Car Collection Motorsport will compete in the ADAC GT Masters again in the 2022 season. The team led by team boss Peter Schmidt is expanding its commitment this year and will field two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II cars. The #33 in the Red Bull Verstappen.com Racing design will be piloted by Thierry Vermeulen and Audi Sport driver Mattia Drudi. Sharing the wheel of the #69 will be last year’s Trophy Champion Florian Spengler and Audi Sport driver Markus Winklehock.
The ADAC GT Masters is one of the most highly rated GT3 racing series in the world. For many years, the “league of super sports cars,” which now has the status of the “German GT Championship,” has been a field of activity for Team Car Collection Motorsport. For the 2022 season, the German squad from Walluf has stepped up once again and doubled the number of cars entered. With two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II cars, Car Collection is now fully attacking the extremely strong starting field of the ADAC GT Masters.
A very interesting newcomer to the starting field of the ADAC GT Masters will pilot the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II with starting number 33. Dutchman Thierry Vermeulen is not only the son of the manager of Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, but also grew up with him. This season he is moving up from the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux into GT3 racing. Vermeulen scored a victory last year and finished on the podium three other times.
“I’m very excited to be racing for Car Collection in the ADAC GT Masters in 2022. The switch from the Porsche Carrera Cup is a great challenge and an opportunity to race the new Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II,” the youngster is delighted. The 19-year-old will be supported by Audi Sport driver Mattia Drudi this year. The Italian, who is regarded as a rising star in the Audi Sport squad, returns to the “league of super sports cars” after a one-year break. In addition to competing in the ADAC GT Masters, the 23-year-old will also contest the GT World Challenge and the Nürburgring Endurance Series for Team Car Collection. Thierry Vermeulen is looking forward to meeting his new partner: “Working with Mattia Drudi has proved great in pre-season testing and I can’t wait to get the season underway and see what we can achieve as a team.”
On the other hand, two old team mates will meet in the number 69 car, with reigning Trophy Champion Florian Spengler and Audi Sport driver Markus Winkelhock behind the wheel, just like last season. Both are among the most experienced drivers in this championship. Spengler has been competing since 2011 and was able to win the highly contested Trophy classification last year. The ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver and current Audi Sport driver Markus Winkelhock is entering his 10th season in the “league of super sports cars” and has been an integral part of the Team Car Collection for many years.
The starting signal for the 15th season of the ADAC GT Masters traditionally takes place at Oschersleben. The first two rounds of the season will be held there from April 22-24.
