Team to start with two brand-new Mercedes AMG GT3 in ADAC GT Masters Driver pairing for second car to be announced shortly
With the first engines to sound around the Motorsport Arena of Oschersleben on 4th April, the ADAC GT Masters starts with the official testing days into this season. It also marks the start of ZAKSPEED´s title defence at the same time. Following a nerve-racking final in Hockenheim last October, Luca Ludwig and Sebastian Asch are aiming to fight for the title right from the beginning, driving the new Mercedes AMG GT3 sponsored by BKK Mobil.
The first half of the 2015 season was a success for Ludwig and Asch with two victories in both Spa and Lausitz as well as four podium finishes. But from the race weekend at Nürburgring onwards, the races did not go as planned. A sensational race win at Zandvoort brought the team back into the title contest. A fifth place was enough to secure both the drivers’ championship as well as the runner-up place in the team´s ranking for Peter Zakowski´ s crew at the final race in Hockenheim.
Everything will now be back to square with a truly strong starting field as well as the challenge to compete with a brand-new race car. Following the successful running of the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3, ZAKSPEED will now compete with two new Mercedes AMG GT3. Ludwig and Asch are steering the number #1 BKK Mobil Mercedes, whilst the driver pairing for the second GT3 will be announced shortly.
“We had a great first half of last year´s season, during the second half we made a few mistakes”, says Peter Zakowski, Team Owner ZAKSPEED. “I think we will be able to be in a position to fight for the title again. Thanks to BKK we are now in the third time competing in the ADAC GT Masters. There will be a few uncertainties this year for sure, how the new car will be running, what the competitors will be doing, but I am confident that we will compete at the front right from the start.”
The official tests for the ADAC GT Masters are taking place from 4th until 6th April in Oschersleben, with the race commencing two weeks later from 14th until 17th April.
Driver Quotes:
Luca Ludwig:"I think, this year will be very tough looking at all our competitors. But we have improved a great step during the winter break. We have a new car and will have to learn a few more things, but we are well prepared from a structural and organisational point of view. I hope, that we will be able to compete for the title again.”
Sebastian Asch:"I am really excited about this season. There are some great names on the entry list, all big brands are represented with their new cars and at the moment, nobody knows who the favourite will be. Our goal is most certainly the title defence. After all, we carry the number #1 on our car, we will have to proof it. We have a great team, a new engineer and once we are all lined-up on the grid for the first race, we will know how strong we are.”
