GT Masters champions Felix Hirsiger and Finn Zulauf in an interview

Around a month ago, Felix Hirsiger (28/CHE) and Finn Zulauf (22/Königstein im Taunus) were crowned the new ADAC GT Masters champions. With five wins this season, two podium finishes and five pole positions, the drivers from Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport clinched the drivers’ championship and the Silver Cup, whilst Zulauf also secured victory in the ‘Road to DTM’. In this interview, the two Lamborghini drivers talk about their season, their secret formula for success and their plans for the future.

Since winning the title, have you had time to let it all sink in a bit?

Felix Hirsiger: Actually, I’ve settled back into my normal daily routine and my work very quickly. It’s wonderful to have won and I’m really enjoying it – especially as I’ve now been champion in different series for three years running. At the same time, the end of one season marks the start of the next, and people forget quickly. So now it’s a case of improving my form even further and going for it again next year – the competition never sleeps.

Finn Zulauf: I’ve actually been travelling a great deal, even to South America, to coach there and do a bit of driving myself. On top of that, there were test drives and a few tasks related to my role as ‘Official Lamborghini GT3 Junior’. At the same time, I’ve tried to get some rest after all the hustle and bustle and simply enjoy and take in the title.

Were there any congratulations that were particularly nice?

Felix Hirsiger: There were a few, especially from other drivers – for example, from Kiano Blum. He was genuinely sincere, and that made me happy. Other than that, of course, DTM drivers like Jules Gounon and Marco Wittmann. That’s not something to be taken for granted, as they’re so successful themselves. The fact that they recognise and appreciate our performance means a lot to me.

Finn Zulauf: There were an incredible number of messages and phone calls. It took me a few days to actually read and reply to them all. There were also lots of people among them whom I hadn’t heard from in ages. For example, my mechanic from my karting days – I was really pleased to hear from him.

Were you confident of your chances of winning the championship right from the start?

Finn Zulauf: We’re both extremely ambitious and self-critical, and we don’t want to be just going through the motions in any racing series. I knew the team were doing a brilliant job and I was well aware that Felix is a capable driver. That’s why we were hopeful right from the start – and I had every confidence in Felix. I was always relaxed when he was behind the wheel.

Felix Hirsiger: My expectations were mixed. I’d only driven in one GT3 race before and found it hard to gauge where I stood compared to the competition. But I knew that Finn is a really good driver – especially in this car. That also put me under pressure. I wanted to perform just as well as my team-mate. That’s why the combination was so exciting.

What made you such a strong team?

Finn Zulauf: We both have a similar driving style, which gave us an incredible amount of flexibility in terms of strategy during the races. If the others pitted early, we stayed out longer, and vice versa. That’s how we won at Zandvoort, for example.

Felix Hirsiger: There was never any room for ego between us. If the team said, ‘Come in earlier’, I didn’t question or criticise it. Neither Finn nor I ever had a harsh word to say about the other staying in the car longer. Neither of us was worried about being worse than the other. We were well-balanced, and that gave us so much freedom.

That harmony was also evident to the outside world. How important was it to your success?

Felix Hirsiger: I wouldn’t have considered it that important in the past. Looking back, though, I can say that it was extremely important. It was essential in discussions about strategy, the car and in general. In a positive environment, the strides towards success are significantly greater.

Finn Zulauf: There’s automatically less pressure on you personally. Especially in difficult moments, you might end up taking it out on your team-mate and creating tension. Perhaps that helps some people, but for me it tends to have the opposite effect. With Felix and me, I always knew that everything was in order and that we couldn’t even get into such an awkward situation in the first place.

Fünf Saisonsiege für das Meisterduo

Foto: ADAC//Gruppe C Photography

Doesn’t such a good relationship make it harder to criticise one another?

Finn Zulauf: It makes it easier. He was always honest, and so was I. I’m quite self-critical and believe that everyone can work on themselves and improve. If I’ve made a mistake, I own up to it. That’s important for personal development.

Felix Hirisger: When we’ve criticised each other,it ’s always been in a light-hearted way and never accusatory. For example, he drove a brilliant qualifying session, but the final sector wasn’t quite right. So I told him, ‘Have a look at my onboard footage – there’s still something you can learn from it.’ That’s exactly what he did, because he was stronger in a different sector. At this level, working together is fun and nobody holds a grudge against the other over anything.

Looking back, what was the highlight of the season?

Felix Hirsiger: The second race at the Salzburgring ranks very highly for me. We had a absolutely dreadful weekend there and, for various reasons, weren’t rewarded for our strong performances – until Sunday. We both delivered performances like never before, even though we’d already won. It wasn’t just another victory; it was on a par with the win at the Red Bull Ring in the final corner.

Finn Zulauf: I agree with Felix – definitely the win at the Salzburgring. That was one of the best moments I’ve ever experienced in my career. To drive from the back of the grid to victory was really cool – especially given the situation with the technical failure the day before and losing the championship lead. The team worked through the night, and this success was a real source of satisfaction for us and the whole team.

What are the plans for the coming season?

Finn Zulauf: It’s great that I’ve won the ‘Road to DTM’ and I’d obviously be delighted if the promotion actually goes ahead. We’re pushing in that direction too and there are a few things going on behind the scenes, but I really don’t know any more than that at the moment.

Felix Hirsiger: I’ll definitely be back in the car; I can’t and shouldn’t reveal much more at the moment. However, I’m confident we’ll be able to make an announcement soon. It’s certainly going to be a brilliant and intense year. Every kilometre is worth its weight in gold and takes me a step closer to becoming a professional – and hopefully to the DTM as well.