Last weekend’s round at the Nürburgring concluded the 2019 GT4 European Series. After six weekends, the decision came down to the very final race of the season. In the Silver Cup the title was decided by race wins, after Alec Udell and Simon Knap finished level on points with Max Koebolt and Jan Kisiel. This is what this season’s title-winning drivers and the teams’ championship winning team manager had to say after the checkered flag flew for the final time.
SILVER CUP: SIMON KNAP / ALEC UDELL – MDM MOTORSPORT – BMW
An incredible season in the Silver Cup saw the #25 MDM Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 pairing of Alec Udell and Simon Knap taking first place in the final race of the 2019 GT4 European Series. The American-Dutch duo won three of the 12 races (2x Paul Ricard, 1x Zandvoort) and scored a total of 156 points during the 2019 campaign.
Simon Knap: « It feels good. We’re the champions! The team worked really hard all season. Things didn’t always go as planned and we really had to race hard to get to this point. We all know what happened last year, this year our hard work as a team was rewarded. We had great weekends and some less great weekends, but to end it like this obviously makes me feel very happy! »
Alec Udell: « I can’t even describe it yet. It hasn’t fully sunk in. We had a little bit of a tough race on Sunday. It was very close until the end, but once the car crossed the line I was extremely happy and relieved. We set out this year to compete for the championship and to win the championship. So to be where we are now, knowing where I started – not knowing any of the tracks at the beginning of the season. I just feel a bit of relief, because it’s exactly what we wanted to do and we did what we wanted to do. »
« It’s a testament to the team. I was able to come in, not knowing anything about each of the circuits. It was my first time in the car when we tested in March. I was able to hop in and be quick at every track we were at. It was a very good car and a very good crew. Everyone had the same goal in mind. »
« I’m very happy with MDM Motorsport and all the support I had from the States. It’s awesome to be here! I’ve always dreamed of racing at the Nürburgring as a kid. To be here, at the end of the season and with the championship title, it’s a dream come true. Now onto the next dream! »
PRO-AM: LUCI TREFZ / MARCUS PAVERUD – LEIPERT MOTORSPORT – MERCEDES-AMG
The young German-Norwegian Leipert Motorsport duo made no mistakes this season and claimed three victories, four second places and two third places on their way to the title. Consistency played an important role in their championship, as the pairing scored points in all 12 races this season and amassed a total of 207 points to clinch the Pro-Am title in the final race of the season.
Luci Trefz: « This feels great! My first season in the GT4 European Series and I win the championship. It feels amazing. I’m really happy, happy about my team and my teammate Marcus. The whole year he did a perfect job, he never made a mistakes, so we never got a penalty. I’m really happy, we had a good year and that is why we won the championship! »
Marcus Paverud: « It feels great. It was my second season in GT4. Last year we had some good results, but this year we had a 100% finish score. Luci did a great job in the championship, the team has been perfect. We made no big mistakes, didn’t get any penalties. I’m really happy with the team. I couldn’t have done it without them, Luci and all my sponsors. Really happy and looking forward to next season already. »
AM – CLÉMENT SEYLER / PASCAL BACHMANN – STREET ART RACING – ASTON MARTIN
Driving the Street Art Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, Clément Seyler and Pascal Bachmann managed to finish in the top five of the class in all but one of the 12 races this GT4 European Series season. Victories at Brands Hatch and Misano helped the Swiss driver and his young Luxembourg co-driver to secure the title at the final race of the season at the Nürburgring.
Clément Seyler: « It’s impressive. For me it’s crazy, because it was the first year. We already win the title now. I think I had a really good teammate in Pascal. He was perfect, the whole year long. No mistakes. We understood each other really well. Now we have the title, it’s time to celebrate. Next year, we should come again year and do better in another category! »
Pascal Bachmann: « I wanted to celebrate it on Saturday evening, but it wasn’t to be. Clement had to nurse the car home. Without that Clement would have won on Saturday and it would have been done on Saturday and we would have partied that evening all ready! But in the end, we’re more than happy! I’m sad at the same time, because it was already the last race of the season. »
TEAMS’ CHAMPION – LEIPERT MOTORSPORT – MERCEDES-AMG
Decades of experience in international racing helped Leipert Motorsport in winning the GT4 European Series Teams’ championship. With two strong crews in Silver Cup and Pro-Am, the team, operated by Ingo and Marcel Leipert, was a strong contender for the title right from the first race of the season at Monza. The teams’ title tops a near-perfect season for the German squad, in which it claimed five class victories, as well as the drivers’ title in Pro-Am and the runner-up position in Silver Cup.
Marcel Leipert: « It’s been a great season. In the end we are very happy to win two titles. We could have been more happy if we’d won the third title as well. We didn’t make it in the end, but that is motorsport. We fought hard and did everything we could do to achieve it. But in the end we were unable to catch the third one.
« We can be happy with everything, though. The drivers and team did a perfect job. We didn’t have any DNFs throughout the whole season. Respect to that and thanks to the team and the drivers!
« It’s a complete team effort. Without these two strong cars we wouldn’t be on the top of the teams’ standings. Luci and Marcus developed massively during the season. Max and Jan were on pace throughout the season. It’s a great championship, we love it here and for sure, we will continue. »
Marcel ten Caat,