Speedy Formula car to super sportscars at Zolder In 2009 the ADAC GT Masters, ATS Formula 3 Cup, Formel ADAC and ADAC PROCAR championships merged to form a new motorsport platform: the ADAC Masters Weekend. Now in its third year the spectator friendly and action packed event package once again breaks new ground, because for the first time the historically traditional Belgium Grand Prix circuit Zolder is a venue on the calendar. On the Whitsun weekend between 10 and 12 June the four regular series’ headed by the “super sportscar league” the ADAC GT Masters stage no less than nine races. The 15 Euro day ticket for the third ADAC Masters Weekend is well worth the investment, especially as the exclusive look behind the scenes in the paddock is included. Reason enough for a trip to Zolder to enjoy the Whitsun programme. And this not only for Belgian motorsport enthusiasts – after all the German border is close by and for many drivers like Heinz-Harald Frentzen, born in Mönchengladbach, or Kenneth Heyer from nearby Wegberg Zolder is as good as a home race..ADAC GT Masters: Who set the pace in Zolder?Four races, four different winning driver crews in three different super sportscar brands – the ADAC GT Masters field does not only boast a record grid of nearly 40 cars it is also very evenly matched. Particularly as drivers of the brands Corvette and Porsche have already finished on the podium. Races five and six are on the agenda in Zolder. Numerous drivers know the track from outings in other championships or from the ADAC GT Masters. The series visited in its debut 2007 season. The future Champion Christopher Haase (Kirchleus) was credited with two wins at that time. In 2011 he races together with Andreas Simonsen (S) in an Audi entered by Phoenix Racing Pole Promotion. They are fifth in the standings with one win to their names. Leading the standings are Christer Jöns/Jens Klingmann (Ingelheim/Leimen) from their ABT Audi team mates Christopher Mies/Luca Ludwig (Heiligenhaus/Bonn) who being from Rhinelander belong to the hoard of local matadors. The Stuck brothers Johannes and Ferdinand (Austria) also started the year well and have won one race. They are currently third overall ahead of the BMW-Alpina duo Alexandros Margaritis/Dino Lunardi (GR/F). The only Belgium team, Mühlner Motorsport from Spa-Francorchamps, contesting the ADAC GT Masters has great plans for Zolder. Regular driver Frank Schmickler (Rösrath) was also on the gird at Zolder in 2007 – and is the only driver to have competed every ADAC GT Masters race held to date. In 2011 he shares the Mühlner-Porsche with Charlie Geipel (Plauen). Because Zolder is so hard on a GT race car brakes the braking systems are allowed to be cooled with water in addition to air this weekend. ATS Formula 3 Cup: Race stress for formula talentThe chequered flag for the last event has barely fallen before Germany’s fastest Formula series is ready to race again. Only five days after the event on June 4-5 in Assen, Holland, the ATS Formula 3 Cup rolls out for first practice at Zolder. Before the Benelux double-header the New Zealander Richie Stanaway ranks just ahead of Dane Marco Sørensen. Klaus Bachler (A), Tom Blomqvist (GB) and Alon Day (IL) follow a respectable distance behind. Best German in this multi-cultural company before the double-header in the neighbouring countries was ADAC Stiftung Sport supported driver Patrick Schranner (Ingolstadt) in seventh place. However, four races within nine days will certainly see some movement in the table ... Formel ADAC: Formula school on voyage of discovery The Formel ADAC starts for the first time at Zolder. In order to equip themselves for the showdown several teams have already tested at the Belgian track, others prepare with simulator mileage and refer to data from other similar circuits like Lausitzring. An additional practice session will also be squeezed into the busy schedule. However: a new race track is always a unique challenge and especially a track like Zolder with so much history. The situation in the general classification is also exciting: The trio of Sven Müller (Bingen), Emil Bernstorff (GB) and Pascal Wehrlein (Worndorf), who share all the race wins so far this season, have pulled away from the chasing pack. The pursuers are under pressure to make a move if they want to reduce the gap to the front runners. ADAC PROCAR: the varied touring car league Drivers of cars representing nine different brands are entered in the ADAC PROCAR which once again appears as varied and colourful touring car championship. Last year’s runner-up Johannes Leidinger (Nalbach) started the season the best by claiming two wins and two second places in his BMW. This gifted him a 13 point lead in Division 1 for S2000 cars ahead of Honda driver Peter Rikli. The Swiss has won once like Leidinger’s fellow BMW driver Jens Weimann (Preetz). In Division 2 the races have been won by leader Nils Mierschke (Ford, Fränkisch-Crumbach) and Peugeot driver Guido Thierfelder (Troisdorf). An interesting question in Zolder is which drivetrain concept will prove to be superior for the heavy braking before the chicanes and “cutting” the kerbs: the rear-wheel driven BMWs or the front-wheel drive competition? When Zolder stages the World Touring Car Championship the S2000 cars with front wheel drive had a small advantage. TV coverage on kabel eins and SPORT1TV highlights of the events from Zolder are broadcast by “kabel eins” (13 June, 01:50) as well as “SPORT1” (18 June, 11:45). “kabel eins” broadcasts the ADAC GT Masters races on Saturday and Sunday from 11:45, the races of three other series’ broadcast via their websites in live stream.