Racing driver maximilian gotz starts again in 2019 for the mercedes-AMG team mann-filter in the ADAC GT masters. He still had a score to settle after his championship lead was snatched away from him in the 2018 season finale in an accident that was not his fault. But it was only enough for third place in the drivers’ ranking, one point behind the runners-up. In addition, the uffenheimer once again competed in the intercontinental GT challenge and fought for the championship title all the way to the final. For the seventh time in his career, the mercedes driver took part in the prestigious 24-hour race at the nurburgring. Three races in the VLN long distance championship nurburgring rounded off the successful year for the 33-year-old.
Third place in the GT masters in 1995
In the ADAC GT masters, gotz and co-driver indy dontje scored points in eleven of 14 races. Gotz and dontje celebrated their greatest success with a start/finish victory at the season finale on the sachsenring. In addition, the pair managed another podium finish in hockenheim with second place. Especially in the second half of the season, the uffenheimer and his teammate from the netherlands made a considerable leap up the driver rankings with consistent performances. While gotz and dontje were still in sixth place after the seventh race, they were just one number short of the runner-up spot after the final race of the season. "The start to the season was difficult. Of course, we expected more, especially since the driver pairing of indy and me had the potential to win the title, said gotz.
Second place in the intercontinental GT challenge
Five continents, five races and the best GT drivers in the world – with gotz once again in the middle. With third place at the season opener in bathurst and second place at the following race in laguna seca, gotz made a successful debut for mab. He finished tenth in the 24 hours of spa-francorchamps. In suzuka, the uffenheimer narrowly missed the podium with fourth place, but at the same time put himself in a lukewarm position to win the title. At the season finale in kyalami, the german was in the lead at times with his teammates. In the end, it was enough for fifth place and a strong second place in the drivers’ standings. "Just being part of the series is a highlight in itself. We race on five continents and on the most beautiful and demanding tracks in the world. Second place is "classy" in view of the strong field in the series, gotz summed up.
24 hours on the nurburgring
The goal was to win before 230.000 motorsport enthusiasts at the 24 hours of the nurburgring. Second place on the grid was an ideal starting position for the energy-sapping long-distance classic. The driver quartet of gotz, lance david arnold, christian hohenadel and raffaele marciello was in third place shortly before nightfall. Contact with a lapped car through no fault of their own finally forced the team to abandon the race. "We tried everything, but unfortunately there was nothing more in it. It is very bitter, because the pace was there over the whole weekend", gotz said.
THREE opportunitions on THE LONG haul
Three races in the VLN endurance championship nurburgring were on the agenda for gotz in 2019. The uffenheimer knew how to convince right from the first run. Together with hohenadel and marciello, gotz was named to the 65. ADAC westfalenfahrt seventh. The busy schedule also allowed the 33-year-old to compete in the last two VLN races. At the 51. ADAC barbarossapreis gotz finished a strong second with swiss philip elis. In the last race of the season, the 44. DMV munsterlandpokal, gotz again in the top 10. In the VLN long-distance championship nurburgring the uffenheimer went for the mercedes-AMG team HTP and getspeed performance to the start. "For me it was clear this season that I am able to perform to the point, no matter which team I start for", according to gotz.