Felix Rosenqvist will reappear on a GT grid just days on from making his debut in the increasingly popular category, with the Swede set to contest this weekend’s ADAC GT Masters season-opener at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
Rosenqvist has been called up by the tradition-steeped ZAKSPEED squad, which competed in Formula 1 in the 1980s and has forged a strong relationship with Mercedes-Benz in GT racing in recent years. The Swede will team up with 19-year-old Swiss Nikolaj Rogivue in one of the team’s two Mercedes-AMG GT3s, the other being driven by German duo and reigning ADAC GT Masters champions Luca Ludwig/Sebastian Asch.
Rosenqvist is familiar with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from last weekend’s Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup opener at Misano, where he proved instantly on the pace by setting the fastest lap of the race on his GT debut. He was on course for a podium when he retired with mechanical problems while running third just before the chequered flag.
“Misano got my eyes open for GT racing, and I’m thrilled to be back in that environment already this weekend in ADAC GT Masters,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “It’s all happened very quickly and I’ve never worked with the team before, so once again it will take some adapting. Technically, however, it’s going to be quite similar to Misano – it’s the same car, the same tyres and a similar type of track. Hopefully that will help me get into things.”
Oschersleben will mark Rosenqvist’s maiden start in ADAC GT Masters, Germany’s leading championship on the rapidly-expanding GT arena. Eight manufacturers will be on the grid this weekend, with a total of 35 cars entered by 20 different teams.
Felix Rosenqvist is joined by fellow Swedes Edward Sandström and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky in the field.
The ADAC GT Masters event schedule is reminiscent of that used in Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup, featuring two one-hour races with compulsory pit stops for a driver change at the midway point. Action in Germany will kick off with two sessions of free practice on Friday.
