Finn Zulauf and Felix Hirsiger crowned ADAC GT Masters champions with victory in final race

• Liqui Moly Team Engstler duo clinches title with race win in Hockenheim
• Runners-up Tim Zimmermann and Leyton Fourie finish second in the race
• FK Performance Motorsport are Team champions, Zulauf wins "Road to DTM"

Hockenheim. The 2026 ADAC GT Masters champions are Felix Hirsiger (28/CHE) and Finn Zulauf (22/Königstein im Taunus). The two Lamborghini drivers from Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport secured their first title in the ADAC's GT3 series with victory at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. This success also ensured that Zulauf won the "Road to DTM" competition, and with it the entry fee for next year's DTM season. The new champions took the chequered flag ahead of their rivals for the title, Tim Zimmermann (30/Langenargen) and Leyton Fourie (21/ZAF/both FK Performance Motorsport). The BMW drivers crossed the finish line in second place, 5.680 seconds behind the new champions. "I am extremely happy, but it has not yet totally sunk in that we are champions," said a beaming Zulauf. "This is the first championship I have won from the sidelines. To be honest, my stint was more stressful that I would have liked. At some point, I realised that I had managed to open a small gap, but I really had to keep the pressure on lap after lap." Team-mate Hirsiger had absolute faith in Zulauf's ability at all times, but was still at a loss for words after winning the title. "This title is a dream come true. The pressure built up over the course of the day, and I was genuinely nervous ahead of the race. Our rivals were so fast at the start, and then right behind us. My own stint was one of the nicest I have ever had. I was so calm and relaxed, and could really enjoy it. Thank you to Finn and our team." Third place in the race went to Mark Kastelic (18/SLO) and Pavel Lefterov (28/BGR/both Razoon - more than Racing) in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.

In sunny conditions and temperatures around 15 degrees, Zulauf started the race from pole position, and held onto the lead at the start. Behind him, Niklas Kalus (21/Duisburg/Haupt Racing Team) in a Ford Mustang GT3 slotted into second place, followed by Jamie Day (GBR/21/Comtoyou Racing) in an Aston Martin, and Fourie in the BMW. Fourie was hit by Emil Gjerdrum (19/NOR/Haupt Racing Team) in the second Ford whilst battling for fourth place, and initially dropped back. However, the Norwegian then had to give him the position back. Day then bid farewell to the leading group after spinning out on his own accord, meaning only the Ford of Kalus separated the two rivals for the title. However, with 20 minutes of the race remaining, the Mustang rolled to a stop with a technical fault, leaving Fourie to inherit second place.

From that point on, the two rivals matched each other for lap after lap of the Hockenheimring, with the gap always between three and five seconds. It was a similar story after the driver changeover, which also took place at the same time. There was no stopping Hirsiger out in front, and he went on to cross the finish line ahead of Zimmermann. That made Zimmermann and Fourie runners-up in the ADAC GT Masters for the second year in a row. "What can I say? The team did a great job, the car was very good, and Tim and I tried everything we could to give ourselves a chance of winning the title. Unfortunately, external factors, over which we have no influence, also played a role at recent race weekends," said Fourie, disappointed with second place.

Behind the battle at the head of the field, Kastelic and Lefterov gradually worked their way through to fourth place from seventh on the grid. The duo came in late for their driver changeover, which allowed them to jump ahead of the Ford of Fabian Dybionka (17/POL) and Emil Gjerdrum (19/NOR/both Haupt Racing Team), who eventually finished fourth. "The podium is very much deserved," said a beaming Kastelic after the race. "The team produced a great pit stop and we got the maximum out of our package in these track conditions. Unfortunately, we could not quite catch the leaders, but this podium is a nice way to end the season."

FK Performance Motorsport are Team champions
Fifth place went to Storm Gjerdrum (16/NOR) and Fabio Rauer (19/Stolberg) in the second FK Performance Motorsport BMW. Those points were sufficient to ensure the team from Bremen won the Team Championship with a 39-point lead over Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport, and a 44-point advantage over Haupt Racing Team. Having been runners-up twice, this is the first time FK Performance Motorsport have won the Team title.

Robin Rogalski (26/POL) and Simon Connor Primm (21/Großschirma/both HGL Racing) were sixth in the Audi, after a number of impressive battles. They were followed home by John Paul Southern (25/USA) and Jonas Karklys (36/LIT/both Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport) in a Lamborghini. Victory in the Pro-AM classification on Sunday went to the guest starters from Fulinrace Academy. Gerhard Tweraser (37/AUT) and Petr Fulin (49/CZE) were eighth overall in their Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2. Rounding out the top ten were the two BMW of Sandro and Juliano Holzem (22/Polch/both Schubert Motorsport), and Victor Nielsen (19/DNK) and Joseph Ellerine (23/ZAF/both FK Performance Motorsport).

The 20th anniversary season of the ADAC GT Masters begins at the Red Bull Ring in 2027. From 23rd to 25th April, the opening race weekend of the ADAC's GT3 series will feature on the support programme for the DTM. Tickets are available now from dtm.com for as little as € 49.