SPORTSCAR

Perfect day for birthday boy Igor Waliłko (24/PL) and Mercedes-AMG works driver Jules Gounon (26/F): the two drivers from iconic team Zakspeed Mobil Krankenkasse Racing claimed their first win of the season at the DEKRA Lausitzring on Sunday, repeating last year’s success for Zakspeed in the Lusatia region of Germany. Like yesterday, second place went to Luca Stolz (26/Brachbach) and Maro Engel (36/Monte Carlo, both Mercedes-AMG Team Toksport WRT. Raffaele Marciello (26/I) and Maximilian Buhk (28/Hamburg, both Mann-Filter Team Landgraf – HTP/WWR) finished third to make it an all-Mercedes-AMG podium. “This is the best birthday present you could imagine,” said Walilko after his maiden victory. “I don’t know what to say. Jules did a great job. I would also like to thank the team, who worked into the night to repair our car after yesterday’s crash.”

Ricardo Feller (21/CH) and Christopher Mies (31/Düsseldorf, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) were unbeatable in Saturday’s race in the German GT Championship at the DEKRA Lausitzring: pole position, victory, fastest lap – an impressive day’s work for the pair, whose second win of the season propelled them to the top of the table at the halfway point of the ADAC GT Masters. Second place went to Mercedes-AMG drivers Luca Stolz (26/Brachbach) and Maro Engel (36/Monte Carlo, both Mercedes-AMG Team Toksport WRT). They were followed home in third place by the Lamborghini of Mirko Bortolotti (31/I) and Albert Costa Balboa (31/E, both GRT Grasser Racing Team), making it three different manufacturers on the podium. “Maro Engel attacked hard in the closing stages. That really brought me out in a sweat at times,” said former champion Mies after his 12th victory in the ADAC GT Masters. “It is fantastic to be top of the table. We will not rest and will continue to work hard. There is still a long way to go this season.”