SPORTSCAR

From 17th on the grid to victory – the Mercedes-AMG pairing of Mick Wishofer (21, AUT) and Dorian Boccolacci (22, FRA, both Team Zakspeed BKK Mobil Oil Racing) pulled off a major coup in Sunday’s ADAC GT Masters race at the Lausitzring. In wet conditions, they delivered a superb performance to secure a surprise maiden victory in the Super Sports Car League. Second place went to Robert Renauer (35, GER) and Klaus Bachler (29, AUT, both Precote Herberth Motorsport), a result that lifts Renauer to second place in the championship. P3 went to the sister car driven by Alfred Renauer (35, GER) and Sebastian Asch (34, GER, both Precote Herberth Motorsport). With two races remaining, Audi drivers and title defenders Patric Niederhauser (29, CH) and Kelvin van der Linde (24, ZA, both Rutronik Racing) continue to lead the standings, five points ahead of Renauer and seven points clear of the Porsche duo Christian Engelhart (33, GER) and Michael Ammermüller (34, GER, both SSR Performance). “A mega result,” said a delighted Dorian Boccolacci. “I am really proud of our team, because our car has been really good for the entire race weekend.”

Saturday’s ADAC GT Masters race at the Lausitzring was suspenseful right up to the last few metres. The Audi pairing of Max Hofer (21, AUT) and Christopher Haase (33, GER, both Montaplast by Land Motorsport) won by a margin of only 0.147 seconds ahead of Indy Dontje (27, NL) and Maximilian Götz (34, GER) in the Mercedes-AMG of Mann-Filter-Team HTP-Winward. Robert Renauer (35, GER, Precote Herberth Motorsport), partnered this time by Klaus Bachler (29, AUT), kept his title hopes alive with a P3 finish. Reigning champions Patric Niederhauser (29, CH) and Kelvin van der Linde (24, ZA) in the Rutronik Racing Audi retain their lead in the overall standings. “I am very satisfied” said winner Christopher Haase afterwards. “Our team has given us a really great car. It is great to have got another win in the ADAC GT Masters. Only if you have the best package you can win here. And that’s what we had today.”

It’s all go as the DEKRA Lausitzring prepares to host the sixth of the seven fixtures on the 2020 ADAC GT Masters calendar this coming weekend (30th October – 1st November). The previous race event at the Red Bull Ring left the title chase even wider open than before, with championship leaders Patric Niederhauser (29, CH) and Kelvin van der Linde (24, ZA, both Rutronik Racing) nursing only a one-point lead over their closest challengers, Michael Ammermüller (34, GER) and Christian Engelhart (33, GER) in the Porsche fielded by SSR Performance. The third-placed pairing of Mercedes-AMG drivers Luca Stolz (25, GER) and Maro Engel (35, Monte Carlo, both Toksport WRT) are also within striking distance.