Wendlinger, Ragginger, Siedler & Co: Strong Austrian contingent for home race at Red Bull Ring

• Five drivers and two teams from Austria aiming to lift home crowd
• Ex-Formula 1 driver Karl Wendlinger makes ADAC GT Masters comeback

Munich: On the weekend of 22nd - 24th July, just as the summer holiday season gets underway, the ADAC GT Masters will be staging a feast of motor racing for fans and for the entire field of contestants at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Five drivers and two teams from the host country will be competing for points and trophies in front of their home supporters. Austria is not only well represented in the ADAC GT Masters but also has a great track record of 23 race wins through the years.

Lamborghini team HB Racing WDS Bau are one of two Austrian outfits in the series. Norbert Siedler (33, A), who drives for the ADAC GT Masters newcomers, probably has the best reasons for looking forward to the Red Bull Ring weekend: “In 2011, I had my only victory in the ADAC GT Masters, and on my home patch too. That was obviously a very nice feeling. Once again, my family and friends will be there at the track to support me. We haven’t been doing all that well this year – we’ve only scored two points so far. A Top Five result would be great.”

With one win at the Motorsport Festival Lausitzring under his belt and as the highest-ranking Austrian, Martin Ragginger (28, A, Precote Herberth Motorsport) will be driving a Porsche 911 in his home race: “The Red Bull Ring event is clearly my personal highlight of the season. I’m feeling highly motivated. The track suits me, and I’ve consistently come away with a decent points haul in the past. There is every chance of a win here.”

Karl Wendlinger (47, A) was also determined not to miss out on this home fixture in the ADAC GT Masters. The ex-Formula 1 driver from Tyrol made a guest appearance back in 2012 when he competed in the two Lausitzring races in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, the same model that he will be sharing with Car Collection Motorsport regular Florian Scholze (43, Leipzig) this time. “It’s a very special event in a double sense,” said Wendlinger. “Firstly, I am pleased to be back in the ADAC GT Masters. This is such a strong series with a variety of vehicle concepts. Secondly, I’m looking forward to being back at the Red Bull Ring and having so many of my fellow Austrians wishing me luck. Working in my favour is the fact that I know the SLS pretty well, having driven the car in various race series in the meantime. It is important that we identify a good setup for the Red Bull Ring and that I quickly get used to the Pirelli tyres.”

For Gerhard Tweraser (27, A, GRT Grasser Racing Team), the Red Bull Ring represents a home race in the literal sense. The Lamborghini man comes from the neighbouring town of Spielberg, so he will be sleeping in his own bed that weekend, as will the other members of GRT Grasser Racing Team which is based in nearby Knittelfeld. It will be a different kind of homecoming for ADAC GT Masters race winner Daniel Dobitsch (31, A, kfzteile24 APR Motorsport) who is about to drive an Audi R8 and lives in Merano, South Tyrol (Italy), where he run a hotel. His 86 previous races make him the longest-serving Austrian in the ADAC GT Masters.