High speed on the beach: The ADAC GT Masters in Zandvoort

• The Netherlands hosts the first sprint weekend of the season
• Local favourite Dante Rappange hoping for a podium in his Lamborghini
• All races streamed live and free of charge on SPORT1, Joyn, ServusTV ON and YouTube

Munich. A quick Whit outing for the ADAC GT Masters. This weekend sees the Netherlands host the first of three events outside of Germany. From 6th to 8th June, the ADAC’s GT3 series travels to Circuit Zandvoort on the North Sea coast. Such legendary sections as Tarzanbocht and the banked corners of the Formula 1 circuit await the teams when they line up on the DTM platform. The opening race gets underway at 15:15 on Saturday, before the Sunday race begins at the earlier time of 14:25. All ADAC GT Masters races are shown live and on demand in a free stream on sport1.de, Joyn, ServusTV ON and at youtube.com/adacmotorsports. SPORT1 is also broadcasting the Sunday race live on television.

Local favourite Dante Rappange dreaming of a home podium
Few drivers in the ADAC GT Masters know Circuit Zandvoort better than Dante Rappange (21/NDL/Liqui Moly Team Engstler by GRT). He lives in Amsterdam, just 30 kilometres from Zandvoort, and was at the circuit almost every week at the start of his career, as he learned his trade. “I have done more laps there than anywhere else over the course of my life,” said Rappange, who is hoping for a top result in his Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2. “This is the race I look forward to most all year. To finish on the podium there would be a dream come true. Whether rain, storm or sand – I can cope with anything in Zandvoort, as it is my home and pure motivation. I don’t feel any pressure, because I love the track, feel right at home there, and can speak to everyone there in my own language.”

As well as the local favourite, eyes will also be on the double race winners from the season opener at the Lausitzring: Leo Pichler (23/AT)/Simon Birch (18/DNK/both Razoon – more than racing) in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. “We will do our best again,” said Pichler. “I have raced twice at this circuit with ADAC GT4 Germany, but never in a GT3 car. It is going to be interesting.” Hunting them down will be the Ford Mustang GT3 of Haupt Racing Team, which twice featured on the podium at the Lausitzring. However, experienced Audi drivers Nico Hantke (21/Hürth) and Denis Bulatov (26/both Scherer Sport PHX) and the Mercedes-AMG pairing of Jannes Fittje (25/Langenhain) and Moritz Wiskirchen (22/Euskirchen) from SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm will also fancy their chances after finishing in the top three at the opening round of the season. The same goes for last year’s winners from FK Performance Motorsport in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo.

Opening sprint event marks tenth anniversary in the Zandvoort dunes
The ADAC GT Masters is celebrating its tenth anniversary at the 4.259-kilometre Circuit Zandvoort, having first appeared at the racetrack in the dunes back in 2014. The circuit is not only known for its unpredictable weather and the sand blown across the asphalt from the surrounding dunes, but also for its banked corners, which are unique on the ADAC GT Masters calendar. Turns three and 14 have a gradient of 32 percent in places, making overtaking easier – particularly in turn three at the end of the long start/finish straight. Expansive gravel beds next to the track demand precision from the drivers and allow little margin for error.

The ADAC GT Masters returns to the tried-and-tested print format in Zandvoort. One 60-minute race, including a mandatory pit stop, will take place on both Saturday and Sunday. Audi is the manufacturer with the most wins at the circuit in the dunes, with five victories to its name – including three for Land-Motorsport. The team travels to the North Sea coast as the most successful there, and is hoping to add to its record with Carrie Schreiner (26/Völklingen) and Alain Valente (28/CHE) in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2. Last year, Mercedes-AMG and BMW took victory. Since the track was modified, Lamborghini has secured the most pole positions, finishing on top of the timings sheet on three occasions in qualifying.

Broadcast times for the ADAC GT Masters in Zandvoort

Saturday, 7th June
08:15 – 08:55	Qualifying 1	youtube.com/adacmotorsports
15:05 – 16:25	Race 1	Joyn / ran.de / sport1.de / ServusTV ON / youtube.com/adacmotorsports
Sunday, 8th June
09:40 – 10:20	Qualifying 2	youtube.com/adacmotorsports
14:15 – 15:45	Race 2	Joyn / ran.de / sport1.de / ServusTV ON / youtube.com/adacmotorsports