World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier to line up in ADAC GT Masters

• Volkswagen works driver will contest ADAC GT Masters races at the Lausitzring
• Guest drive in Audi R8 along with ex-Formula 1 driver Markus Winkelhock
• Second outing on regular circuit for reigning World Rally Champion

Rally star in racetrack encounter: World Rally Champion and Volkswagen works driver Sébastien Ogier (30, F) will have a guest drive in the ADAC GT Masters. The reigning world champion will line up next weekend at the Lausitzring (May 23rd to 25th) together with ex-Formula 1 DTM driver Markus Winkelhock (33, D) in the Super Sports Car League. In the two races (Saturday and Sunday, live on kabel eins, commencing at 11:45 am), Ogier and Winkelhock will share an Audi R8 LMS ultra prepared by Prosperia C Abt Racing, who are managed by former DTM driver and ADAC GT Masters champion Christian Abt.

This ADAC GT Masters event will be the rally ace's second outing on a normal racetrack; the Frenchman contested the Porsche Supercup at last year's Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. For the weekend, the current leader in the World Rally Championship standings will swap his Volkswagen Polo R WRC with approximately 315bhp for the Audi R8 LMS ultra that has well over 550bhp on tap.

During the ADAC GT Masters race weekend at the Lausitzring, Ogier will come up against a number of top drivers, including ex-Formula 1 vice world champion Heinz-Harald Frentzen (47, D / HTP Motorsport, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG), ex-Formula 1 driver Jaime Alguersuari (24, E / ROWE RACING, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG), plus former DTM drivers such as Rahel Frey (28, CH / YACO Racing, Audi R8) and Maro Engel (28, D / ROWE RACING, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG). Ogier was at the Super Sports Car League season opener in Oschersleben at the end of April to watch the two ADAC GT Masters races and the Volkswagen driver saw for himself exactly what to expect.

"I always like a fresh challenge, so I'm quite looking forward to competing in the ADAC GT Masters and to my first race at the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS ultra," said Ogier. "I was a spectator at the ADAC GT Masters in Oschersleben and so have an idea of what the series is all about. The field is top class with many formidable drivers. There's plenty of overtaking action on track, which we, of course, don't have in the world rally championship. My team-mate will be Winkelhock. He's fast and experienced, and I'm really looking forward to my weekend at the Lausitzring."