth, Porsche 911 GT3 R #44, 1:23.160 min.
3. C.Mies/T.Zimmermann, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #1, 1:23.428 min.
Result 6th session
1. D.Marschall/K.Schramm, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II #27, 1:22.893 min.
2. C.Engelhart/A.Güven, Team Joos Sportwagentechnik, Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, 1:23.025 min.
3. S.Müller/J.Sturm, Allied Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R #22, 1:23.093 min.
Dates ADAC GT Masters 2022, subject to change:
April 22-24, 2022: Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
20.05.-22.05.2022: Red Bull Ring / A
24.06.-26.06.2022: CM.com Circuit Zandvoort / NL
05.08.-07.08.2022: Nürburgring
19.08.-21.08.2022: Family & Friends Festival DEKRA Lausitzring
23.09.-25.09.2022: Sachsenring
21.10.-23.10.2022: Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg