AVIA W&S Motorsport Off to a Strong Start in the ADAC GT4 Germany 2026 Season

Four podiums, a strong team performance and important points at the season opener at the Red Bull Ring

A great feeling to start the season: AVIA W&S Motorsport made a strong statement at the opening weekend of the ADAC GT4 Germany 2026 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. With four Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS and eight drivers, the team from Ofterdingen entered the season – and from the very beginning collected important kilometres, points and insights on one of the most beautiful race tracks in Europe.

A Top-Class Opening Weekend

The ADAC GT4 Germany ranks among the most attractive and most fiercely contested GT4 series in the world. At the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, a circuit known for its high driving demands and spectacular overtaking opportunities, there was nothing to give away at the season opener. With several drivers completing their first kilometres in the ADAC GT4 Germany, anticipation ahead of the weekend was particularly high – and the result could be seen.

Practice

The practice sessions went promisingly. All four cars logged plenty of kilometres and dialled in their setups well. Especially for the newcomers in the series, the first contact with the track and the car in race trim was an important step – one that the entire line-up handled with confidence.

Qualifying

Qualifying turned into a true opening fireworks display for AVIA W&S Motorsport. In Q1, three cars claimed the class lead at once: the #31 of Lachlan Robinson and Denny Berndt set the overall pole. The #32 of Tim Horrell and Hendrik Still as well as the #33 of Frederic Zebis and Nicolas Guillaume also each took pole position in their class. The #30 of Alon Gabbay and Maximilian Schreyer rounded off the strong picture with third overall. With that, all four AVIA W&S Porsches placed in the overall Top 8 – an impressive statement at the season opener.

In Q2, the team confirmed its strong form: the #30 took second overall, the #31 third overall, the #32 again secured the class lead and was fifth overall, and the #33 also took the class lead and sixth overall. Once again all four cars placed in the Top 6 – an impressive team performance before the first race had even begun.

Race 1

The first race developed into a thrilling duel that AVIA W&S Motorsport shaped from the very first to the very last lap. The #31 of Robinson and Berndt fought through the dense field from the start, defended its position under pressure and used a perfectly executed pit stop to settle into second overall.

The #30 of Gabbay and Schreyer engaged in a long, intense duel with a BMW – overtakes, counter-moves, close wheel-to-wheel battles lap after lap. In the end, the duo prevailed and brought the car home in third overall.

The #32 of Horrell and Still raced strategically smart. With a clean driver change and a clever race strategy, the duo worked their way steadily forward, securing first place in the PRO/AM classification and eighth overall – a valuable win for the championship.

For the #33, the first race ended prematurely: Frederic Zebis had to retire due to a technical problem. He and Nicolas Guillaume had previously shown a strong performance and held the Porsche in a good position.

Race 2

The second race offered plenty of action from the start. The #31 of Robinson and Berndt got off to another strong start, held its own in close battles, and benefited from another flawless pit stop – the duo took third overall and once again collected important championship points.

The #30 of Gabbay and Schreyer had a tougher second race: after contact, the car could no longer fully maintain its original pace. Despite the adverse circumstances, the duo continued to fight and brought the Porsche home in fifth – a strong sign of fighting spirit.

Horrell and Still in the #32 again delivered a convincing PRO/AM performance in the second race, taking another class win and tenth overall.

Zebis and Guillaume in the #33 produced an impressive response to the retirement in Race 1. With clean driving and a clever strategy, they fought their way to second in class and eleventh overall – the deserved reward for a determined race.

Voices from the Weekend

Denny Berndt (#31) was satisfied: “A good weekend lies behind us – four podiums in the overall and junior classifications. We can still improve in some areas, but I am convinced that we will come back even stronger at the Norisring. Many thanks to Lachlan and the entire AVIA W&S team for an all-round strong weekend.”

Tim Horrell and Hendrik Still (#32) looked back positively: “All in all, it was a good weekend. We fought hard and gathered a lot of kilometres. For the PRO/AM class it was great – two class wins and important points collected.”

Alon Gabbay and Maximilian Schreyer (#30) saw potential for more: “It was tough racing. We collected a lot of points and would have wished for more, but the pace was good. We continue to look ahead.”

Team principal Daniel Schellhaas concluded: “It was a great weekend in perfect weather. We scored a lot of important points and I am proud of the entire team performance. All drivers developed well, the PRO/AM classification is going excellently and the juniors are doing a fantastic job. We are looking forward to the next races.”

Next round: Norisring – 3 to 5 July.

More photos from the weekend