Munich. At the end of last season, the Haupt Racing Team announced the return of the Ford brand to the ADAC GT Masters in 2025 after a ten-year hiatus. Now it has been revealed that HRT Ford Performance will be racing with three Ford Mustang GT3. These will make a first appearance at the season-opener from 23rd to 25th May at the Lausitzring, as part of the DTM programme.
The three Mustangs will be sporting the numbers 2, 3 and 64 during the 19th season of the ADAC GT Masters. The #2 car will be driven by Jonathan Cecotto (25 / Venezuela) and Dennis Fetzer (23 / Gießen). Rookie Cecotto competed in the ADAC Formula 4 in 2015, before enjoying success in a range of GT racing series and one-make cups in Europe, Asia and America. He is the son of former Formula 1 and DTM driver and motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto. His teammate Fetzer made a guest appearance in the ADAC GT Masters for HRT in 2024 and recorded two wins in the PRO-AM Cup. He has competed on numerous occasions in the ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series, as well as claiming three podiums in the ADAC GT4 Germany in 2020 and 2021.
Niklas Kalus (19 / Duisburg) and Max Reis (18 / Ramstein) will be driving the #3 car. Just like Cecotto, Kalus is a rookie, having made the switch from karts to motor racing in 2023. After some great performances in one-make cups, he is now starting the GT3 phase of his career in the Ford Mustang GT3 from HRT Ford Performance. His team-mate Reis spent the past season with the Haupt Racing Team, reaching the podium at the season-opener in Oschersleben. The youngster attracted plenty of attention with his first pole position at the Red Bull Ring.
Salman Owega (19 / Cologne) and Finn Wiebelhaus (18 / Offenbach) will be sharing the cockpit in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3. Both have been called up to the Ford youth squad as Ford Performance GT3 Juniors and have already gained experience in the ADAC GT Masters. Owega was crowned champion in 2023 and has chalked up a total of seven wins and four podium finishes. 2024 saw Wiebelhaus claim fourth place in the overall standings in his rookie season, celebrating one win and two podiums along the way.
“We are delighted to be able to race with three cars again in the ADAC GT Masters,” says HRT Managing Director Ulrich Fritz. “This reinforces our commitment to youth development. Four of the six drivers were racing for us last year and have been learning fast. Our objective must now be to drive this development and ensure we integrate the debutants well. It is certainly going to be an exciting season.“