2014 ADAC GT Masters: 25 supercars from eight manufacturers

• Line-up includes ex-Formula 1 star Heinz-Harald Frentzen and former DTM drivers
• New teams and drivers boost the ADAC GT Masters field
• McLaren to make Super Sports Car League comeback

Fascinating supercars and a strong field of drivers: The ADAC GT Masters is all set for an exciting 2014. The Super Sports Car League, now into its eighth season and this year contested by 25 cars sporting eight different badges on their grilles, gets underway at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben on the weekend of 25th - 27th April. The eight race weekends of the 2014 season in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Slovakia will feature more drivers and more makes of car than last year.

Motor racing fans can look forward to at least eight different marques entered by 14 different teams. The outfits that have registered so far will be fielding one or more Audi R8, BMW Z4, Corvette Z06, Camaro GT, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, McLaren MP4-12C and Porsche 911. Guest drivers will add spice to the grid at different events.

Comeback for Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the ADAC GT Masters

The drivers of these supercars – which pump out anything up to 650 horsepower – often have profiles as prominent as the automotive brands themselves. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (46, Neuss), who has a Formula 1 championship runner-up trophy in his cabinet, is back after a one-year absence driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Another contestant with F1 pedigree is Markus Winkelhock (33, Berglen-Steinach). Drivers with DTM experience on their CV include Rahel Frey (28, Switzerland) and Maro Engel (28, Munich). Defending champions Daniel Keilwitz (24, Villingen) and Diego Alessi (42, Italy) are up against former champions Sebastian Asch (27, Ammerbuch), Maximilian Götz (28, Uffenheim) and Albert von Thurn und Taxis (30, Regensburg). There are also plenty of familiar names from other leading sports cars series such as Oliver Gavin (42, GB), Jeroen Bleekemolen (32, NL) and René Rast (27, Frankfurt).

“After our very successful season in 2013, we are delighted that we have an even more attractive field of challengers for this year’s title,” said Lars Soutschka, Director Motor Sports and Classic Divisions, speaking at the ADAC GT Masters presentation in Oschersleben on Tuesday. “With increased brand diversity, the grid offers the potential for even more exciting racing than last year. The continuing commitment of drivers and teams confirms that we have a viable concept, while the arrival of new teams and several new drivers this year underlines the abiding attractiveness of the Super Sports Car League.”

14 teams fielding 25 supercars from eight manufacturers

Among the 14 teams that have signed up for the 2014 season are also two newcomers, each pinning their hopes on a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. ROWE RACING are competing in the series for the first time, while BKK Mobil Team Zakspeed have made the occasional start in previous seasons. HTP Motorsport are entering two further gullwings.

Callaway Competition, the team for which reigning champions Diego Alessi and Daniel Keilwitz drive, are about to embark on their fifth consecutive season with a quartet of Corvette Z06s. A fifth American muscle car will be fielded by RWT Racing who will be contesting every race of the campaign for the first time.

Prosperia C Abt Racing, winners of the team trophy last year, are sticking with their successful stable of three Audi R8s. YACO Racing are also committed to the mid-engine sports car from Ingolstadt and will be fielding one of their own.

The most numerically preponderant car on the grid is the Porsche 911. Between them, Farnbacher Racing, Herberth Motorsport and Schütz Motorsport are entering no fewer than seven of the rear-engine sports car. With three and two Porsches respectively, Herberth Motorsport and Schütz Motorsport are investing considerably more resources this year. Farnbacher Racing enter their usual two 911s.

Reiter Engineering have opted for a completely different approach: the most successful team in the history of the ADAC GT Masters are putting their faith in a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Camaro GT. Pixum Team Schubert have pinned their colours to the BMW mast, and for the second season in succession, they will be fielding two Z4s. Meanwhile, MRS GT Racing are bringing the spectacular McLaren MP4-12C back into contention.

Live TV broadcasts on kabel eins with Jacques Schulz and Patrick Simon

All 16 of the ADAC GT Masters races will be broadcast live and in full on free-to-air commercial channel kabel eins. ‘ran Racing’ (title of the programme) starts at 11.45am on both the Saturday and the Sunday of the race weekends. Some well-known names have been recruited to present the programme and deliver the running commentaries. Veteran Formula 1 commentator Jacques Schulz and pundit Patrick Simon will keep viewers well informed throughout the race. ‘ran Racing’ presenters Andrea Kaiser and Jan Stecker will be down on the starting grid and in the pit lane, interviewing drivers and reporting on background developments.

The support programme for this year’s ADAC GT Masters will be as attractive and varied as always. The usual support series – Formel ADAC, ATS Formel 3 Cup and DTC des DMSB - ADAC Procar – will be supplemented at individual events by the Renault Clio Cup Central Europe, the Porsche Carrera Cup, the EuroV8Series, the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy and the ADAC HAIGO Historic Cup for touring and formula racing cars.

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.

Tickets for all ADAC GT Masters races are available in advance, starting at just 20 euros, online at www.adac.de/motorsport, from all ADAC outlets, at www.eventim.de and from more than 20,000 Eventim ticket offices throughout Europe.