he Fanatec GT2 European Series joins the ADAC GT Masters this weekend, 21-22 May, for the second event of the season, which also marks the championship’s debut at the Red Bull Ring.
The field of 2022 heads to Austria following a thrilling season-opener at Imola last month. High Class Racing’s Aurelijus Rusteika and Michael Vergers emerged from the first double-header of the season leading the Pro-Am standings by a single point, while Gianluca Giorgi heads the Am class fight in the LP Racing Porsche by a narrow margin.
The series will welcome two new Pro-Am entries this weekend. True Racing brings a fourth KTM X-Bow to the field for the team’s home event of the season. Austrian duo Felbermayr Horst Jr and Reinhard Kofler are set for their Pro-Am series debut in the #14 KTM.
Joining the Pro-Am class on an invitational entry, SPS Automotive Performance will give the new Mercedes AMG GT Track Series its trial run in racing conditions. The track day and clubsport event model, which will form the basis for the future GT2 car, will conclude its development phase driven by SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO Stéphane Ratel and DTM legend Bernd Schneider.
From the town circuit of Imola last month, the 4.318-kilometre Red Bull Ring represents a fresh new challenge for the GT2 field. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the circuit winds its way through the breath-taking mountains of Styria, comprising tight corners and short, fast straights, which should be perfect for GT2 machinery.
The 14-car grid will contest two 50-minute races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, both streamed live via the GT World YouTube channel.
Single point separates Pro-Am title fight
The first outing of the season at Imola produced two Pro-Am winners in as many races, with High Class Racing and PK Carsport Audis sharing the first honours of 2022.
Rusteika and Vergers took the race one spoils in the High Class Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2. A strong debut from PK Carsport’s Nicolas Saelens and Stienes Longin then seized race two victory, leaving just one point between the crews heading into round two.
Lying third after a double podium haul in round one, Bert Longin will be looking to follow his son Stienes’ example to claim his own maiden class win alongside Peter Guelinckx.
The Brabham Automotive partnership of Kevin Weeda and Anders Fjordbach is currently tied for fourth with LP Racing’s Luca Pirri, who continues his campaign with Diego Alessi this weekend.
Leading the way for the KTM X-Bows, Laura Kraihamer and Kris Rosenberger will be hunting for the home advantage in Austria. With Sahedi Sarmini forced to miss round two, Filip Sladecka will join Stefan Rosina as the #16 KTM crew looks to bounce back from their non-finish in race two at Imola.
Joining Pro-Am on an invitational entry this weekend, SPS Automotive Performance will run Ratel and Schneider in the #55 Mercedes-AMG GT Series Track Car. Ratel returns to Fanatec GT2 European Series competiton after earning fourth overall and a trio of second place finishes last season. Five-time DTM champion Schneider will make his series debut.
Gianluca Giorgi aiming to extend Am lead
Gianluca Giorgi took the early season Am category lead thanks to a second place and class win at Imola. With the Italian now confirmed for a full season attack on the title, Giorgi will be looking to extend his seven-point advantage in the Ebi Motors Porsche.
Sharing the Am-class honours so far, Henry Hassid had an impressive series debut with the LP Racing Audi to win race one and lie second in the standings. With third and second-place finishes at Imola, Leonardo Gorini will be looking to go one better in the LP Racing Porsche.
Whilst 14 points separate the top three, just 10 points cover the remainder of the Am class contingent. That charge is led by Austria’s Michael Doppelmayr and team-mate Elia Erhart, who lie fourth after the LP Racing Audi’s podium form at Imola.
The True Racing KTM duo of Hubert Trunkenpolz and Klaus Angerhofer lie just four points further back, following a best result of fourth so far. The all-Austrian outfit will be looking to go one better and reach the podium at their home race of the season.
The second round of the 2022 Fanatec GT2 European Series supports an action-packed weekend of ADAC GT Masters racing at the Red Bull Ring from 20-22 May,
Source. SRO Motorsports Group
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