Maiden victory for the Ford Mustang GT3 in the ADAC GT Masters

• Owega/Wiebelhaus and Reis/Schumacher claim one-two for Haupt Racing Team
• Fach/Schwarzer win the Pro-AM Cup at the Nürburgring with Fach Auto Tech
• Owega/Wiebelhaus move to top of table at the halfway point of the season

Nürburg. Salman Owega (20/Cologne) and Finn Wiebelhaus (19/Obertshausen/both Haupt Racing Team) won race two at the ADAC Truck GP to claim the first victory for the Ford Mustang GT3 in the ADAC GT Masters. The two drivers from Haupt Racing Team crossed the finish line 0.412 seconds ahead of their team-mates Max Reis (18/Ramstein) and David Schumacher (23/DEU) at the end of the 80-minute endurance race. “It is incredible to be part of this success. The first Ford win in the ADAC GT Masters, and my pole position to boot – a perfect day,” said a delighted Finn Wiebelhaus, who also won the “Road to DTM” competition at the Nürburgring. “David made a slight mistake on the penultimate lap and I knew it was now or never. There had been opportunities before then, but I really did not want to put the one-two for the team at risk.” His team-mate Owega added: “I could not be happier. I am very grateful to the team and Ford for making this success possible. When Finn took to the track behind David, I knew that it would be very close towards the end of the race. Finn did a great job in that battle, but I can’t remember the last time I was so tense.” Yesterday’s winners Alexander Fach (23/CHE) and Alexander Schwarzer (36/DEU/both Fach Auto Tech) completed the podium in their Porsche 911 GT3 R, and also celebrated victory in the Pro-AM Cup. A total of 134,000 fans flocked to the ADAC Truck GP at the Nürburgring over the course of the weekend, and also watched the ADAC GT Masters races.

Pole-sitter Wiebelhaus took the lead straight after the start, and the Ford duo were still out in front after the changeover to Owega. Meanwhile, their team-mates Schumacher and Reis lost ground as a result of a penalty for a pit stop that was too short. However, Wiebelhaus and Owega’s pit stop was by no means perfect, which meant they returned to the track behind their team-mates after the final stop. That triggered a battle between Wiebelhaus and Schumacher, which lasted several laps and was decided shortly before the finish when Wiebelhaus pulled off an impressive manoeuvre in turn two. “I am very happy with how the weekend has gone. Without the penalty, we would actually have won,” said a satisfied Schumacher. “The battle down to the final lap was not bad, especially as I was on older tyres than Finn.”

The fightback of the race came courtesy of Fach and Schwarzer in the Porsche, who started down in 14th place. Fast lap times, a number of incidents involving other cars, and two shorter pit stops, as stipulated in the rules for Pro-AM teams, actually saw the duo lead after the final lap. Despite being on older tyres, Schwarzer did his best to hold off the two fords behind him, but ultimately had to settle for third. “Third place today feels like a win. We earned that podium, especially as we were carrying extra weight after yesterday’s victory,” said Fach. “The tyre wear in the middle stint was bad and I thought it could be tough for Alexander, but he dealt with it superbly. An awesome weekend for us.”

Tim Zimmermann (28/Langenargen) and Leyton Fourie (19/RSA/FK Performance Motorsport) had some captivating battles and rejoined the race in fourth place after the second stop. Zimmermann refused to take his foot off the gas in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo and closed in on Schwarzer second by second. However, he ultimately crossed the finish line just 0.169 seconds back in fourth. Rounding out the top five were Nico Hantke (21/Hürth) and Denis Bulatov (26/both Scherer Sport PHX) in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2. BMW drivers Eduardo Coseteng (21/PHL) and Julian Hanses (27/Hilden/FK Performance Motorsport) were sixth, ahead of Finn Zulauf (20/Königsstein) and Simon Connor Primm (20/Großschirma/Paul Motorsport) in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2. They were followed home by Jannes Fittje (25/Langenhain) and Moritz Wiskirchen (22/Euskirchen/SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm) in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the third Ford of Dennis Fetzer (24/Gießen) and Jonathan Cecotto (25/VEN/Haupt Racing Team). Carrie Schreiner (26/Völklingen) and Alain Valente (28/CHE/both Land-Motorsport) completed the top ten in an Audi.

Wiebelhaus and Owega lead championship at the halfway point
Victory at the Nürburgring saw Owega and Wiebelhaus take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship with three race weekends remaining in the ADAC GT Masters. The Ford duo tops the table with 98 points, followed 13 points back by Fourie and Zimmermann in the BMW. The previous leaders Leo Pichler (23/AT) and Simon Birch (18/DNK/both Razoon – more than racing) dropped to the back of the field after an incident that was no fault of their own. They consequently had to settle for 15th place.

After the first half of the season, the drivers in the ADAC GT Masters now have a longer summer break. The action resumes from 5th to 7th September when the ADAC’s GT3 series makes its debut at the Salzburgring. This will be the first outing at the 4.255-kilometre circuit on the outskirts of ‘Mozart’s City’, and anticipation is great among fans and competitors alike.