Financial reasons: Ford talent Max Reis forced to end GT Masters season

The ADAC GT Masters enters the final phase of the 2026 season at the Salzburgring in early September. Max Reis will not be on the starting grid. The Haupt Racing Team driver will have to sit out the races in Austria and the season finale at Hockenheim. This also affects his planned guest appearance in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup this coming weekend at the Nürburgring. In the ADAC GT Masters, the youngster shared a Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3 with Emil Gjerdurm; the team will announce who will replace him at a later date.

Financial reasons have forced the 19-year-old from Ramstein to take this difficult decision. After three successful years in the ADAC’s GT3 junior series, with six podium finishes and two pole positions, the season is ending prematurely for the talented youngster.

Max Reis: “It is very difficult for me to withdraw from the final two race weekends of the ADAC GT Masters, as well as from the GT World Challenge race at the Nürburgring. We are constantly working to secure new sponsors and partners. These funds are essential for us to enable me to pursue my sport. Our successes to date and the contacts we have made speak for themselves. Unfortunately, however, we have now had to painfully realise that some supposed supporters are not honouring firm agreements. The resulting financial shortfall cannot, unfortunately, be made up in the short term, which forces me to take the sad decision to end the season early. After three exciting and successful years, I would like to thank the Haupt Racing Team for giving me this opportunity and for always supporting me right up to the very end. I wish the whole team and my former team-mate Emil Gjerdrum all the best for the remaining races. As for myself, I’ll continue to fight to be able to return to the grid next season with a stable package.”