As dawn broke on Sunday morning, the HMercedes-AMG Team HRT could already look back on an eventful 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. After the pole-sitters in the number 4 car had fallen foul of the adverse weather early on in the race, the remaining Mercedes-AMG GT3 – the number 2 and number 6 cars – launched a rousing fightback. At about 22:30, race control suspended the 48th ADAC TOTAL 24h Race at the Nürburgring, as the heavy rain and standing water on the track made it unsafe to continue racing. The field had to wait until 08:00 before it could take to the track again for a formation lap.
Unfortunately, the race came to an early end for the much-fancied team of Maro Engel (GER), Adam Christodoulou (GBR), Manuel Metzger and Luca Stolz (both GER) in the #4 of the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT. After five hours of racing, the car crashed out of the lead on a wet and extremely slippery track in the Schwalbenschwanz section of the circuit. The damage to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 was so severe that it was not possible to re-join the race.
The #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 by Mercedes-AMG Team HRT AutoArenA, with Patrick Assenheimer (GER) taking the first stint, was forced to pursue the first start group from the pit lane, due to a minor technical issue. The quartet of drivers – Assenheimer, Dominik Baumann (AUT), Maro Engel and Dirk Müller (GER) had worked their way into the top ten by the evening and were running eighth when the race was suspended. Engel, who took the wheel of the #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the restart, promptly climbed four places in the first few laps and is currently running fourth.
Team owner Hubert Haupt, Nico Bastian (both GER), Yelmer Buurman (NED) and Phillip Ellis (GBR) made up several positions in the first third of the race. The #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT, which was the subject of extensive repairs prior to the race following a crash, started from 20th place on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife. When the race resumed on Sunday morning, the number 2 car was eleventh. Buurman also improved his position at the restart and currently lies tenth.
The 48th edition of the Eifel classic finishes at 15:30.
About HRT
HRT stands for HAUPT RACING TEAM. Formed in July 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt, the team enjoys success in GT3 racing. Among other things, HRT secured the 2021 DTM drivers' championship in just its second motorsport season. HRT lines up with extended works support from Mercedes-AMG in many of the team's outings. The outings and cars are prepared in Meuspath, not far from the Nürburgring. HRT is also involved in professional sim racing and is a sought-after partner for motorsport events of all sorts. HRT can call on a host of experts with a wealth of motorsport and engineering experience, which the diverse motorsport company leverages when implementing technical development projects for and with its partners. The headquarters of Haupt Racing Team GmbH is Grünwald near Munich. The team owner is racing driver and businessman Hubert Haupt. As well as motorsport, Haupt is primarily known as a successful property developer. With his real estate company, he implements high-quality living and building concepts in southern Germany – from innovative buildings to complete districts.
