Paddock radar from the ADAC GT Masters at Most

• Autodrom Most also on the ADAC GT Masters calendar for 2020
• Special milestone for Porsche driver Timo Bernhard
• 17,800 spectators come through the gates at Most

Contract extension: Autodrom Most will again host the ADAC GT Masters in 2020. The ADAC has reached an agreement to this effect with the Autodrom owners and also taken out an option to race at the track in the Czech Republic beyond 2020. The circuit to the north-west of Prague has been on the Super Sports Car League calendar since 2018. A total of 17,800 spectators came through the gates over this past weekend.

Timo Bernhard: The 38-year-old from Homburg in Saarland, who both drives for and manages Küs Team75 Bernhard, was celebrating an anniversary on race Sunday at Autodrom Most. Exactly 20 years ago, on 19th May 1999, the Porsche works driver made his debut appearance for the marque as a Porsche Junior in the Carrera Cup on the airfield course just outside Zweibrücken. Since then, the two-time Le Mans winner has been a key member of the works squad for the Stuttgart-based manufacturer. To mark the occasion, Bernhard was presented with a cake ahead of the second qualifying session. “There are not many drivers who have had such a connection with a single manufacturer for so long,” says Bernhard. “When I started back then, I never expected to be driving for Porsche quite as long as I have. But everything fitted into place. Porsche laid the foundation for my professional career. For me, it is simply the most fascinating brand with the greatest charisma. And what I really appreciate is the family structure that still prevails there. So for me, there was never any question of switching my loyalties.”

Strong debut: HCB-Rutronik Racing have made an impressive start to the ADAC GT Masters. In their first season in the Super Sports Car League, the team from Remchingen near Karlsruhe are fielding two Audi R8 LMSs, one crewed by Patric Niederhauser (27, CH) and Kelvin van der Linde (22, ZA) and the other by Dennis Marschall (22, GER) and Carrie Schreiner (20, GER). Niederhauser and van der Linde immediately caused a stir by finishing the first race of the season at Oschersleben in the runner-up spot. At Autodrom Most, the duo went one better: after Niederhauser secured a maiden pole position, both for himself and for the team, in Saturday’s quali, the Swiss and his partner from South Africa cruised to a comfortable lights-to-flag victory. “The day was absolutely perfect,” says team boss Fabian Plentz. “I can’t see how we could have done it any better. To win a race in the ADAC GT Masters is always special, because it doesn’t happen all that often when you’re up against competition as tough as this. Our objective has always been to be competitive, but over the course of the whole season, because we still have a lot to learn. And I still see ourselves as being in this position. We have achieved a lot, but we still have a long way to go.”

Formula 1 flying visit: Former Grand Prix driver Alex Yoong (42) called in on the race weekend at Autodrom Most. The Malaysian was there to support his compatriot Mitchell Cheah (21, VW Team Oettinger) who is contesting his first season in the ADAC TCR Germany touring car series. “So you can expect to see me at quite a few of his races this year,” said Yoong, who competed in a total of 14 Grands Prix in 2001 and 2002.