Callaway Competition Team # 77 C7 GT3-R Corvette clinches 2017 ADAC-GT Masters Championships at Hockenheim
Let history record what the Callaway Competition team accomplished in winning the 2017 ADAC-GT Masters Series Championship in a showdown at the Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Callaway Competition wins Saturday Race, Finishes 2nd in Sunday Race
Callaway Competition Wins 2017 Teams' Championship
Jules Gounon Wins 2017 Drivers' Championship and Junior Classification Title. Daniel Keilwitz is 2nd.
Corvette C7 GT3-R beats AMG Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, McLaren, Audi, Lamborghini and Nissan supercars fielded by teams with highly talented drivers, engineers, managers, technicians and support staff.
Prevailed under strict balance of performance rules enforced to equalize competition in a top international GT3 racing series.
Engaged drivers Albert Costa and Render van der Zande who delivered when Keilwitz missed three (3) of seven (7) races.
Callaway proved best in the business after hopes were shattered at Hockenheim last year and after disappointing results at Sachsenring.
Per Ernst Woehr, "The title means a lot to us. Never before has the standard of competition in the ADAC GT Masters been as high as this year. To win here is the ultimate in GT racing."
Per Reeves Callaway who flew in from California, “In a lifetime of great experiences, competing at this level gives me endless appreciation for team, drivers, friends and sponsors. ADAC has described Callaway Competition as “the most successful team in GT Masters history” winning its 3rd Championship in 11 years including the 2017 Overall Drivers Championship, the Junior Driver Championship and the Team Championship with one entry. Given the level of capability, experience, and budget from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lamborghini, and Porsche - that a private team with an American brand was able to compete so well - it doesn’t get better than this”.
Starting in Pole Position on Saturday, Jules Gounon and teammate Daniel Keilwitz led the entire race.
Gounon stretched his lead to nearly two seconds before handing over to Keilwitz who extended the lead to nearly five seconds at the checkered flag.
Sunday was harder. Starting 14th back in row 7 might have helped Keilwitz avoid a crash that red-flagged the race On the re-start he moved up steadily to 4th before handing off to Gounon. Per Jules, “I had victory in sight but settled for 2nd vs risking the championship”.
Last year's champions, the Montaplast # 1 Audi R8 LMS team of Christopher Mies and the # 42 BMW M6 Schnitzer team of Connor De Phillippi and Phillipp Eng had a shot going into the finale.
The # 63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracán GT3, driven by Rolf Ineichen and Christian Engelhart won the Sunday race ahead of Jules.
The # 13 RWT “Gentleman Driver” class Team of Sven Barth and Maximillian Hacklander had a successful weekend finishing 10th on Sat and 14th on Sun.
Results compiled by Wayne Ellwood
Closing Comment
The Callaway C7 GT3-R is the most advanced Corvettes ever produced. Its body styled by Paul Deutschman features aerodynamics found on Audis, BMWs and Mercedes currently raced in the German DTM series. Commenting on what seems to be a rather shortsighted policy, many believe the time has come for GM managers to relax their hold and give privateer teams a chance to race GT3 spec Corvettes in the IMSA and the PWC series.
