Successful dress rehearsal for ADAC GT Masters in Oschersleben

• Sebastian Asch with fastest Porsche in ADAC GT Masters during testing
• Porsche, Corvette and Audi share honours for best times in testing
• Heinz-Harald Frentzen satisfied with test in Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The ADAC GT Masters is well prepared for the start of the season on the weekend of April 25th 27th in the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. 13 teams, fielding super sports cars from seven different brands spent two days preparing for the new season on the track near Magdeburg. The ADAC are expecting a field of more than 25 supercars from eight different manufacturers to commence the season in just 14 days’ time.

Results from the five test sessions gave a foretaste of an exciting season in prospect for 2014. In predominantly dry conditions, Corvette and Porsche took best time twice, whilst Audi finished on top once. Best time of anyone during testing (1.27.195 mins) went to 2012 ADAC GT Masters champion Sebastian Asch (27, Germany) who lines up in a Porsche 911 along with Philip Frommenwiler (24, Switzerland/Farnbacher Racing). “We’re satisfied with the test in every respect and are well-prepared for the season,” said Asch. “The Oschersleben track suits our Porsche, but times are very close. There will be a few more cars starting in the race in two weeks’ time, and then things will certainly be even closer.”

Newcomer van der Linde impressive in Audi R8

Defending champions in the team standings, Audi team Prosperia C Abt Racing were also quick. Kelvin van der Linde from South Africa who is only 17 posted the second fastest lap time (1:27.357 min) of testing in the Audi R8. “I’ve not had much experience with the Audi and have only tested once, so the team let me put in a lot of laps here,” said van der Linde, who won last year’s Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, adding: “However, I’m getting on very well with the car and am very happy.” Prosperia C Abt Racing will line up for their second ADAC GT Masters season with a mix of experienced drivers and young trainees. “We’ve allowed our young drivers in particular to gain a lot of experience with the Audi R8 in this test especially,” said ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Markus Winkelhock (33/Germany). “The ADAC GT Masters field is already looking very strong and I’m mightily impressed with it. There are now even more formidable driver pairings than last year which turned out to be very exciting.”

ADAC GT Masters title holder Daniel Keilwitz (24, Germany), who posted the third fastest time overall (1:27.659 min) in the Corvette was also very pleased. Keilwitz opened testing with a best time in the first session, whilst team-mate Andreas Wirth (29, Germany) was fastest in the final test. Keilwitz: “Working with my two new team-mates Andreas Wirth and Oliver Gavin is going great and our Corvette went like clockwork. I’m very optimistic and think we’re in for an excellent season. “

Successful dress rehearsal for Frentzen in Mercedes gullwing

On Tuesday, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (46, Germany), who is now returning to the ADAC GT Masters, prepared for his first season in the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver is not only busy as a driver for HTP Motorsports this year but also works with young drivers in the Mercedes-Benz team. Frentzen will line up in the ADAC GT Masters with ex-Formel ADAC driver Luca Stolz (18/Germany). Frentzen was satisfied with the test: “We posted a lot of laps and learned a great deal about the car. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was great, and we completed our test programme as planned. We worked hard and concentrated on trying out different technical solutions. My team-mate Luca Stolz also posted some very good times.”

Luca and Klaus Ludwig in line-up with newly formed Zakspeed team

A second Mercedes-Benz team apart from Frentzen and HTP Motorsports also caused quite a stir. Touring car legend Klaus Ludwig, his son Luca and Zakspeed team boss Peter Zakowski have established Team BKK MOBIL OLI Zakspeed and will line up in a Mercedes- Benz SLS AMG. “I’m very pleased that we can realise this project together with our sponsor BKK MOBIL OIL,” said seven-time ADAC GT Masters race winner Luca Ludwig (25/Germany). “I would like to repeat my achievements from previous seasons this year in the ADAC GT Masters and anything is possible in this team. I am primarily a racing driver, but we have built the team up around me and there’s a great deal that I can bring to the team.” Ludwig is supported in his endeavours by his father Klaus, who has assumed the role of technical advisor to the team. Ludwig is optimistic about the start of the season: “Feedback from the car is good. It has good, basic speed and runs like clockwork.”

Tickets, including paddock access, start at €20.00.

Fans who prefer to experience the ADAC GT Masters live at the track can obtain tickets in advance starting at 20 euros (includes access to the paddock). Tickets are available online at www.adac.de/motorsport from all ADAC branch offices, online at www.eventim.de or from one of the more than 20,000 Eventim outlets in Europe.

About the ADAC GT Masters

The ADAC GT Masters 2014 season gets underway on the weekend of 25th - 27th April at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. All 16 races of the ADAC GT Masters will again be broadcast live and in full throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland on kabel eins during 2014.