Zakspeed to challenge for ADAC GT Masters with two Mercedes-AMGs

• Luca Ludwig’s new co-driver is Luca Stolz
• Nikolaj Rogivue and Nicolai Sylvest contesting their second season together
• Established team sticks with Mercedes-AMG GT3

Mercedes-AMG specialists Zakspeed will again be fielding two Mercedes-AMG in the forthcoming ADAC GT Masters. While the previous partnership of Nikolaj Rogivue (20, CH) and Nicolai Sylvest (19, DK) remains unchanged, former champion Luca Ludwig (28, GER) now teams up with Luca Stolz (21, GER).

Luca Ludwig, who has been part of the setup at Zakspeed since the Eifel-based outfit first entered the ADAC GT Masters, finished the 2015 season as champion and has now set himself an ambitious target: “As ever, only the title itself counts. But as leader of the pack here, I’m also looking forward to working with the juniors.” His new team-mate, Luca Stolz, also has several years’ experience of contesting the ADAC GT Masters and already has one winner’s trophy in his cabinet from the 2015 campaign. “I am really happy to have been recruited by Zakspeed,” says the 21-year-old. “I’ve never driven for such a well-established team before. They’ve been putting in strong performances for several decades, and I’m confident that we can build on that record.”

Rogivue and Sylvest made a favourable impression as newcomers to the Super Sports Car League in the 2016 season. The youngsters not only registered two victories in the junior championship but also managed two podium finishes in the general classification. “I think we make a very good driver pairing,” says Rogivue. “We both come into this year with more experience behind us.” Team-mate Sylvest is looking forward to appearing again for Zakspeed: “Zakspeed is a team that I really like competing for. The people there and the way they work together – it’s an honour to be a part of it. “

In 2016, Zakspeed quickly notched up two victories with the new Mercedes-AMG. There was never any question in team principal Peter Zakowski’s mind that they would continue to work with Mercedes-AMG this year: “We have a long-standing relationship with Mercedes. After all, we’ve been partners for nine years. That is obviously an incentive for us. In 2017, we definitely have the ADAC GT Masters title in our sights.”