ADAC GT Masters - #99 Porsche wins race 1 at Lausitzring

Precote Herberth Motorsport’s Porsche of Robert Renauer and Sven Muller won the ADAC GT Masters race 1 at Lausitzring what is the first win for the team in 2017. At the same time, it was Porsche’s 9th victory in the series at this circuit.

The Team Zakspeed’s Mercedes #21 of Luca Stolz and Luca Ludwig started from pole position and was followed by HTP Motorsport’s Mercedes #48 of Indy Dontje and Marvin Kirchhofer. The positions in the second starting row occupied Herberth Motorsport’s Porsche #99 and RWT Racing’s Corvette #13.

The safety car was deployed right after the start after #24 Audi and #36 Porsche stopped at Turn 2 after having a contact. When the race was restarted, #99 Porsche with Robert Renauer behind the wheel moved up to the 2nd position and with Mercedes #21 was well ahead to the rest of the grid. The battle between cars #13 and #48 was quite intense but Sven Barth in Corvette slid out of the track on lap 9 and dropped to the back of the grid.

Luca Stolz, Team Zakspeed Mercedes-AMg

When the pit window was opened, Team Zakspeed Mercedes #21 led the race, followed by #99 Porsche, Mercedes #48 and Callaway Competition’s #77 Corvette of Jules Gounon. An unbelievable accident happened at the mid-stage of the race when the reigning champion Christopher Mies in Land Motorsport’s Audi hit the race leading Mercedes while leaving the pit lane. Luckily, both cars were able to continue the race.

However, the car #21 dropped to the 2nd place when the pit window was closed while Sven Muller in #99 Porsche had a solid lead of 2.2s. They were followed by the car #48 and GRT Grasser Racing’s Lamborghini #19 of Mirko Bortolotti. With 10 minutes to go, Bortolotti zipped over Kirchhofer’s Mercedes and finished 3rd in the race, behind Herberth Motorsport’s Porsche and Team Zakspeed’s Mercedes.