Mixed Nordschleife dress rehearsal for HRT: The #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the blue and yellow Bilstein livery finished 11th in the Qualification Race for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The #6 car, featuring the logos of milon and five, came home 12th after six hours of racing in the Green Hell. Over the course of the race weekend, both cars took advantage of the final opportunity to get valuable test kilometres under their belt on the Nordschleife ahead of the iconic 24-hour race (3rd to 6th June).
- Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4: 11th place
- Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #6: 12th place
- Valuable last Nordschleife test before the 24-hour race
The two cars reached the first milestone of the race weekend on Sunday morning: the first two qualifying sessions saw both the #4 and the #6 comfortably progress to the Top-30 Qualifying. In the qualifying session for the fastest teams, the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the blue and yellow Bilstein livery finished 12th. The #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the milon and five branding qualified in 17th place.
In perfect conditions, the two cars – both running under the official title of Mercedes-AMG Team HRT – made good starts to the ADAC Qualification Race for the 24-hour race: Adam Christodoulou did a great job of defending his position at the wheel of the #4, while Nico Bastian climbed several places in the first few corners in the #6 car. Both start drivers then made progress through the high-quality field, before team owner Hubert Haupt (#6) and Patrick Assenheimer (#4) took over at the end of the double stint. Both Haupt and Assenheimer were involved in some thrilling battles for position and ensured that the two Mercedes-AMG GT3s remained on course for a top-ten finish. Manuel Metzger joined the action for the final stint in the #4, while double-starter Assenheimer switched cockpit to gain more valuable kilometres on the Nordschleife in the #6 car. After six hours of racing, Metzger crossed the finish line in 11th place in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3, while Assenheimer brought the #6 car home in 12th place.
After this weekend’s dress rehearsal, HRT now has four weeks of intensive preparations before the 49th staging of the ADAC TOTAL 24H Race at the Nürburgring from 3rd to 6th June. Before then, however, the team from Meuspath heads to Le Castellet in France, where Circuit Paul Ricard hosts round two of the Endurance Cup in the GT World Challenge Europe (28th to 30th May).
Hubert Haupt, team owner HRT and Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #6: “The car was good to drive and the set-up was also good. However, we are currently still having problems with our top speed, which is making life difficult in direct battles. In four weeks we have the highlight of the season – the 24-hour race. We have to focus fully on that now.”
Patrick Assenheimer, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4 and #6: “I immediately felt right at home again on the Nordschleife. As expected, it was tough competition at a high standard and in ideal weather – perfect preparation for the 24-hour race in June, which I am very much looking forward to!”
Nico Bastian, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #6: “After this morning’s Top-30 Qualifying, a good start was incredibly important. I managed that, and was always really well-positioned to quickly gain a few positions. The car was good in the race. I had a few exciting battles with my rivals and made it into the top ten in my stint. That gives me confidence.”
Sean Paul Breslin, team principal HRT: “The team prepared well at this final test on the Nordschleife before the 24-hour race. At the moment, we are lacking the pace we need to achieve our ambitious goals. We will now analyse why that is, and how we can exhaust our full potential looking ahead to the highlight of the season in four weeks.”
About HRT
HRT stands for HAUPT RACING TEAM. The outings and cars are prepared in Meuspath, not far from the Nürburgring. 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.
