ADAC GT Masters and DTM in joint “Motorsport Festival Lausitzring”

• ADAC GT Masters and DTM to hold joint race weekend
• 34 supersports cars at season highlight
• SPORT1 will broadcast both races live on free-to-air TV

Munich. The top highlight of the 2016 ADAC GT Masters season which should prove really thrilling is fast approaching with the “Motorsport Festival Lausitzring” to be held jointly by the ADAC GT Masters and DTM on the weekend of 3rd-5th June at the Lausitzring. Germany's two most popular car racing series will share the billing again for the first time since 2008. Fans will be treated to the spectacle of the biggest ADAC GT Masters field of the year so far at the “Motorsport Festival Lausitzring”, as teams will field 34 supersports cars from eight different marques for this third of seven race weekends. SPORT1 will broadcast the races on Saturday and Sunday live on free-to-air TV at 1:00 pm each day.

The Lausitzring is a real ADAC GT Masters classic. The Brandenburg circuit has been an integral part of the calendar since the very first season in 2007 and is also known for offering a level playing field to teams and drivers. 25 different drivers have taken wins in the 18 races held to date with cars from eight different marques. Daniel Keilwitz (26, DEU) won in 2013. Things are again going well in 2016 for the ADAC GT Masters record-breaking race winner and Callaway Competition team-mate, French rookie, Jules Gounon (21, F). The two Corvette drivers achieved the maiden victory for the new C7 last time out together at the Sachsenring. “It did our team a power of good to finally secure another win,” said Keilwitz. “We had a great start to the season all in all. No one expected the Corvette to run so faultlessly at such an early stage in the season. I think that we can build on our present form at the Lausitzring, because we were always successful there with the previous model. Free practice will be crucial, as we need to try out a few things on the new car.”

Statistically speaking, Martin Ragginger (28, A) also has everything it takes to deliver a good performance. The Austrian has racked up a win and three pole positions at the Lausitzring. He shares the drive in a new Porsche 911 with Precote Herberth Motorsport team-mate Robert Renauer (31,DEU), and Porsche is the most successful make of car at the circuit. “We should definitely do better than we did at the Sachsenring,” said Ragginger. “We have overcome recent setbacks and are really keen to do well again. Robert and I know just what we are capable of.”

While Connor De Phillippi (23, USA) has not lined up previously in the ADAC GT Masters at the Lausitzring, he still has quite a bit of experience of racing at the track which opened in 2000. The American's partner in the Audi R8 of Team Montaplast by Land-Motorsport is Christopher Mies (26, DEU), who is an experienced GT3 driver. After achieving three second places and a seventh place, the pair intend to defend their lead in the drivers' standings. The Audi pair are six points clear of defending champions Sebastian Asch (29, DEU) & Luca Ludwig (27, DEU, both AMG Team Zakspeed) and ahead of Keilwitz & Gounon, who are 17 points adrift. “We made a strong start to the season,” said De Phillippi. “But that's also due to intensive preparations over the winter and to the support we get from Audi. We hope that our success will continue at the Lausitzring. I feel very much at ease there, because I know the track from my time in the Porsche Carrera Cup. We tested there with the Audi R8 immediately after the Sachsenring weekend. A finish in the Top Three would be great. A win might even be possible with a bit of luck.”

Team-mate Christopher Mies: “We are obviously delighted with our start to the season. Being top of the table is something we can be proud of. However, we are still not at our best. We simply didn't have enough time for testing before the start of the season. We are a great driver combo and can finish back up front provided we can drive an error-free race, but the competition in the ADAC GT Masters is very strong.”

Connor De Phillippi also heads the junior standings for drivers under 25 years thanks to his success in the overall rankings. He already has a considerable lead of 32 points on second-placed driver Jules Gounon. Things are even more exciting in the competition for amateur drivers. Corvette driver Remo Lips (33, CH/RWT Racing) took over the championship lead at the Sachsenring and is just nine points up on Rolf Ineichen (38, CH/GRT Grasser-Racing-Team).

Even more motor sport and entertainment

Apart from the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM, fans can also watch fixtures from three more racing series at the Lausitzring. The ADAC Formula 4 drivers will be contesting their third race weekend, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland competitors their fourth, while motorcycle drivers will be fighting it out on two wheels in the Superbike IDM. But there will also be plenty of action away from the track with live pop concerts and parties, autograph-signing sessions, stunt shows, competitions and interview sessions.