Win number three of 2016 ADAC GT Masters for Gounon and Keilwitz at Red Bull Ring

• Corvette duo Jules Gounon and Daniel Keilwitz consolidate championship lead
• Presumed race-winning Audi subsequently disqualified

Spielberg: Jules Gounon (21, F) and Daniel Keilwitz (26, DEU, both Callaway Competition) in a Corvette C7 have claimed a third victory in the 2016 ADAC GT Masters to further extend their championship lead. The other podium positions for the second race at the Red Bull Ring went to runners-up Jordan Pepper (19, ZA) and Daniel Abt (23, DEU, both Bentley Team ABT) in a Bentley Continental and to defending champions Sebastian Asch (30, DEU) and Luca Ludwig (27, DEU both AMG Team Zakspeed) in an AMG-Mercedes. Florian Stoll (35, DEU) and Laurens Vanthoor (25, B, both kfzteile24 APR Motorsport) who were originally adjudged winners in their Audi R8 were subsequently disqualified after the technical inspection.

Championship leader Keilwitz defends pole

In the second of two races at the Red Bull Ring, the field of 33 super sports car emerged from the first corner unscathed, and there were initially no changes in the first six positions. Pole-sitter and current championship leader Daniel Keilwitz in a Corvette C7 successfully defended the race lead from the challenge of Audi man Laurens Vanthoor and Daniel Abt in a Bentley for most of his stint at the wheel. It was shortly before the mandatory pit stop that Vanthoor pulled off the ultimately decisive pass.

After the driver changeover, Keilwitz’s team-mate Jules Gounon responded immediately by putting pressure on new race leader Florian Stoll. Two safety car deployments in quick succession for recovery of stranded vehicles brought the field back together again. At both restarts, race leader Stoll kept his cool, defended his lead and crossed the finish line one second clear of the field. The Audi was then disqualified when it failed the technical inspection after the race. The result of the eight race of the ADAC GT Masters remains provisional.

Meanwhile, race-winners Gounon and Keilwitz were extending their overall lead in the championship, and behind them, Jordan Pepper and Daniel Abt were jubilant about securing their first podium of the season. Third place was enough for reigning champions Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig in their AMG-Mercedes to hang on to third place in the 2016 drivers’ standings.

Rolf Ineichen (38, CH) and Christian Engelhart (29, DEU, both GRT Grasser Racing Team) put in yet another solid performance in their Lamborghini Huracán to finish fourth. Fourth place gave Ineichen another win in the Trophy class reserved for gentlemen drivers. The Corvette of Remo Lips/Sven Barth, which originally finished fourth, was given a 30 second time penalty after the race and subsequently classified 17th.

The winners of Saturday’s race, David Jahn (25, DEU) and Kévin Estre (27, F, both KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard) progressed in their Porsche 911 from P14 on the grid to fifth. An even more spectacular charge up the field was staged by Connor De Phillippi (23, USA) and Christopher Mies (27, DEU, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) who gained nine positions to ultimately be classified sixth.

Also the second Audi of kfzteile24 APR Motorsport, driven by Daniel Dobitsch/Edward Sandström, which originally finished seventh, failed technical inspection and was subsequently also not classified.

In the Junior category for drivers under 25 years of age, Jules Gounon celebrated his third win of the season and remains leader.