ADAC GT Masters kicks off the season at the “Festival of Dreams” in Hockenheim

• Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg hosts the ADAC GT Masters season-opener for the first time
• Free entry for visitors to the “Festival of Dreams”
• TV partner Sport1 broadcasts all twelve of this season’s races live

Munich. The ADAC GT Masters is back on track from 9th to 11th June. The ADAC’s iconic GT3 series gets its 17th season underway at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Visitors to the “Festival of Dreams” can look forward to two exciting ADAC GT Masters races, free tickets and an entertaining support programme to mark the 75th anniversary of Porsche sports cars. For those unable to make it to the circuit near Heidelberg, Sport1 is showing all of this season’s races live and in full on free-to-air German TV. It is also possible to follow the action via a free livestream at youtube.com/adacmotorsports. The proven and sustainable fuel “Shell Blue Gasoline 98 GT Masters” will again be used in the 2023 season. The fuel is made from roughly 50 percent renewable components and plays a significant role in efforts to reduce CO2. Together with series partner BWT, the ADAC GT Masters is also continuing the successful initiative to avoid plastic waste in the paddock. The drivers and teams will be battling it out for a prize purse amounting to more than 570,000 euros in financial and non-cash prizes.

The field consists of sports cars from premium manufacturers Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche. Many teams are making their ADAC GT Masters debuts this season. The Haupt Racing Team from the DTM will take its place on the grid for the first time with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Nordpass by Juta Racing is also set for its first appearance with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2, while Huber Racing will make contest the championship for the first time with the brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 R and race winner Tim Zimmermann. The team-mate of the 26-year-old from Langenargen is New Zealand’s Jaxon Evans, who comes with a wealth of experience with Porsche race cars. The Grasser Racing Team from Austria returns to the series with Chilean Benjamin Hites and Lamborghini works driver Marco Mapelli from Italy. Liqui Moly Team Engstler will field an Audi for the first time in the ADAC GT Masters, with 17-year-old Chinese driver Dylan Yip and Kwanda Mokoena from South Africa at the wheel.

Joos Sportwagentechnik from the municipality of Vöhringen in Baden-Württemberg travels the 170 kilometres or so to the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg with fond memories. Team principal Michael Joos celebrated first place for his two drivers Ayhancan Güven and Christian Engelhart at last season’s finale at the 4.574-kilometre circuit near Heidelberg. In 2023, the team’s driver line-up includes Sven Müller: the 31-year-old is a two-time race winner in the ADAC GT Masters and shares the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 R with 18-year-old debutant Finn Gehrsitz. Schubert Motorsport has registered for the season with one BMW M4 GT3. In Britain’s Ben Green, the team from Oschersleben can call on the services of the winner of the Pirelli Junior competition in 2022. Filipino Eduardo Cosetent will alternate at the wheel with the 25-year-old Brit. Reigning champion Raffaele Marciello’s team, Landgraf Motorsport, is out to repeat last year’s success with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Away from the track, a diverse and entertaining programme awaits all motorsport enthusiasts. At Dreamers Plaza in the paddock, talks with well-known personalities including Toni Garrn, Paul Ripke and Walter Röhrl, presented by the likes of Steven Gätjen, promise to provide plenty of entertainment. Other highlights include an exclusive concert from Alvaro Soler and a live broadcast of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Visitors can find all the information on the event and get their free tickets at festival-of-dreams.de.

Two free practice sessions on the Friday provide the first opportunity for the drivers to flex their muscles. Saturday begins at 09:00 with the first qualifying session. The ADAC GT Masters will then determine its first winner of the new season from 13:00. Sunday’s itinerary also includes one qualifying session (09:00) and race two (13:00). TV partner Sport1 will report live from the season-opener at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg with an on-air team of experts led by presenters Ruth Hofmann and commentator Peter Kohl.