EVENTFUL DTM RACE WEEKEND IN ZOLDER ENDS WITH A PODIUM FOR MERCEDES-AMG TEAM HRT

PRESS INFORMATION | 8 August, 2021 | Zolder

The third DTM event of the season, at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, was a real rollercoaster ride for Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: in the Saturday race, Vincent Abril and Maximilian Götz produced strong performances to finish fourth and seventh respectively. In race two, a determined display and the fastest pit stop of the race saw Götz finish runner-up and claim a well-deserved podium. Second place was also enough for Götz to tighten his grip on third place in the DTM Drivers’ Championship.

  • Podium and two top-ten results for Mercedes-AMG Team HRT
  • Race 1: Impressive fourth place for Vincent Abril, seventh for Maximilian Götz
  • Race 2: Third DTM podium for Maximilian Götz, Vincent Abril fails to finish

Both Maximilian Götz (GER) in the #4 car with the pink and blue BTW livery and Vincent Abril (MCO) in the yellow and blue Bilstein Mercedes-AMG GT3 – the number five car – were on good form in qualifying on Saturday morning. In difficult conditions on a track that was still damp in Zolder, Götz narrowly missed out on pole position for race one by just 0.021 seconds. Abril was fourth fastest, just two tenths of a second behind the pole-sitter.

There was an eventful start to the subsequent race: several competitors collided in the first few corners and were forced out of the race. Götz and Abril came through unscathed, but did lose positions. After the ensuing Safety Car phase, it was the man from Monaco who took advantage of the re-start and slotted into fourth place. Team-mate Götz followed in P6.

The two drivers did a fine job of defending their positions, but had soon fallen several seconds behind the leading trio and were unable to pull off any decisive overtaking manoeuvres on the narrow track. As such, Abril ended the race in fourth place to score his first points of the DTM season. Despite carrying some success weight following his victory at the Lausitzring, Götz crossed the finish line seventh.

Day two of the DTM weekend started in disappointing fashion: after a shortened qualifying session, due to a red flag, Götz (P8) and Abril (P14) started Sunday’s race at the demanding Belgian circuit from the middle of the field. And there was worse to come: Abril was hit by a rival shortly after the start and consequently had to retire his damaged car. 

As he had done the previous day, Maximilian Götz produced a battling display. The fastest pit stop of the race allowed him to gain time on several of his rivals and to establish himself in the top three. After a time penalty for one of the leaders, he climbed into second place shortly before the end of the race, and maintained that position through to the finish. As such, the race weekend ended on a high for Mercedes-AMG Team HRT with a deserved podium result.

The next race outing is a special one for HRT: when the Nürburgring hosts the DTM from 20th to 22nd August, team owner Hubert Haupt will take his place on the grid. Haupt will drive the #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3, in the black and with design of new team partner PLAYBOY, when he makes his guest appearance.

Maximilian Götz, #4 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “Today showed once again that anything is possible in motorsport. Even from a poor starting position, you still have to fight right through to the finish. We did that very well today – the strategy was right and the pace was there. What worked against us yesterday worked for us today.”

Vincent Abril, #5 Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “We had a tough and hectic race on Saturday. However, I was happy with my performance and that of the team. Today I am very frustrated: never in my career have I basically had to end a race immediately after turn one. I always try to think positively, but that is a bitter setback.”

Sean Paul Breslin, Team Principal Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “That was another outstanding team effort today, with a podium and important points in the championship. I explicitly want to thank our whole crew for another fantastic job as we put up the fastest pit stops in both races. It was definitely worth the extra training. The fact that our second car had to retire is obviously bad news, but we will overcome the disappointment and come back stronger.”

Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director Haupt Racing Team GmbH: “It was a weekend of ups and downs. After yesterday’s very good qualifying, the race result was not ideal. Unfortunately, we could not do any better than fourth place for Vince. We started the second race day with great expectations. Unfortunately, things were totally against us in qualifying and at the start of the race. In the end, we finished a worthy second. I would like to thank the whole team, which never gave up and fought to the finish. We are well-placed for the coming races and looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

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. 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 also has its own eSPORTS team in the professional sim racing sector 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.

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder

8 August, 2021 | Zolder