The fifth round of the ADAC GT Masters season could be the next highlight of the season. With the first win of the season behind them, Callaway Competition is looking forward to the two upcoming races in Spielberg with great anticipation. The Corvette team wants to continue its progress at the Red Bull Ring and is heading to the Sunday race to commemorate another milestone.

At the end of the second race at the Sachsenring, hardly anyone would have thought that the names of the two Corvette drivers, Schmidt and Pommer, would be at the top of the results list. But the Callaway duo patiently took the opportunity to claim their first win of the ADAC GT Masters season - at exactly the right time.
The surprising victory on the Saxon racetrack almost a week and a half ago was good for the entire team. A break after the difficult start to the season and the frustrating home race in Hockenheim.

Now the fifth round of the “League of Super Sports Cars” travels to Spielberg Austria at the Red Bull Ring, where the top-class GT championship is about to have a historic anniversary next weekend, October 16-18.

But it's not only the ADAC GT Masters that has something to celebrate in its first of two races away from its home country. When the lights turn green on Sunday, a Corvette developed and built by Callaway Competition will be at the start for the 200th time. A milestone in the 25-year company history of the Leingarten-based team. Founded by Ernst Wöhr and Giovanni Ciccone in 1995, Callaway Competition is not only the longest established team after 14 years but also the most successful with 34 victories.

As Team Boss Mike Gramke’s Corvette team and its two drivers Markus Pommer (29 / Heilbronn, Germany) and Jeffrey Schmidt (26 / Liestal, Switzerland) have found their way back to their winning ways, you couldn't ask for a better place for such anniversaries.

With lots of momentum, the team is now traveling to the fastest course on the calendar, which, when looking at the statistics, is undoubtedly one of their favorite tracks. With nine wins on the 4.318 km Formula 1 circuit in Spielberg, Austria, five of them with the current Corvette C7 GT3-R, the Corvette team is the most successful in Styria.

Anniversary with a record chase: It would be a real season-highlight if they could be on the podium again at the 200th start of a Callaway Corvette in the company's 25-year history on your favorite racetrack, the Red Bull Ring.

Whether Callaway Competition will be among the front runners at the Red Bull Ring this year, however, remains to be seen, as the series has progressed and evolved into the strongest German national GT racing series. Exciting races with a lot of action are inevitable.

Thanks to a hygiene and infection protection plan developed by the Red Bull Ring together with the ADAC GT Masters, spectators are again allowed at the track at this weekend. Up to 3,000 visitors per day can experience the exciting hustle and bustle on the racetrack up close.

The races will be broadcast live in Europe by SPORT1 on Saturday, October 17, at 6:30 AM (EST) and on Sunday, October 18, at 7:00 AM (EST). They can also be viewed online via livestream at sport1.de, adac.de/motorsport and youtube.com/adac.

“The Red Bull Ring is a really great course. I always feel at home there, the track just suits me. Unfortunately, I haven't won the ADAC GT Masters at Spielberg so far. But I have very fond memories of this racetrack. There, in 2015, I was able to take my first victory in the Porsche Carrera Cup under some very difficult weather conditions. With the first win of the season under your belt, you’re naturally very motivated. Now I want to take the momentum with me and best utilize it. As is well known, the Corvette is very strong there and if we deliver an error-free performance, anything is possible again. The weather is difficult to forecast, but a race in the rain wouldn’t be bad. I'm ready and looking forward to Styria.” Jeffrey Schmidt (26 / Liestal, Switzerland)

“I’m headed for the Red Bull Ring feeling good, of course because we won there last year. The Red Bull Ring suits the Corvette, so I'm optimistic about the weekend. There are some uphill sections where that torque plays an important role. I like the track. It's a lot of fun to drive because it has many fast corners and you can overtake easily. The asphalt is somewhat special because it’s very gentle on the tires. So it’s not that easy getting the tires to wear. Unlike other racetracks, you can drive several fast laps in a row during Qualifying.” Markus Pommer (29 / Heilbronn, Germany)

“The victory at the Sachsenring gave the team additional motivation, which is needed in this difficult time. Surely unexpected, but absolutely deserved. Now it's time to focus our concentration again. Even if you choose to put us in a favorite role at the Red Bull Ring. The first races of the season have shown how strong the series is and how quickly you can end up empty-handed. This year, we can expect much cooler conditions than in previous years. I’m curious what surprises we can expect as a result. One thing is clear, however. This coming weekend, we want to deliver a strong weekend once again and maybe we can have a say about the podium again.” Mike Gramke (Team Boss)

ADAC GT Masters 2020:
16.10. – 18.10.2020 Red Bull Ring (AUT)
30.10. – 01.11.2020 Circuit Zandvoort (NED)
06.11. – 08.11.2020 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben FINALE

Text: A.Dannenberg / Motorsport-Karriere.de
Foto: Axel Weichert