Steep learning curve for Young Driver in the ADAC GT Masters

Young Driver AMR had a promising start into the 2012 ADAC GT Masters season with its pair of brand new Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3. At the series season opener at Oschersleben near Magdeburg, Kristian Poulsen (DK) and Christoffer Nygaard (DK) finished 8th in the first race, which gave Poulsen an outright victory in the amateur championship of the ADAC GT Masters. In the second heat, Poulsen stepped again on the amateur podium in second position and finished 16th overall along with Nygaard. Ferdinand (A) and Johannes Stuck (A), sons of motorsport legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, showed a strong race pace, but were handicapped by a penalty in the second raced and finished 15th. In the first race, the Stuck-bros retired.

In the more then 40 car strong grid of the ADAC GT Masters, both Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin V12 Vantage had a promising start in the season. During the Qualifying, all four drivers qualified in the mid field. „The V12 Vantage GT3 and the Yokohama tires used in the ADAC GT Masters are entirely new ground for us“, Young Driver AMR team principal Hardy Fischer explained. „But we made good progress in every session, which leaves me very optimistic.“

Saturday’s first race started on a damp track, but Poulsen and Nygaard decided for slick tires. That was a perfect call and the light blue Aston Martin finished 8th after staring 23rd, while the sister car of the Stuck-Bros retired with an electronic issue.

In Sunday second race, Poulsen and Nygaard finished 11th after starting 29th, but a late time-penalty after a contact with a BMW moved them back to 16th position. Ferdinand and Johannes Stuck, who were also handicapped by a penalty after a contact, finished 15th after starting from 27th position.

“I’m not too unhappy with our first weekend in the ADAC GT Masters“, Hardy Fischer said. „We made good progress and had competitive lap times in both races. The only thing, which causes us some headaches, is he current „Balance of Performance“, as I don’t think the Aston Martin has a fair balance yet. I really hope the results from Oschersleben will be analysed by the organisers and I hope for corrections until the next round in Zandvoort.”

Ferdinand Stuck (#32 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3): „We started this weekend in a new team, with a new car and also a had a new tire. There was a lot to learn for us, but it really went well. The team is very strong and made a perfect job this weekend. That makes me very optimistic for the next round.“

Johannes Stuck (#32 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3): „We made good progress during the weekend, but I’m not too happy, as in both races, we couldn’t beat our teammates. For the next race in Zandvoort we have to minimize our small personal errors and will fight back with the experience we collected at Oschersleben.“

Christoffer Nygaard (#33 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3): „The weekend was at the end much better then expected. To start the season in the point ranks in a 40 car strong field is not too bad. At moment, we are lacking about 20km/h top speed on the straights, because of the ‚Balance of performance’ that should equal the performance of the different cars and I really hope that this will be reviewed before the next round.”

Kristian Poulsen (#33 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3): „The first weekend in ADAC GT Masters with Young Driver AMR and Aston Martin was a lot of fun. In every session, we improved. I’m really impressed by the team, they did a very good job. The victory and the second place in the amateur championship is a great way for me to start the season.“