Triple champion Löhner bounces back as the eSports season reaches the halfway point

• Defending champion Löhner wins both races at the virtual Nürburgring
• Christopher Högfeldt tops the table going into the second half of the season

Munich. Christopher Högfeldt (Virtualdrivers by TX3) continues to lead the ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW Mobility+ after six of this season’s twelve races. However, the biggest smile at the end of the eSports event at the virtual Nürburgring was on the face of three-time champion Moritz Löhner. The Dörr eSports driver won both races from pole position and consequently rocketed up the overall standings from 21st to seventh place.

The sprint race saw a dominant Löhner convert pole position into a lights-to-flag victory in his McLaren. His Dörr eSports team-mate Florian Hasse crossed the finish line 1.070 seconds behind him, with Marko Pejic (Veloce Esports) a further 0.341 seconds back. Högfeldt finished ninth, having started from seventh place.

An impressive qualifying lap meant Löhner also started the main race from pole position, and he went on to lead from start to finish in his McLaren. There was plenty of drama at the end of the race: Löhner crossed the finish line with just ten seconds of race time remaining, meaning the entire field had to complete an additional lap. Some of the competitors had not reckoned on this when calculating their race strategy, and had to slow down suddenly to save fuel. However, the distance was simply too much for Marko Pejic, who ran out of fuel whilst running third on the final lap. As a result, Löhner was joined on the podium by Bence Bánki (Dörr Esports – Ascher Racing) and Kevin Siggy (Team Redline).

“I did consider whether I should slow down,” said Löhner after the race. “However, that was not possible, as there were too many seconds remaining. I was surprised – the race must have been faster than expected. The Nürburgring really suited the McLaren, and I took my opportunity. It will probably be a different story in Zandvoort.”

Bánki, who still has his sights set on winning the title, had changed his fuel strategy before the start of the race. “Fortunately, I had allowed for an additional three litres, and each lap used about two litres,” he explained. “I am very happy with my performance. I achieved my main goal, which was to make up ground on Högfeldt.”

Despite finishing ninth and tenth at the Nürburgring, Christopher Högfeldt continues to lead the championship with 190 points, having won the first four races of the season. Second-placed Bánki (165 points) did indeed close the gap to the Swede, thanks to his solid results in round three. Williams eSports driver Jack Keithley currently lies third with 145 points. Moritz Löhner set the fastest race lap at the Nürburgring, for which he was rewarded with € 250 and the Motorsport.com Fastest Lap Award.

The ADAC GT Masters eSports Championship powered by EnBW mobility+ next travels to Zandvoort in two weeks’ time. The 32 sim racers will contest races seven and eight at the undulating Dutch circuit on 29th March 2022.