Six drivers, four rings, three cars, one team: BWT Mücke Motorsport. The Berlin-based team lined up for a third time in 2019 with the intention of stirring things up in the ADAC GT Masters. Team Principal Peter Mücke once again put his trust in the tried and tested combination of youth and experience this year. And so, Nikolaj Rogivue and Stefan Mücke shared the drive in the BWT Audi R8 LMS #26. Jeffrey Schmidt and Audi Sport driver Christopher Haase were in the BWT Audi R8 LMS #25 while Mike David Ortmann and Audi Sport driver Markus Winkelhock lined up in the kfzteile24 Audi R8 LMS #24.
In addition, the outfit also contested Formula 4. BWT Mücke Motorsport competed with some seven drivers in all in the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Italy, teaching the youngsters how to be racing drivers. Of course, MK Mücke Motorsport Classic were also in on the act once again in 2019. Team Principal Mücke and his son Stefan achieved success in many races in Germany and neighbouring countries with their Zakspeed Ford Capri Turbo and Ford Capri RS3100. Overall, BWT Mücke Motorsport secured 64 podium finishes this season.
The year’s highlights
Superb opening round: The season opener of the ADAC GT Masters went extremely well for BWT Mücke Motorsport. In the first race at Oschersleben, Jeffrey Schmidt started out from seventh place in the BWT Audi R8 LMS #25 and maintained his position until the driver handover to Audi Sport driver Christopher Haase, who used all his skill and experience to push forwards as rain began to fall. He finally crossed the line in third place. First race, first podium, first victory of the season in the Junior classification for Schmidt, giving him an early lead in this competition.
Six in one go: BWT Mücke Motorsport promptly set a new record for this race weekend at Oschersleben. For the first time since the outfit first began competing in the ADAC GT Masters, all three of the team’s cars took points from both races that weekend. And to put the icing on the cake later in the season during the fourth round at Zandvoort in the Netherlands, the team maintained their composure and repeated the feat despite winds of over 90 km/h. Once again, all of BWT Mücke Motorsport’s drivers took points from both races.
Excellent work by juniors: The fact that bringing on young talent plays a very important role at BWT Mücke Motorsport is reflected in the way the cockpits are shared with one top driver partnering an aspiring youngster in an Audi R8 LMS. And success was soon theirs. After Schmidt’s Junior class victory at Oschersleben, Ortmann immediately stepped up to the mark at Autodrom Most. Another seven podiums in this category were to follow for the two of them, and Rogivue even knocked on the door of the Top Three in the Junior classification several times in his first season with the team.
Charging up the field in style: Ortmann and Winkelhock in their kfzteile24 Audi R8 LMS #24 were the absolute kings of racing at BWT Mücke Motorsport in 2019, taking 76 positions in all from the opposition in the 14 races. They produced particularly fine performances in the first race at Zandvoort where they moved up from P14 to fourth and in the second race at the Hockenheimring, ploughing through the field from 24th to 13th. The other two pairings were not to be outdone either. Schmidt and Haase moved up a total of 48 positions over the course of the season while Rogivue and Mücke gained no less than 50.
Rookies on fast track: BWT Mücke Motorsport relied solely on the services of rookies in the German ADAC Formula 4 with Joshua Dürksen, Nico Göhler and Kristian Thaqi taking the wheel. And it paid off. Dürksen from Paraguay finished third in the standings with four victories while team-mate Göhler scored maximum points in the season highlight with Formula 1 and was fourth overall in the Rookie stakes. Dürksen clearly showed his strong upward trend in form during the finale when he decisively led the race to the chequered flag and effortlessly left trailing in his wake the driver, who eventually finished runner-up. However, he got just a little too far away to the safety car, which earned him a penalty and thus prevented a well-deserved victory. Apart from the three rookies, the Austrian Nico Gruber also drove for BWT Mücke Motorsport on the first weekend before leaving the team.
Competing abroad: Success at an international level was even greater! With five wins and a total of ten podiums, Dürksen finished runner-up in the F4 UAE which is contested over the winter in the United Arab Emirates and serves as the perfect way to prepare for the season in Europe. Göhler also took three podiums there, and Niklas Krütten, who was a regular driver for BWT Mücke Motorsport last year, also gave the team victory in his final race for the team. The team also had a strong showing in Italy where Dürksen secured a win in the overall classification during the very first weekend. He achieved four more successes in the Rookie stakes, finishing fourth overall. William Alatalo and Erwin Zanotti rounded off the team’s fine showing with good results in both overall and Rookie classifications. All the drivers showed improvements in form during the seasons in Germany and Italy. BWT Mücke Motorsport’s efforts to bring on young talent have been very successful, and so, the team will return to contest all three championships in 2019/2020.
Oldtimers in high demand: The MK Mücke Motorsport Classic division is steadily growing, and Peter and Stefan Mücke excelled again at racetracks with their Zakspeed Ford Capri Turbo and Ford Capri RS3100, achieving wins and victories in class in a variety of series, including the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix and the Spa Summer Classic. They also received a personal invitation from the Duke of Richmond to take part in the Goodwood Festival. In a new venture, the classic touring cars also raced as support to the DTM. Competing together, Peter and Stefan Mücke even won their home fixture at the Lausitzring. In this series, MK Mücke Motorsport Classic actively combines racing and the increasing demand to race with Customer teams, which the outfit does. Further expansion in this area is planned for next season.
Comments about the season
Peter Mücke (Team Principal): “I am delighted that our strategy of promoting young talent has worked out so well once again this year. We have had many successes in the Junior classification with our young talents and have watched them gradually develop. Our rookies in Formula 4 have also matured over the season and have provided plenty of terrific moments. At the same time, we’ve had a tough year in the ADAC GT Masters in terms of overall results. There were a number of weekends that were a mixed bag which we’ve had to analyse. However, MK Mücke Motorsport Classic had a strong year on and off track. We achieved success with our cars and at the same time attracted the attentions of Customer teams who want to race with us. All these wonderful moments, the podiums and strong races by our drivers stick in your memory. And we know now for a fact, we’ll be back next year and will certainly aim to do more!”
Matthias Kieper (PR & Team Management): “The whole team started the 2019 season full of hope and motivation to be rewarded with stress and hassle for everyone during the very first weekend. Unfortunately, our outfit had to go through some tricky moments this year where success was not at all easy to achieve. Still, nobody swung the lead or dropped down a gear, not a single one. Everyone fought extremely hard and celebrated every Junior podium to the full, which is precisely what a well functioning unit should do! I’m particularly pleased that we were once again really successful with our MK Mücke Motorsport Classic division. We’re constantly growing whether it’s to do with racing or the restoration of historic cars and are heading in the right direction.”
Source. BWT Mücke Motorsport/Photo. Gruppe C Photography
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