Podium for Niklas Krütten in the ADAC GT Masters: on Saturday, the 20-year-old from Trier celebrated third place in the Junior standings together with his British team-mate Ben Green. At the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, the Schubert Motorsport driver also recorded two top-ten results in the final races of the season.
He finished as runner-up in the Junior championship, behind his team-mate. Krütten rounded off his debut season in the German GT Championship in ninth place overall.
The driver, who had previously enjoyed the support of the ADAC Stiftung Sport, started the penultimate race of the season on the 4.574-kilometre circuit from seventh on the grid. Krütten began the race in the BMW M4 GT3, with sunny conditions and temperatures around the 18-degree mark. After an early safety car phase, he handed the car over to Green. He was able to defend the position and cross the finishing line in seventh place. Third place in the Junior standings equated to early confirmation of the championship title for Green and Krütten played a significant role in that success. Only a scheduling clash between the European Le Mans Series and the penultimate ADAC GT Masters event of the season at the Sachsenring prevented him from claiming first place in the Junior standings.
Green began Sunday’s race in fine autumn weather, with the temperature reaching 20 degrees Celsius. However, the black and green GT3 car was damaged after an early not-at-fault collision, falling back to 18th place. Krütten then displayed a great attitude in the second half of the race. From 15th position, he continued the chasing performance initiated by his team-mate and made it up to ninth. In the final minutes of the 2022 season, the two-time race winner in the German GT Championship held his nerve to fend off the overtaking manoeuvres of his rivals.
Niklas Krütten: “The weekend went better than expected with the BoP. I did as well as I could on Saturday, with seventh place in qualifying. We maintained this position in the race, we couldn’t do any more. We started Sunday’s race from 14th, but Ben made a superb start and was eighth for a time. Then he was pushed into another car in the hairpin. This caused some damage to the front end of our BMW and our good pace was history. I then defended like crazy and crossed the line in ninth place. I can say farewell with a good feeling and plenty of lovely memories. Our two wins at the Red Bull Ring were brilliant and allowed us to show what we’ve got. Thanks to the whole team for the season.”
Krütten finished ninth in the drivers’ standings in his first ADAC GT Masters season, despite competing in two races fewer than his rivals. He was runner-up in the Junior championship. Krütten completed a strong debut season as a rookie in GT3 racing, recording two race wins in Austria and one pole position.