ZANDVOORT, The Netherlands — In an eventful fourth championship race of the ADAC GT Masters, the Dutchman Maxime Oosten and Leon Köhler drove to their second victory of the season in the BMW M4 GT3 on the Circuit Zandvoort.
“Winning in front of a home crowd is a fantastic experience. We were also able to reduce the gap to the leaders of the table. I am super happy,” said local hero Oosten after the victory on Sunday. His fellow driver Leon Köhler (Erlenbach am Main) was also delighted.
“A perfect finish,” Köhler said. “After the difficulties at the beginning of the weekend, I am even happier about this success.”
Alexander Fach and Alexander Schwarzer in the Porsche 911 GT3 R from Fach Auto Tech came in second place, also winning the ProAm classification.
In the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from the Haupt Racing Team, David Schumacher and Salman Owega took third place overall and second place in the Silver Cup; for Schumacher it was his first podium finish on his second weekend in the series.
The fourth race of the season on the 4.259-kilometer dune circuit in North Holland delivered pure racing action. After a safety car phase at the beginning, the race management handed out a number of penalties, which resulted in a new order in the leading group.
One of those who suffered was polesitter Simon Connor Primm in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, who had to complete a penalty lap due to a false start.
The new leader was Mike David Ortmann in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, but he was defeated by an attack from Oosten shortly before the pit stop window opened. Köhler then took the wheel of the leading BMW M4 GT3 and brought the victory safely to the finish.
Fach and Schwarzer made a big leap forward, working their way up from 12th place to second. For Schwarzer, the result was a particular highlight.
“I am completely overwhelmed,” Schwarzer said. “When I saw at the command post that we were so far ahead, I was totally nervous. The joy after crossing the finish line was enormous.”
Schumacher and defending champion Owega completed the podium. The duo dropped to eighth position due to a penalty after the start, but then worked their way up. “The penalty caused us to lose a few places, most of which we were able to regain as the race progressed. Of course we would have liked to have finished further up, but in the end we can be happy with the result,” reported Schumacher.
The Kapfinger twins Johannes and Michael came in fourth with their Porsche 911 GT3 R from the Joos by TwinBusch team. In the Silver Cup, this meant third place. Ortmann and Denis Bulatov came in fifth in their Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Jannes Fittje and Finn Wiebelhaus from the Haupt Racing Team came in sixth in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, followed by Jean-Luc D`Auria and Alain Valente in the Ferrari 296 GT3 from Emil Frey Racing.
Saturday’s winners Tom Kalender and Elias Seppänen from Landgraf Motorsport in another Mercedes-AMG GT3 were the eighth best driver duo.
Eduardo Coseteng and Grégory de Sybourg from FK Performance Motorsport claimed ninth place in the BMW M4 GT3. Behind them, Benjamin Hites and Tim Zimmermann finished the race in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 from the Grasser Racing Team.
After four championship races, Kalender and Seppänen lead the table with 84 points, ahead of Oosten and Köhler with 77 points. From July 12-14, the drivers will travel to the Nürburgring for the third round of the season. The ADAC GT Masters is looking for its half-time champion in the Eifel.
Watch LIVE coverage of ADAC GT Masters on SPEED SPORT 1 – The Live Racing Network
