The 2017 motor racing season continues to gather pace, with the qualifier for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the fourth fixture on the Formula One calendar hosted by Russia and the final preparations for the DTM curtain-raiser at Hockenheim.
- This is what happened: Weekend results and facts
- News from the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport teams
- Three questions forMaximilian Götz
- Social media news: What’s new online?
- This week’s important dates and events
This is what happened: Weekend’s results & facts
- Blancpain GT Series: Maximilian Buhk, Franck Perera and Jimmy Eriksson take their Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a podium finish at Monza
- Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy: Oscar Tunjo in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 wins both races in the ‘Special Touring Car Trophy’ at Hockenheimring
News snippets
On to Russia: The Sochi Autodrom in Russia will be hosting Formula One next weekend for the fourth successive year. The first three Russian Grands Prix ended with a Silver Arrows driver on the top rung of the podium. In 2014 and 2015, it was Lewis Hamilton, and in 2016, his team-mate Nico Rosberg. On all three occasions, the winner of the Russian Grand Prix went on to claim the title. Qualifying has also been an exclusively Mercedes preserve so far, with Lewis Hamilton (2014) and Nico Rosberg (2015, 2016) securing all three previous pole positions. In the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport managed to wrap up the constructors’ championship ahead of time in Russia. Last year, the Sochi fixture was moved from October to earlier in the season.
Challenging the ‘Green Hell’: Before Maro Engel makes his DTM comeback in the season opener at Hockenheim (5th – 7th May), he had an appointment last weekend at the Nürburgring, where he was driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the qualifier for the 24-hour race. Together with co-drivers Thomas Jäger, Jan Seyffarth and Dirk Müller, he secured fifth place for the Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON. “I am really happy that we succeeded in getting through to the Top 30 qualifier of the 24-hour race,” said Maro, who won the 24-hour classic in 2016. “That was what we set out to do. I’m already looking forward to the 24-hour race four weeks from now. One thing is clear: if you want to win the race at the end of May, everything has to be spot on, and of course, you need to have the necessary racing luck on your side.”
Podium success in Monza: Mercedes-AMG specialists HTP Motorsport took third place in the general classification of the opening fixture of the 2017 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at Monza. The number 84 Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Maximilian Buhk (GER), Franck Perera (FRA) and Jimmy Eriksson (SWE) started from 16th place but then fought its way through to a podium finish at the end of the three-hour marathon. The final phase of the race in particular was characterised by thrilling wheel-to-wheel action as the front-runners jostled for position. Franck Perera moved up to fourth place half an hour from the end. Just a few minutes before the finish of the 92-lap race, a retirement by one of the cars ahead gifted the podium to the HTP Motorsport Mercedes-AMG trio of Buhk, Perera and Eriksson.
Fast and furious finish: The number 4 car entered by another of the Mercedes-AMG teams, BLACK FALCON, driven by Yelmer Buurman (NED), Adam Christodoulou (GBR) and Luca Stolz (GER) also finished in the Top Ten. Adam Christodoulou driving the final stint had a torrid time. Ten minutes before the chequered flag, he dropped down the field from an interim P6 but then fought back to secure a consolation seventh place. Nico Bastian (GER), Jean-Luc Beaubelique (FRA) and Jules Gounon (FRA) were the best-placed Mercedes trio in the Pro-Am class, securing fifth place for AKKA ASP in their number 87 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Record representation: Even before the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup got underway, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer racing programme had already set a new record. In the field of 53 cars at Monza, there were no fewer than 13 Mercedes-AMG GT3s – more than in any previous single race.
Three questions for Maximilian Götz
Maximilian, it’s the opening fixture of the 2017 ADAC GT Masters next weekend. How does it feel to be making your return to the Super Sports Car League?
Maximilian Götz: It feels like I’m coming home. I’ve been through a lot with HTP Motorsport and had some great successes. 2014 was the last time I competed in the ADAC GT Masters, and at the end of that season, we were in third place in the championship – so there were two other teams ahead of us. Consequently, I have some unfinished business. This year, I aim to be in the mix for the title. With Patrick Assenheimer as co-driver and HTP Motorsport as our team, we are in great shape to do that.
The second weekend of the season at the Lausitzring is being held in conjunction with the DTM. Are you looking forward to seeing your former team-mates again?
Maximilian Götz: Definitely. It’s always nice to meet up with the guys. I am still in very close contact with my team-mates. I’ll be using the Lausitzring weekend as an opportunity to call in on them in their garages. I would obviously like to be competing in both the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM, but my focus is now clearly on the ADAC GT Masters. The Lausitzring is a good track for me. In the 2016 DTM, I had a points finish there, and the track should also suit the Mercedes-AMG GT3.
You’ve got a new design on your helmet. What was the inspiration for that?
Maximilian Götz: As a driver, you don’t have a lot of scope for individualising your appearance. The racing overalls are largely standardised, which only leaves you with your boots and helmet. Consequently, I wanted to do something unusual with my new helmet. I’ve chosen really strong and vivid colours. I’ve also included my family, my logo, my hashtag #MAXimumATTACK and a LEGO Batman, because I’m a big Batman fan. On the back, is a picture of me with a screaming face. Even though it’s not visible when I’m in the car, it’s supposed to signal to the guys behind that they shouldn’t get too close.
Social Media News
#PurePitWall: Three down, 17 to go – the 2017 F1 season is well underway, and there are some hot topics already up for discussion. This week in Pure Pit Wall, we talk about tyre degradation, overtaking and the lessons to be learnt from the races in Australia, China and Bahrain.
Watch video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfWAoSM1F1c
#ReadyToRace: The new DTM season is in the starting blocks. After three winter tests and more than 11,400 kilometres of testing, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team is raring to go as the Hockenheim curtain-raiser approaches.
Watch video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5BeQcXJGks
#DTMCamp: In the third and last part of our mini-series, #DTMCamp, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM drivers are pitted against a very unusual challenge…
Watch video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VOOiDNqQLo
Upcoming events & dates
| Date | Event |
| Friday 28/04/2017 | Formula One: 2017 Russian GP– Practice 1 & 2 |
| Saturday 29/04/2017 | Formula One: 2017 Russian GP– Practice 3 & Qualifying
ADAC GT Masters: Oschersleben – Race 1 |
| Sunday 30/04/2017 | Formula One: 2017 Russian GP– Race
ADAC GT Masters: Oschersleben – Race 2 |
Source : Mercedes.com
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