ADAC GT Masters brings super sports cars to the Sachsenring

• Highly competitive series with four winners from four races
• Starting field of 40 super sports cars supplied by 13 different constructors
• Full supporting programme with EURO 2012 action on large outdoor screen and live rock concert

Four races and four different winners – the 2012 ADAC GT Masters not only features a record field of 40 super sports cars from 13 different manufacturers, but is also high on thrills and unpredictable outcomes. After its most recent excursion to the North Sea coast of Holland, the series returns to Germany for the third race weekend of the Super Sports Car League around the rollercoaster of the Sachsenring, one of the toughest circuits on the calendar and also one of the drivers’ favourites. BMW ALPINA, Porsche, Corvette and BMW have each recorded one win so far, and the evenly matched field should once again guarantee plenty of action and excitement.

A circuit where handling is crucial

The teams fielding mid-engine sports cars such as the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 458 and Ford GT will fancy their chances at the Chemnitz circuit, because the statistics show that the winners of the ADAC GT Masters over the last few years were driving vehicles with exceptional ease of handling and a centrally positioned engine. One of the favourites after two wins on this track in the past two years is Audi R8 driver Christopher Mies (23, Heiligenhaus / Prosperia uhc speed); the 2010 championship runner-up has a new team-mate this year, Edward Sandström (33) from Sweden. But the powerful Ford GT pair of Nico Verdonck (26, Belgium) and Jesse Krohn (21, Finland / Lambda Performance) must also be in with a great chance.

After a strong showing in the first four races – the only missing element being luck – Heinz-Harald Frentzen (45, Neuss / Callaway Competition) has big ambitions for his Corvette Z06 at the Sachsenring. The former Formula 1 and DTM driver came agonisingly close to a Top Three finish on several occasions this year, and with his team-mate Andreas Wirth (27, Heidelberg), he will be aiming to make his first podium appearance of the season in Saxony.

Corvette duo just one point clear at top of table

Championship leader Daniel Keilwitz (22, Villingen / Callaway Competition) sees the likes of Audi as a major threat but hopes that he and Diego Alessi (40, Italy) can keep their Corvette at the top of the standings. Keilwitz reveals their race target: “A result in the Top Five should be doable for us.” More highly motivated than ever after missing out on victory at Zandvoort are defending champions Dino Lunardi (33, France) and Maxime Martin (26, Belgium / ALPINA) in their BMW ALPINA B6. Although good enough to take the title in 2011, the BMW ALPINA has shown itself incapable of even a podium finish at the Sachsenring. This merely increases the resolve of Lunardi/Martin to break their duck and reclaim their accustomed perch at the top of the championship table.

Also aiming for a first win of the season are the formidable Mercedes-Benz contingent of no fewer than eight SLS AMGs led by the partnership of Sebastian Asch (25, Ammerbuch) and Maximilian Götz (26, Uffenheim / kfzteile24 MS RACING Team). “My team-mate Maxi Götz and I have always found the Sachsenring very much to our liking, and the track also seems to suit our Mercedes,” says Asch with cautious optimism.

Local favourites in Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan GT-R

For Schulze Motorsport based near Leipzig and YACO Racing powered by Jochen Schweizer from the Vogtland, the Sachsenring weekend is their home race. The Schulze Motorsport duo of Michael (27) and Tobias Schulze (30) will be driving the only Japanese super sports cars in the ADAC GT Masters, a Nissan GT-R with which they have made excellent progress in the first few races of the season. The YACO team headed by ex-rally driver Uwe Geipel from Plauen are pinning their ADAC GT Masters hopes on the ‘King of Sound’ and are entering two Chevrolet Camaro GTs. The American steam-hammer with its eight-litre V8 engine proved to be a huge crowd pleaser on its first two outings, thanks to its muscular styling and thunderous eight-cylinder acoustics.

Who will be the fastest amateur around the difficult Sachsenring?

A new winner is also being sought in the amateur championship at the Sachsenring. Porsche 911 driver Swen Dolenc (44, Maulbronn / FACH AUTO TECH) has won two races so far, with one victory each going to Kristian Poulsen (36, Denmark / Young Driver AMR) in his Aston Martin V12 Vantage and to Carsten Tilke (28, Munich / Prosperia uhc speed ) in his Audi R8. After a difficult start to the season, reigning amateur champion Marc A Hayek (41, CH / Reiter Engineering) in the Lamborghini Gallardo is also looking for his first win of the season, as is two-time amateur champion Toni Seiler (54, CH / Callaway Competition) in his Corvette.

Open-air viewing of EURO 2012 and rock music from Public Dawn

Motorsport fans who are also interested in the European nations football championship will be able to follow the latest action at the Sachsenring too: when Germany plays Portugal in the first group match of the competition on Saturday 9th June at 8.45pm, the fans at the Sachsenring won’t miss a single goal. The championship game will be broadcast live on a giant screen near grandstand T6. Getting everyone into a party mood for the evening of football will be Public Dawn: the rock band from Hohenstein-Ernstthal will be staging an indoor concert on Saturday evening in the vicinity of the Sachsenring Tower starting at 7.30pm. Admission to the ‘Public Viewing’ of the EURO 2012 match and to the Public Dawn concert is free.