Ulrich, how would you sum up the 2026 season so far?
“Overall, it’s been positive, even if our performance hasn’t always been reflected in the results. In the DTM, after ten races, we’ve secured three podium finishes and the Ford Mustang GT3’s first pole position. Arjun Maini is in sixth place in the championship, and Finn Wiebelhaus is having a strong first DTM season. He’s quickly adapted to the high level of competition and has already shown his potential on multiple occasions.
In the ADAC GT Masters as well, we’ve been very consistent, with six podium finishes in eight races. Added to that are the overall pole position at Monza and other strong performances in the GT World Challenge Europe, as well as on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where we led for many kilometers in both the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring and at Spa. This shows that our package is competitive on a wide variety of tracks.
However, the truth is also that we’re still missing that one major victory in 2026. We’ve had the pace for a top result on several occasions, but we haven’t always been able to fully realize our potential—partly due to unfortunate race developments, and partly because not all of our processes have functioned optimally.”
What are HRT’s goals for the remainder of the season?
“Our goal for the rest of the season is clear: We want to be as successful as possible in all the championships we compete in, fight for podium finishes and victories, and wrap up the season with more strong results.
Our best chance at a title is in the ADAC GT Masters. Niklas Kalus and Kiano Blum are in third place heading into the final four races and are still within striking distance of the lead. In the DTM, too, we can fight for podium finishes under our own steam. There, we want to take the next step toward our first victory with the Mustang. In the final two races of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at the Nürburgring and in Portimão, the goal is also to finally translate our strong qualifying performance from Monza into a corresponding race result.”
Where do you see the greatest potential for further improvement?
“The progress with the car is clearly evident. That’s due to the Evo package, but just as much to our growing experience with the Mustang. In 2025, our first year with Ford, we completed a good 90 race starts. This season, we’ve already surpassed 70. Every race provides us with new data and insights. Together with Ford Racing, we want to translate this potential into results even more consistently.
As a team, we’ve also thoroughly analyzed the first half of the season and openly examined what worked well and where we need to improve. Responsibilities need to be defined more clearly in some areas, decisions made more quickly, and processes streamlined. As part of our ongoing development, HRT will also restructure its personnel in certain areas and strategically strengthen those teams. This gives us the opportunity to focus even more strongly on on-track performance. This is not about short-term reactions, but about sustainable structures and a clear vision. We have outstanding expertise, a dedicated team, and reliable partners. This comprehensive package reinforces our commitment to consistently continuing on the path we have chosen.”
About HRT
The Haupt Racing Team (HRT) was founded in 2020 by racing driver and entrepreneur Hubert Haupt, and has firmly established itself in international GT3 sports. Its greatest successes to date include the 2021 DTM Drivers' Championship, the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Drivers' and Teams' Titles (Sprint and Silver Cup), and the Drivers' Title (2025) and three consecutive Teams' Titles (2023, 2024, 2025) in the ADAC GT Masters, as well as class wins and podium finishes in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. Since the 2025 season, HRT has been running the Ford Mustang GT3 with factory support from Ford in several high-profile racing series and championships. HRT is also actively involved in the promotion of young talent, covering the entire pyramid of driver development, from entry into motorsport in the HRT Kart Team to the highest level of GT racing in the DTM. The joint operations center is the state-of-the-art HRT RACE BASE in Drees, at the Nürburgring, where technical development projects and motorsport events of all kinds are also carried out.
