Paddock radar from the ADAC GT Masters at the Lausitzring

• Christopher Haase ends long period without a win
• Unusual ADAC GT Masters debut for Augusto Farfus
• Erhart clinches Pirelli Trophy title

End of fallow period
Audi driver Christopher Haase (33, GER, Montaplast by Land Motorsport) has had to wait 9 years, 5 months and 18 days for his twelfth victory in the ADAC GT Masters. Prior to his triumph with Max Hofer in Saturday’s race, 2007 ADAC GT Masters champion Haase, last took a win at the Sachsenring in 2011. He drove to victory back then along with the Swede Andreas Simonsen in the previous version of the Audi R8 LMS prepared by Phoenix Racing. Even Haase was surprised: “I would never have believed that it was so long ago.” Haase won the first race in the series and has now been successful once more in the 201st. “We’ve started counting again from the 200th race and I wanted to be the first to win,” joked Haase.

Debut eventually despite hiccups en route
The Brazilian, Augusto Farfus (37, BR), is a BMW works driver of many years standing and answered the call from MRS GT-Racing to stand in for regular driver Jens Klingmann, who has tested positive for Covid-19. His journey to the Lausitzring was anything but smooth. He flew to Germany from his home in Monte Carlo via Paris where his luggage was lost in transit. He finally arrived at the Lausitzring on Friday evening at 8.00 pm after completely missing practice. Farfus didn’t get to drive on Saturday either, because team-mate Erik Johansson was forced to retire early from the race. The former FIA GT World Championship winner will now get his first drive in qualifying for Sunday’s race. On the other hand, fellow BMW driver Sheldon van der Linde (21, ZA), who is acting as replacement for regular driver Nick Yelloly at Schubert Motorsport, had his first race outing in the ADAC GT Masters in the BMW M6 GT3 on Saturday.

Title win for Erhart
32-year-old Audi driver Elia Erhart (32, GER, EFP Car Collection by Tece) has won the title in the classification for amateurs in only his first year contesting the Pirelli Trophy. He clinched victory, his third in class this year, and wrapped things up with three races left to run before the end of the season. As a reward for his efforts, Erhart receives 22 sets of Pirelli tyres for next season. “I’m very pleased with my title win before the season has even ended,” said Erhart. “We are a small independent team. This prize is very important to us. We are very grateful, because winning the tyres will help a lot.”

ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW mobility+
While the actual ADAC GT Masters moved at short notice from Zandvoort to the Lausitzring to contest the sixth race weekend, the sixth round of the ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW mobility+ is still taking place on the virtual Dutch circuit. Jack Keithley was unbeatable at Zandvoort. The Brit from the Esports team fielded by the Williams Formula 1 outfit took pole, posted fastest race lap and won by a narrow margin in the end from the Spaniard Nestor Garcia, who drives for Red Bull Racing’s esports team. Keithley is top of the standings after taking his third win of the season. The final round will be held at Oschersleben next Saturday. The two races to be held there will decide who wins the title and a share of 80,000 euros prize money.

Unique atmosphere
The late 3.15 pm start and wet, autumnal conditions at the Lausitzring conspired to produce a unique atmosphere and pose a special challenge for drivers. “I think it’s great,” said former champion Maximilian Götz (34, GER, Mann-Filter Team HTP-Winward). “It was certainly a departure from the norm for the ADAC GT Masters and not easy out on track, because it was very slippery and visibility wasn’t all that good. But it was terrific from a sporting perspective and there were plenty of nice scraps!”

Halloween treats at PS on Air
Once again during this second weekend of racing at the Lausitzring, PS on Air - The Ravenol ADAC GT Masters talk show was presented directly from the circuit on Saturday, bringing ADAC GT Masters fans all the latest info live from the track. As usual, Patrick Simon was the presenter. His guests this time around were race winners Max Hofer (21, AUT) and Christopher Haase (33, GER, both Montaplast by Land Motorsport), fellow Audi driver Maximilian Hackländer (30, GER, Aust Motorsport), pole-sitter Robert Renauer (35, GER) and his brother Alfred Renauer (35, GER, both Precote Herberth Motorsport) as well as the runners-up Indy Dontje (27, NL) and Maximilian Götz (34, GER, both Mann-Filter Team HTP-Winward). Robert Renauer and Götz dressed up in Halloween costumes for the occasion and passed around endless mountains of sweets.