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24.07.2016 - ADAC GT Masters
Paddock radar from the ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring
- Leena Gade in support role at Bentley Team ABT
- Postcon manager Meyerhoff presents winners’ trophies
- Pokémon GO fever also rampant at ADAC GT Masters
Change of jobs: Leena Gade was supporting Bentley Team ABT at the Red Bull Ring in her new role as a manager of the Customer Sports Department at Bentley. The Brit had first made a name for herself on the motorsport scene as a race engineer at Audi Sport. In her career to date, she has helped Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer to three wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and to victory in the FIA WEC World Sportscar Championship.
Doing the honours: A group of employees at ADAC GT Masters sponsor Postcon came to the Red Bull Ring for a day at the races. The one who got closest to the drivers was Henning Meyerhoff: the Sales Director of Postcon Germany presented the winners’ trophies for Sunday’s race.
The thrill of the chase: Even the ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring was not immune from Pokémon GO, the latest craze for smartphone owners. In their few moments away from the garage, drivers Daniel Abt and Kelvin van der Linde were searching for the amusing fantasy creatures in and around the paddock.
Returning hospitality: ADAC GT Masters team YACO Racing invited Holger Sanwald, director of the German second division football club Heidenheim, to visit them in their garage. “A few months ago, we hosted YACO Racing, and now they’re returning the favour,” said Sanwald. “I’ve been to a motorcycle world championship race before but never to a car race. This is really fascinating.” Meanwhile, MRS GT-Racing were giving an insight into the Super Sports Car League to Poland’s Tomasz Wisio who plays for Austrian third division side SKN St Pölten Juniors.
New record: When Sebastian Asch lines up for the second race at the Red Bull Ring, he will become the longest-serving contestant in the ADAC GT Masters. With a total of 115 races so far, he displaces the previous leader Toni Seiler. Asch: “A nice statistic, though I would far rather it were a third drivers’ title. No, seriously, I can feel proud to have driven so many races in such a high-calibre series. I have made my contribution to developing its professional credentials. The series has also grown tremendously in terms of media coverage.”
Celebrity spectators: On the Wednesday ahead of the ADAC GT Masters race weekend, the MotoGP riders were testing at the Red Bull Ring. In three weeks, the 2016 Motorcycle World Championship stages its tenth race on the hillside circuit in the Austrian province of Styria. Taking a keen interest in the test sessions for the two-wheel virtuosos were some of the ADAC GT Masters drivers who arrived early for their own test day on Thursday.
Double congratulations: Christer Jöns had two reasons to celebrate on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, first claiming a maiden podium for Bentley Team ABT in Race 1 of the ADAC GT Masters together with partner Fabian Hamprecht and then taking receipt of a very special gift in honour of his 29th birthday: “My mother gave me a Sachertorte cake with a Bentley Continental and a section of the Red Bull Ring modelled in marzipan.”
Bestseller reaches milestone: The Audi R8 LMS has been a regular feature of the ADAC GT Masters since 2009. Now the 200th unit has rolled off the assembly line. The delighted purchaser was Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, one of the teams contesting the ADAC GT Masters. “That was a nice surprise,” said team boss Wolfgang Land. “We had ordered the car and specified our desired delivery date, then we were told by Audi that it would be the 200th of its kind. This is of course an honour for us, and we feel proud. It’s too soon to say whether this car will also be used in the ADAC GT Masters.
Three questions for Karl Wendlinger
You’ve returned to the ADAC GT Masters for the second time since 2012. How are you enjoying your comeback?
“Generally speaking, I’m glad to be back in a racing car. The ADAC GT Masters is a highly professional and top-quality championship, so I’m proud to be back. I will also be competing in the races over the last three weekends of the season.”
You chose your home race in Austria to make your return...
“Yes, it’s marvellous. I have met a lot of people that I’ve known for a long time. Austrian fans are asking me to sign autographs, which is a good feeling. And in any case, I love it here at the Red Bull Ring. The entire campus and the atmosphere are unique.”
How are your Car Collection Motorsport team getting on with the Mercedes SLS?
“In free practice, we’ve had some problems with the car. Our race engineer then had some good ideas, and after that, the car was very good on the track. Generally speaking, we’re lacking in terms of performance compared with some of the other teams. But I am confident that this will change in the course of the season.”
