With 32 cars on track, wheel-to-wheel action up and down the field and two proud race winners who could hardly believe their luck, the ninth round of the ADAC GT4 Germany season will live long in the memory. Leo Pichler and Leon Wassertheurer recorded their first ever overall victory in the KTM X-BOW GT4.
Pichler began the first race, which took place on Saturday afternoon, from 15th on the grid. At the time, no one in their right minds would have believed that the pair would end up taking the race win by almost 30 seconds. However, following an uneventful start to the race, Dominik Olbert’s squad were one of the main beneficiaries of a full-course yellow period during the pit window. Razoon Racing were the only team able to pit while the race was neutralised, giving them a huge advantage over the rest of the field. “We had a brilliant strategy that we have been looking to implement all year long. This time it all worked out,” explained Pichler. In the end, Wassertheurer emerged from the pitlane following the driver change with a 30-second advantage.
In the second half of the race, the 19-year-old defended his lead with aplomb, taking the chequered flag without any difficulties. “Unbelievable! I still can’t really believe it!” said Leon Wassertheurer after the race. “I feel like I am in dreamland right now. We had a little luck today and the strategy worked out. I tried to keep my concentration in the car and to give it everything, and it worked! My job was to manage the gap – it wouldn’t have made any sense to risk everything.”
The two young drivers and the Austrian team celebrated their maiden victory in GT4 motorsport – and that in a 32-car field that has never been so strong. “This is the biggest milestone for our team so far,” said a visibly emotional Dominik Olbert after the race. “I am so proud of the boys and the whole crew in the pits – that was awesome! Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard for this result throughout the year.”
Leo Pichler and Leon Wassertheurer followed up their race win on Saturday with eight place in the Junior classification on Sunday, increasing their points total to 166.5. Ahead of the season finale at the Nürburgring (5 to 7 November), the pair are now in second position with every chance of title glory.