The inaugural round of the GT Summer Series at the Hockenheimring delivered far more drama than its organisers might have anticipated, as a weekend billed as a smooth debut instead unfolded into a spectacle of strategy gambles, mechanical misfortune, and operational confusion.
Organised by Gedlich Racing, the new series launched with a mixed 19-car grid featuring GT3, GT4, and one-make cup machinery. Even before racing began, however, the entry list took early blows. Technical issues forced the withdrawal of an Aston Martin entry, while a catastrophic engine failure in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 during qualifying further reduced the field.
Weekend Overview
| Race | Winner | Key Storyline |
|---|---|---|
| Race 1 | Alexander Kroker | Dominant lights-to-flag victory |
| Race 2 | Ole Petersen | Wet-weather masterclass |
| Race 3 | Thomas Westarp | Victory amid pit lane confusion |
Race 1: Kroker dominates
The opening sprint provided a deceptive sense of order. Alexander Kroker, driving an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, converted pole position into a commanding victory. Demonstrating superior pace and tyre management, Kroker quickly distanced himself from the field, ultimately finishing over 20 seconds clear. Thomas Westarp secured second, with Hermann Speck completing the podium.
Race 2: Rain gamble backfires
Conditions shifted dramatically for the second race as heavy rain soaked the circuit. Ole Petersen emerged as the standout performer, expertly handling treacherous grip levels to claim victory in a Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo.
Behind him, the race turned chaotic. Speck opted for slick tyres on a drenched track—a high-risk gamble that quickly unravelled. After an early spin, he later lost control at high speed and crashed heavily into the barriers. While he escaped unharmed, the incident triggered a red flag and underscored the peril of such strategic risks.
Race 3: Confusion reigns
If the weather caused chaos in race two, human error took centre stage in the finale. Following Petersen’s early retirement, Westarp assumed control at the front. However, a collision further down the order prompted a safety car period—and with it, a critical mistake.
Race control mistakenly opened the mandatory pit window while the safety car was deployed, contradicting standard procedure. The resulting confusion saw teams scrambling to react, dramatically reshuffling the order. Westarp navigated the situation calmly, emerging with a substantial lead and securing victory.
Further back, Gregor Drasal continued his eventful weekend, ultimately finishing fourth after another late-race incident.
Despite the turmoil, the series delivered three different winners and no shortage of spectacle. As the championship heads to its next round, expectations are high—but so too is the pressure to ensure that future events are remembered for the racing itself, rather than the chaos surrounding it.