After a broken thigh: Colin Bönighausen back in the ADAC GT Masters

“I’m fine,” says Colin Bönighausen, putting his fans’ minds at ease. Around two months after an accident at work, the 21-year-old is back at work as a plant mechanic and back in his racing car too: “It’s not quite back to normal yet; my leg still hurts after prolonged exertion.” However, his broken right thigh has healed well; now it’s a matter of building up enough strength again. “I can already use the accelerator again,” says Bönighausen, glad that it wasn’t his left foot that was injured – “I use that one for braking, and the brake pedal is quite a bit harder to press.”

An initial test drive in the Porsche 911 GT3 R last week at the Salzburgring in Austria went well: “I was able to drive over ten laps in a row without any problems.” Nevertheless, the challenge facing the returning driver this weekend will be a big one. With the ADAC GT Masters endurance weekend coming up, two long, 80-minute races await the razoon – more than racing driver. “I’m confident I can handle the strain in the car, even though the G-forces are certainly noticeable. The driver changes will be the hardest part, precisely because there are two to complete per race this time.”

The goal for the weekend is nonetheless ambitious: “First and foremost, I’m delighted to be back. That said, I want to finish on the podium at my team’s home race.” For the duo Colin Bönighausen and Leo Pichler, the focus is now on securing strong results. The races at the Salzburgring (4–6 September) mark the start of the final phase of the season, as after Salzburg only the finale at the Hockenheimring (9–11 October) remains on the calendar.