A new chapter in German GT racing began at the Hockenheimring as the newly launched GT Summer Series made its competitive debut.
Introduced for 2026 by Geidlich Racing, the championship completes the organiser's growing motorsport portfolio, adding to its established GT Winter Series and extensive track day programme.
The opening round attracted a healthy grid and delivered exactly what the series was designed to offer: competitive multi-class GT racing, close battles throughout the field and an accessible atmosphere for competitors and fans alike.
The headline performance of the weekend came from 19-year-old Thomas Westarp, who claimed all three overall victories in just his second-ever race weekend.
Driving an Audi R8 GT3 Evo2, the young talent demonstrated remarkable composure and speed throughout the event, mastering both dry and mixed conditions to complete a flawless sweep of the overall honours.
Providing the strongest challenge was Hermann Speck in his striking yellow Porsche 911 GT3 R. The experienced racer pushed Westarp hard throughout the weekend, with the second sprint race producing one of the highlights of the event as the pair engaged in a lengthy battle for victory. Speck eventually secured second place after an entertaining duel that showcased the competitive potential of the GT3 category.
Another notable story was the debut of équipe vitesse in the GT Summer Series. The experienced outfit arrived with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo driven by 67-year-old gentleman racer Josef Kübler, whose extensive motorsport résumé includes appearances at the 24 Hours Nürburgring.
With 45 years of motorsport experience, the team is well known for its participation at the Nürburgring as well as championships such as the GT Winter Series and STT.
Unfortunately, the team's first GT Summer Series weekend failed to go according to plan. A succession of technical issues hampered progress throughout the meeting, preventing the Mercedes-AMG squad from challenging at the front and showing its true potential.
While the GT3 category delivered the overall winners, the Cup 2 class arguably produced some of the closest racing of the weekend. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup competitors spent much of the races separated by little more than a second, providing spectators with constant wheel-to-wheel action.
Running to 2025 specification, the Cup cars feature neither traction control nor ABS, making them among the most demanding machines in the paddock. The lack of electronic aids was evident throughout the weekend, with drivers constantly balancing aggression and precision as they fought for position.
Despite the challenge, the #3 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup produced an outstanding performance to finish third overall in the second race of the weekend.
Elsewhere, fortune turned dramatically for the Audi R8 GT4 entry. Having secured a class victory on Saturday, hopes were high heading into Sunday's action. However, during light rain conditions the driver lost control and crashed into the barriers, bringing an unfortunate end to an otherwise promising weekend.
Beyond the on-track action, fan engagement proved to be one of the defining features of the GT Summer Series. Competitors are based in paddock shelters that allow spectators direct access to the teams and machinery, creating a welcoming atmosphere rarely found at higher levels of GT competition. The podium celebrations are also held within the paddock itself, giving fans the opportunity to get up close to the drivers and share in the post-race celebrations.
If the opening round at Hockenheim is any indication, the GT Summer Series has all the ingredients to establish itself as a popular addition to the German motorsport landscape. Strong grids, varied machinery, competitive racing and genuine accessibility combined to deliver an impressive debut weekend, with Thomas Werstarp's breakthrough performance providing the perfect headline for the championship's first event.
📸 Timo Koch
