Sun, sand and super sports cars: This weekend (9th to 11th July), the unique holiday atmosphere of Zandvoort awaits the German GT Championship. The ADAC GT Masters will start for the first time – even before Formula 1 – on the spectacular new layout at the Dutch circuit, which nestles in the North Sea dunes and was remodelled last year. Just short of 30 GT3 cars will be out to beat the Porsche 911 GT3 R of championship leaders Michael Ammermüller (35/Rotthalmünster) and Mathieu Jaminet (26/F, both SSR Performance). Up to 3,000 spectators per day will be able to watch the summer spectacle live at the racetrack.
Key facts, CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, races 5 and 6 of 14
Circuit length: 4,307 metres
Layout: 14 corners (ten right-hand, four left-hand), driven clockwise
2019 winners, race 1: Mirko Bortolotti/Christian Engelhart (Orange1 by GRT Grasser-Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo)
2019 winners, race 2: Ricardo Feller/Dries Vanthoor (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS)
Favourites
After two wins in the first four races, defending champion Michael Ammermüller and Porsche works driver Mathieu Jaminet arrive in Zandvoort as the championship leaders. They currently have a lead of 16 points over Mirko Bortolotti (31/I), a race winner in the Netherlands in 2019, and Albert Costa Balboa (31/E, both GRT Grasser Racing Team). The two Lamborghini works drivers are hungry for their first win of the season after twice finishing runner-up. Their chances look good – the Italian sports car is regarded as one of the strongest at the circuit in the dunes. Audi is also a good shout for victory in Zandvoort. After all, the R8 LMS is the most successful car at this track, with three wins to its name. Among the favourites are Ricardo Feller (21/CH) and Christopher Mies (31/Düsseldorf, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport), who have both tasted victory in the Netherlands in the past. The Belgian Audi Sport pairing of Charles Weerts (20/B) and Dries Vanthoor (22/B, both Team WRT), who have also enjoyed a number of GT3 successes together in Zandvoort, are also hopeful of picking up their first victory of the season.
Circuit
The German GT Championship starts for the first time on the new layout of CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, which was remodelled last year. The two new, banked corners – the Hugenholtz bend behind the paddock and the Luyendyk bend, which leads into the start/finish – are particularly spectacular. Both provide more overtaking opportunities and thus more racing action.
Support programme
The race weekend in Zandvoort offers an exciting motorsport package, which promises to produce a feast of action for the fans. As well as the ADAC GT Masters, the GT4 drivers in ADAC GT4 Germany and the talented youngsters of the ADAC Formula 4 series also line up at the circuit in the dunes. Porsche fans can look forward to two racing series, with roughly 50 one-make cup 911s. As well as the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux will also stage two races with the new 911 GT3 Cup.
Quotes ahead of the race weekend
Albert Costa Balboa (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo): “I am really looking forward to the weekend in Zandvoort. I recently won a race there in another championship, so am very motivated to claim my first ADAC GT Masters win of the season there too. I am hungry to win and will do my best for the team and my team-mate Mirko. A victory would be a great gift for the whole crew ahead of the short summer break.”
Ricardo Feller (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS): “I really like the circuit. I have loved it ever since I first drove there in ADAC Formula 4 in 2016. The circuit is very unforgiving. If you end up in the gravel bed, you are not getting out again. I think that is great, as it gives you even more opportunity to make the difference as a driver. It is important that the car runs well and is fast on the new asphalt in the remodelled sections and on the old asphalt. This is extremely challenging for our race engineers. If it is windy, the sand blown onto the track can make it very slippery. Generally speaking, the circuit should suit the Audi. I believe the Lamborghini and Mercedes-AMG are also very strong. You obviously need a bit of luck, but my goal is clear: I want to stand on the podium.”
Source. ADAC GT Masters
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