bigFM Racing Team Schütz Motorsport intend to field two new drivers and a well tried and tested vehicle in the ADAC GT Masters. Klaus Bachler (25, A) and Alex MacDowall (26, GB) will share the drive in a Porsche 911 for the outfit managed by Team Principal Christian Schütz, who will be contesting their sixth year in the Super Sports Car League. The ADAC GT Masters will kick off the 2017 season on the weekend of 28th – 30th April in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. SPORT1 will broadcast all races live and in full.
Schütz Motorsport have fought for points and top positions in the ADAC GT Masters since 2012. Christian Schütz never doubted for one moment that they would take part again this season: “The ADAC GT Masters has been an integral part of our motor racing programme for many years now, and we decided early last year to enter again in 2017. The series has a very competitive field, and for us as a relatively small team, the effort required in terms of logistics with many races taking place in Germany itself is easily managed. The live TV presence is interesting for our sponsors, and we always see getting involved as a technical challenge.” As regards machinery, Schütz Motorsport will again deploy the Porsche 911 that they’ve used in the last five years.
Schütz will, however, be completely changing their squad of drivers. Klaus Bachler, who is well-known to the team, has rejoined the outfit. The Austrian took fourth place overall in the ADAC GT Masters with Schütz Motorsport in 2015. Alex MacDowall, on the other hand, is a new face. The British driver used to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and won the GTE class of the European Le Mans Series in 2016. Christian Schütz, speaking about his two protégés: “Klaus knows the team, is familiar with the car and has plenty of Porsche experience, and so on that score, definitely fits the bill. As far as driving a Porsche goes, Alex is making a sideways move, since he has already contested plenty of races in other GT3 cars.”
Klaus Bachler: “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season. For me, the ADAC GT Masters is one of the strongest sports car series in Europe. I think the format with two sprint races and driver changeover is just great. I feel quite at home at Schütz Motorsport. We fought right up until the very last moment for the drivers’ title in 2015 and kept in touch last year. I hope we can perform well in 2017.”
Christian Schütz, also thinking about the future: “After some problems getting under way last season, we aim to be competitive right from the start in 2017. The first round of testing went very well. The field of drivers is again incredibly strong, and the teams representing other makes are well placed, so it’s going to be even more difficult to consistently be among the front runners. We’re not looking to achieve specific results. What’s important to us is to do a good job and have fun. We in the team don’t feel under any pressure.”