The opening race of the 2021 DTM season ended with an impressive double podium for the Haupt Racing Team. Vincent Abril was runner-up in the #5 Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, while team-mate Maximilian Götz finished third in the #4 car to round off an impressive team performance. The team from Meuspath must now prepare for race two, which takes place on Sunday.
- Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #5: 2nd place
- Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4: 3rd place
- Brilliant start to the DTM for HRT, with pole position and a double podium
The Haupt Racing Team laid the foundations for its success in Monza during the 20-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning. Vincent Abril (#5) defeated a high-class field to take pole position with a time of 1:46.488 minutes. Just behind him In the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 was Maximilian Götz, who secured fourth place on the grid. Both drivers seamlessly continued the impressive performances they had shown during preparations and earned themselves excellent starting positions for the opening race of the season at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, both cars, each racing under the official title Mercedes-AMG Team HRT, made a very good flying start to the 50-minute race: Abril kept a cool head in the blue and yellow #5 Bilstein Mercedes-AMG GT3 and was able to defend his lead in commanding fashion. Götz, in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the pink BWT livery, also made a perfect start and had taken third place by the time he reached the first chicane. Over the course of the rest of the race, both drivers were able to maintain their strong pace and were definitely on course for the podium. Abril then took his mandatory pit stop, which left Götz leading the race for two laps, before he too came in for his pit stop. Abril returned to the track in second place, while Götz slotted into third place behind him. The two HRT aces held onto these positions in the final laps of the sprint race, earning Mercedes-AMG Team HRT an impressive double podium after 50 action-packed minutes of racing, and scoring valuable points in the Driver and Team championships.
Race two of the 2021 DTM takes place on Sunday, also at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The 20-minute qualifying session starts at 10:10, before the second race gets underway at 13:30.
Vincent Abril, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #5: "I am really happy! I am pleased for the team, for Mercedes-AMG and obviously with my own performance! It feels superb to start with a podium, particularly in such a competitive and high-class racing series. We can build on that."
Maximilian Götz, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4: "A great result and a great start for the whole team and us drivers. We employed a slightly different tyre strategy, because we wanted to have something left for the end of the race. We managed that, and I was soon able to close the gap to those in front. I am very happy with third place."
Hubert Haupt, team owner HRT: "That is a perfect start! Two cars finished the race, two cars made it onto the podium. A really outstanding effort from Vince, Max and the whole team. That paves the way for a great championship."
Uli Fritz, Managing Director of Haupt Racing Team GmbH: "That was a great start to the DTM for us: first the pole for Vincent, then second and third place in the race. A superb all-round team performance! We will still analyse a few things, but that is nit-picking. I am looking forward to tomorrow!“
Sean Paul Breslin, team principal HRT: "The pole position was a great effort from Vincent and the whole team. Second and third place in the opening race of the DTM is a really good way to start. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow!"
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.
