Next weekend, the ADAC GT Masters will start into the new season at the Hockenheimring. For the first time, the Haupt Racing Team will be represented in this traditional racing series. The team from Drees will enter two Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Ralf Aron (EST) and Alain Valente (SUI) will compete in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #2. Razvan Umbrarescu (ROM) and Arjun Maini (IND) will share the wheel of the #3 sister car at the Hockenheimring.
- HRT's first race in the ADAC GT Masters.
- #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Ralf Aron and Alain Valente.
- Razvan Umbrarescu and Razvan Arjun Maini in the sister car #3.
Following the restructuring of the ADAC GT Masters, the Haupt Racing Team will be represented in the "league of super sports cars" for the first time with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Hubert Haupt's team is using the new concept to offer young talents the opportunity for further development. Two driver pairings will represent HRT's colours in the ADAC GT Masters.
In the #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Alain Valente and Ralf Aron will face the challenge of the ADAC GT Masters. Valente already competed for HRT in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe last year and showed impressive performances. The Estonian Ralf Aron returns from team management to active motorsport in 2023. Previously successful in Formula racing, Aron will accept the challenge of GT racing from 2023 onwards.
Razvan Umbrarescu and Arjun Maini will compete in the sister car #3 at the season opener. Umbrarescu will be making his debut in the ADAC GT Masters at the Hockenheimring, but is already a well-experienced GT driver. In recent years, Umbrarescu raced in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 and attracted attention with a number of podium finishes. The fast Indian Maini will support Umbrarescu at the first race weekend in Hockenheim. It is planned to give another young driver the chance to prove himself in the ADAC GT Masters environment during the current season. This driver will take a seat in the cockpit of the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in place of Arjun Maini.
Next weekend, both driver pairings will have the opportunity to prove themselves in the ADAC GT Masters for the first time. On Saturday, 10 June, the first race of the new season will start at 13:00. On the following Sunday, also at 13:00, the lights go green for the second race of the year. Both races will be broadcast live on TV on Sport1 and via livestream on www.adac-gt-masters.de.
Ralf Aron, Haupt Racing Team #2: "I am very happy to be able to race for the Haupt Racing Team in the ADAC GT Masters. I have come to know the series as one of the best GT3 championships where many well-known names have raced. I want to use this year to develop personally and to repay the trust placed in me. I will give my best in every race and aim for top results."
Razvan Umbrarescu, Haupt Racing Team #3: "I am very excited about this season. I love challenges and this is indeed a new challenge. I am lucky and grateful to be in the best team. In such a professional environment, I will be able to adapt quickly to the format of the championship. I never start a season with expectations. I will focus on our team to give the best performance."
Ulrich Fritz, Chief Executive Officer Haupt Racing Team GmbH: "Finally, the ADAC GT Masters is also starting the new season. We are very happy to field two Mercedes-AMG GT3s. For our drivers, the ADAC GT Masters is a good opportunity to present themselves and develop further in this professional environment. For our team, too, we see the synergy potential with other series, such as the DTM. We are highly motivated and want to score the best possible result in the ADAC GT Masters."
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.
