DTM championship leader Lucas Auer makes strong start in ADAC GT Masters

• DTM championship leader Auer is second fastest in first practice
• Fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Maximilian Götz takes best time
• SPORT1 will broadcast both races live and in full on Saturday and Sunday

Spielberg: DTM front-runner Lucas Auer (22, A, BWT Mücke Motorsport) made a successful debut in the ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring. Finishing second in the first practice session for the third race of the season, the Austrian was only 0.132 seconds down on the best time posted by fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Maximilian Götz (31, DEU, Mercedes-AMG Team HTP Motorsport). SPORT1 will feature the two Super Sports Car League races live and in full on Saturday and Sunday.

Despite temperatures nudging 30 degrees, Götz posted best time of the 90-minute session in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a 1.28.427. Götz: "We made a few changes during the session, which were for the good. I went out again at the end of practice, which is when I secured best time. Still, it doesn't mean much, as all the others were probably on used tires. I think we're well sorted. I always enjoy lining up here in Austria, partly because my fan club comes from here. I'm even going to wear Lederhosen tomorrow. It's become a bit of a tradition for me."

Fellow Mercedes driver Lucas Auer took second place behind Götz. The Tyrolean currently leads the DTM after taking two wins from the first four races and will contest his first race in a GT sports car this weekend. Third place went to the Corvette of Jules Gounon (22, F) and Daniel Keilwitz (27, DEU, both Callaway Competition) followed by Luca Stolz (21, DEU) and Luca Ludwig (27, DEU, both Mercedes-AMG Team ZAKSPEED) in another Mercedes-AMG. Filip Salaquarda (33, CZ) and Markus Winkelhock (36, DEU, both BWT Mücke Motorsport) in the best-placed Audi R8 took P5 from Ezequiel Perez Companc (22, RA) and Mirko Bortolotti (27, I, both GRT Grasser Racing team). The leaders in the standings, Robert Renauer (32, DEU) and Sven Müller (25, DEU, both Precote Herberth Motorsport) came home behind them in the best-placed Porsche 911.

Lucas Auer looking forward to ADAC GT Masters debut

Lucas Auer is looking forward to his ADAC GT Masters debut this weekend. Auer: "I've been wanting to gain my first experience of racing a GT sports car for quite a few years now, but unfortunately, it never happened. Still, it's finally working out for me now. My first impressions of the vehicle are very positive, even though I've to get used to everything, because the GT sports car is quite different to my usual DTM machine. However, my team-mate, Sebastian Asch, is very experienced, and I can learn a lot from him."

Lamborghini with best time in testing on Thursday

The ADAC GT Masters teams warmed up for this ADAC GT Masters race weekend at Spielberg with testing on Thursday. The Lamborghini Huracán of Rolf Ineichen (39, CH) and Christian Engelhart (30, DEU, both GRT Grasser Racing Team) was fastest overall, topping out in the third test session with a lap time of 1.27.983 minutes. Mercedes drivers Luca Stolz and Luca Ludwig were the best in the first session with a 1.28.062 minutes while Jules Gounon and Daniel Keilwitz went to the head of the timesheets in the second session in their Corvette with a 1.28.072 minutes.

Winners of the 24-hour race full of vim and vigour at the Red Bull Ring

Christopher Mies (28, DEU), Kelvin van der Linde (20, ZA), Connor De Phillippi (24, USA) and Markus Winkelhock are starting this third round of the ADAC GT Masters with the wind in their sails after winning the ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring just less than two weeks ago. On Thursday, they featured in a report for ADAC GT Masters TV partner SPORT1. The winning vehicle, the Audi R8 LMS prepared by Audi Sport team Land, will be exhibited at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt until 19th June.