Ricardo Feller (21/CH) and Christopher Mies (32/Düsseldorf, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) are the 2021 German GT Champions. The Audi drivers wrapped up the title win with a victory and tenth place at the season finale at the Nürburgring. A profile of the new champions.
Feller and Mies showed impressive speed and consistency in 2021. They drove their way onto the podium at the season-opener in Oschersleben, before taking their first two race wins of the season in Zandvoort and at the Lausitzring – both from pole position. The second of these victories also saw them take the lead in the championship – a lead they maintained right through to the finale. More podiums followed at the Sachsenring and in Hockenheim. They then claimed their third win of the season at the Nürburgring – again from pole position. Tenth place on Sunday was enough to secure the title. The duo only came away from one race empty-handed. “Our wins were obviously very important,” says Mies, explaining the secret of their success. “However, so was the fact that we finished fifth or sixth here and there. Points are key in the ADAC GT Masters.” His partner Feller adds: “Chris and I were a strong pair. Plus, we had the best team, which provided us with a super car all season.” The success comes as no surprise to team manager Christian Land: “Miesi and Ricardo drove together in a few races in the USA in 2019. We saw then that they are a good fit. As such, it was clear that they were a duo, with which we could win the championship.”
This was the second Driver title in the ADAC GT Masters for Mies, who had previously won back in 2016. He now joins Sebastian Asch and Kelvin van der Linde as only the third driver to have achieved this feat. The man from the Rhineland region of Germany arrived in GT3 racing via touring cars. He was crowned European GT3 champion in his first full season in 2009. He also caught the eye quickly in the ADAC GT Masters, finishing runner-up in 2010 and third overall in 2011. By this point, Audi Sport had become aware of the German and signed him for their squad of drivers. In 2016, Mies switched to Montaplast by Land-Motorsport and promptly won the title at the first attempt with Connor De Phillippi. Land has remained loyal to Mies since then. The 32-year-old is not only impressive over shorter distances. His successes include victories in Nürburgring 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Bathurst.
His team-mate Feller arrived in the ADAC GT Masters via karting and a year in ADAC Formula 4 in 2016. At 16, he was the youngest driver in the history of the series to that point. Since then, the Swiss has been on a steep learning curve and developed into one of the most promising young drivers in GT3 racing. Feller made his debut for Land in 2019 and also took his first victory in the ADAC GT Masters. After a season with another team, he returned to the Niederdreisbach-based outfit in 2021. And with great success – as well as the Drivers’ Championship, the Swiss also won the title in the Pirelli Junior competition for young drivers. He also claimed the title in the Silver Cup in this year’s European GT World Challenge Endurance.
Team manager Christian Land is full of praise for his two drivers: “Miesi has been with us since 2016. He is super experienced and a great guy. He suits us perfectly and is like a member of the family. Wherever Land is racing, Christopher has to be there too, otherwise there is something missing. Ricardo is a very nice guy. He was even better this year than he was in his first season with us in 2019. He is candid, funny, and does not put himself under any pressure. Family is just as important to him as it is to us, which is why we go so well together.”
Source. ADAC GT Masters
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