After the good result at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring the Haupt Racing Team kicks off its third season in the DTM this weekend at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Together with drivers Arjun Maini (IND) and Luca Stolz (GER), the team from Drees will go in pursuit of championship points in this high-class series as Mercedes-AMG Team HRT. As well as the familiar BILSTEIN car, a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the MANNOL design will also be on show in the DTM for the first time.
- P3 overall for Stolz and P2 in the SP9 PRO-AM for Maini at the 24h Nürburgring.
- Luca Stolz competes in the DTM in the BILSTEIN livery in Mercedes-AMG GT3 #4.
- Sister car #36 driven by Arjun Maini with new MANNOL livery.
Last weekend, the Haupt Racing Team, under the name Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN, achieved two podium finishes at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring. The #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with drivers Philip Ellis, Raffaele Marciello (both SUI) and Luca Stolz finished third overall in an eventful race. The #6 car with team owner Hubert Haupt (GER), Jordan Love (AUS) and Arjun Maini finished the Nürburgring 24 Hours in second place in the SP9 PRO-AM category, which also meant eighth overall. The #46 Mercedes-AMG GT2 with Thomas Jäger (GER), Frank Bird (GBR), Elia Erhart and Jörg Viebahn (both GER) was also rewarded with class victory in the SPX at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife test event.
Just one week later, HRT travels to the DTM season opener at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Hubert Haupt’s team heads into the new DTM season with the same two drivers as last year. The two Mercedes-AMG GT3 line up as Mercedes-AMG Team HRT. Luca Stolz, who finished sixth in the 2022 season, will start in the #4 car, sporting the yellow and blue livery of technology partner BILSTEIN.
Team and technology partner BILSTEIN specialises in particularly high-performance shock absorbers and chassis. Operating at the same level as global premium automobile manufacturers, BILSTEIN develops innovative state-of-the-art chassis and shock absorber technology for original equipment. The company also enjoys a long tradition on the international motorsport scene. Many race wins in both grassroot and elite racing around the world speak volumes for ‘performance made by BILSTEIN’.
Arjun Maini will be at the wheel of the #36 car. The 25-year-old Indian has already caught the eye with impressive performance and top-three finishes in the DTM and other racing series. Maini will represent Mercedes-AMG Team HRT in the DTM in the colours of MANNOL. This is the first time a car will have taken to the grid in a full, dark-blue MANNOL livery in this high-profile series.
This involvement sees HRT expand its partnership with lubricant partner MANNOL. Since the start of the 2022 season, MANNOL has supported Haupt Racing Team with its comprehensive expertise. The global lubricant manufacturer from Wedel also provides the team with many high-quality products from its own range, which includes engine and gear oils, radiator antifreeze, service fluids, and other vehicle maintenance products.
The first race of the season gets underway at 13:30 on Saturday 27th May at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Race two follows on Sunday 28th May, also at 13:30.
Luca Stolz, #4 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “We staged a good show with the fellow Mercedes-AMG drivers and of course, I am proud that we made it onto the podium at the end. Now I am pleased to be racing in the DTM again. I have a super team behind me. I hope we can immediately show what we are capable of in Oschersleben.”
Arjun Maini, #36 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “My first 24h race at the Nürburgring was an incredible experience and I am overjoyed that we were able to achieve a good result. It is really great to drive in the DTM for the same team as last year. The team is very motivated and I am delighted to be back in the DTM.”
Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer of Haupt Racing Team GmbH: “We are very proud to have performed well at the Nürburgring together with Mercedes-AMG and to now be able to contest the third DTM season as Mercedes-AMG Team HRT. The fact that we line up with the same constellation as last year also shows the faith that we have in our drivers and cars. The DTM will be a challenging series, as it has been for the last two years. However, we are optimistic that this will be a successful year. The circuit in Oschersleben does not offer many overtaking opportunities. A good qualifying and a clean race will be vital here.”
About HRT
HRT stands for HAUPT RACING TEAM. The motorsport team was founded in July 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt and has firmly established itself in international GT3 sport within a very short time. As well as numerous race wins and top results, HRT’s greatest success came in 2021 when it won the Drivers’ Championship in the DTM. The team’s programme is demanding and diverse: among other things, HRT starts in the DTM, the Nürburgring Endurance Series, the GT World Challenge Europe, and the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. Many of these race outings are as a Mercedes-AMG Performance Team with extended factory support. HRT is also involved in professional sim racing and is a sought-after partner for technical development projects and motorsport events of all kinds. As of the 2023 season, the team’s new operations centre is the HRT Race Base in Drees, which is located at the Nürburgring. The headquarters of Haupt Racing Team GmbH are in Grünwald near Munich.
