Fooled and foiled by Fuel System problems at the Oscherlesben Racing Arena

Persistent fuel system problems plagued the 2017 ADAC-GT champs in the opening round of the 2018 season.  The Callaway C7 GT3-R (re-numbered # 1) was forced to settle for mid-pack finishes both days.

Daniel Keilwitz is joined by Marvin Kirchofer replacing the young phenom Jules Gounon, signed by Bentley to drive in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge.

On Saturday the team was confronted by an unexpected override by an FIA mandated shut-off valve that destroyed a fuel pump.  Chalk it up to collateral damage from repair to a ruptured fuel line.  At Sunday’s pit stop, the car would not start as fuel pressure fell and the replacement fuel pump had to be re-set.

On the positive side the car kept pace with the leaders and lap times should improve as the team comes to grips with the new for 2018 Pirelli tyres. 

The RWT Team of Gerd Biesel based in Eberbach near Heidelberg also has a new lineup with regular Sven Barth, 37 joined by Claudia Hurtgen, 46.  She is the most successful woman in the ADAC-GT series appearing from 2009 to 2016.  She also helped develop the highly successful BMW Z4 GT3 among her other accomplishments.

The winner on Sunday was the # 63 Lambo Hurácan GT3 GRT Grasser Orange 1 driven by Mirko Bortolotti & Andrea Caldarelli.

The ADAC-GT Series is enjoying record entries (36); teams (23); marques (8); popularity at the gate (25,000); TV viewers (460,000 peak to 710,000) and downloads.

Thanks to Callaway Competition International team principal Ernst Woehr for sharing his insights.

Corvette results compiled by Wayne Ellwood

The next ADAC-GT Series makes its first appearance in the Czech Republic at the Autodrom Most on April 28-29.