MERCEDES-AMG TEAM HRT WITH THREE TOP-10 FINISHES AT THE FOURTH DTM WEEKEND AT THE NÜRBURGRING

PRESS INFORMATION | 22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

The Haupt Racing Team produced a solid performance in its DTM home event at the Nürburgring, recording a total of three top 10 results. Maximilian Götz scored some important points in the battle for the title, finishing in fourth position on Saturday and Sunday on the 3.629-kilometre sprint circuit. Vincent Abril crossed the finishing line for the second race in ninth place. Guest driver Hubert Haupt makes motorsport history in the DTM after a 20-year absence.

  • Three top 10 results for the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT at the Nürburgring on the fourth DTM weekend
  • Götz underlines his title aspirations with two fourth-place finishes
  • Team owner Hubert Haupt writes DTM history

For the first time in its still young team history, the Haupt Racing Team fielded a total of three Mercedes-AMG GT3 race cars at the fourth DTM event at the Nürburgring. The two HRT regular drivers Maximilian Götz (GER) and Vincent Abril (MCO) were reinforced by team owner Hubert Haupt (GER), who also made DTM history with his start. He is the only driver to have driven at least one race in each of the three decades of the DTM.

After a mixed Saturday qualifying, Max Götz in the pink-blue BWT Mercedes-AMG GT3 #4 started the one-hour race from sixth on the grid. Team-mate Vincent Abril (MCO) in the yellow-blue Bilstein Mercedes-AMG GT3 #5 had to settle for 13th, just outside the top 10. Team owner Hubert Haupt (GER), making his long-awaited DTM comeback at the Nürburgring after an absence of 20 years, started the race from 23rd position, only one second off the pole position time. 

Thanks to a good team strategy and early stops - the fastest tyre changes in the entire field - Max Götz managed to take over second position in the overall drivers' standings by finishing fourth. Vince Abril narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish in twelfth. Haupt held his own on his comeback and crossed the finish line in 18th place.

Sudden rainfall during the second qualifying session on Sunday morning caused some tricky track conditions in the Eifel. On a wet surface, Maximilian Götz outqualified every direct championship rival to secure fifth place. Vincent Abril finished twelfth and Hubert Haupt kept four competitors behind him with 19th place on the grid.

The second race of the weekend was held in the dry again on Sunday afternoon. Several incidents caused a quick safety car phase already in the first lap. Götz again opted for an early pit stop and was thus able to keep up with the leading group, collecting valuable championship points with fourth place. Haupt was forced to retire his #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a technical defect shortly after his mandatory pit stop, triggering one of the two safety car phases.

Vincent Abril was able to take advantage from the incidents during the race and finished in ninth place - although he had to make a second pit stop to change a damaged tyre.

Götz was able to make up ground on the leaders in the overall standings with his two fourth-place finishes. After this solid performance at its home event, the team from Meuspath will be heading to Austria in two weeks. The Mercedes-AMG Team HRT will be competing with just two cars again at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. For the time being, Hubert Haupt will not be returning to the DTM with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #6 in the black Playboy livery.

Maximilian Götz, driver, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4: “We could have scored a few more points there. The cars that pitted later held me up a bit. But overall, I am pleased. My championship rivals all had to retire and we scored some good points. It was a tough race with a few shenanigans. It became clear that it's crunch time now and everybody is out to score as many points as possible.” 

Vince Abril, driver, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #5: “It has been the story of the season that my race result is roughly the same as my qualifying result, and sometimes a bit worse. It’s always chaos at the start, but I played it clever and delivered a good third restart. I then got pushed out by another car and fell back to the end of the field. But overall, I am satisfied with the drive and the team performance.”

Hubert Haupt, team owner and driver, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #6: "I knew that the DTM was a real challenge, but it also fulfilled a wish for me - to contest a race in the GT3 DTM with my own team. Even though I lacked a bit of pace compared to the regular drivers, I'm happy with my performance and it was fun. A big thanks to the whole team who made it possible and fielded three cars for the first time."

Sean Paul Breslin, Team Principal Mercedes-AMG Team HRT: “It was great fun to have Hubert in the team with his Playboy car. The weekend was somewhat challenging. It's a shame that he was unable to finish the second race, but the performance was good. I am delighted that Max was able to score some important points in the battle for the title, and that Vince was in the points too. Overall, it was a great team performance with the fastest pit stops of the weekend. We need to continue in this vein.” 

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.

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg

22 August, 2021 | Nürburg