Austrian team relishing prospect of home race at the Red Bull Ring Targeting regular Top Ten finishes in the second half of the season

A mid-season event at a top-flight venue - for HB Racing WDS BAU, the Austrian round of the 2016 ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring (22nd - 24th July) represents a standout fixture in the Super Sports Car League. The Neumarkt-based team has been on top form in recent weeks and now intends to excel in its home race with its two Lamborghini Huracáns, the first driven by Norbert Siedler (33, A) and Jaap van Lagen (39, NL), the second by Kelvin Snoeks (28, NL) and Elia Erhart (28, DEU). "We have never competed at such a high level of motorsport as this year in the ADAC GT Masters," says team manager Dietmar Hirsch. "The standard of competition in the series is tremendous, with up to 20 cars qualifying within one second of each other. It's all about attention to fine detail. You have to get used to this." The team, which has its origins in Porsche Club sport, is not entirely a stranger to the series. Back in 2014, they worked in partnership with Herberth Motorsport to assist fellow Austrian Herbert Handlos in his successful bid for the Gentlemen title. "We can certainly make use of some techniques and experiences from our past association with the ADAC GT Masters, but we need to reacquire various things and refresh our knowledge. That ranges from spare parts to practice. It takes a lot of time, a lot of manpower and, above all, a lot of passion to establish yourself - and indeed an entire team - at this high level." In the previous six races of the 2016 ADAC GT Masters, HB Racing WDS Bau have scored two points, courtesy of a P9 finish by Siedler and van Lagen at the Sachsenring. Not enough, according to Hirsch: "Our half-term report is disappointing. We could have wished for better results. In general, that comes from adjusting to a new racing series and to a new car, but we've also been unlucky. Recently at the Lausitzring, we were forced to retire while placed third and fifth." The Austrians are hoping for a breakthrough in their home race. "We have worked especially hard to prepare ourselves for this event," says Hirsch. "In recent weeks, we've spent a few days testing at the Red Bull Ring; we've also done a lot of work on the car and improved various small details. Our lap times were promising. We are confident that we are finally about to turn the corner. But theory and actual racing are of course two different kettles of fish. If our cars get to the finish line in one piece, we think we're capable of Top Ten results. Ideally, of course, we're looking at podium finishes." In the long term, HB Racing WDS Bau are aiming not only to establish themselves in the ADAC GT Masters but to be genuine championship contenders. Hirsch: "We were aware that we wouldn't immediately get into the top positions in the first half of the season. But our objective now for the second half of the campaign is to score points on a regular basis and to pick up the odd podium. In Jaap van Lagen and Norbert Siedler, we have a strong and experienced driver pairing. But our second car with Elia Erhart and Kelvin Snoeks is also getting into the swing of things. They intend to establish themselves in the upper midfield in the very near future. The GT3 project with the Lamborghini Huracán will run for several years. Assuming the ADAC GT Masters continues at this same excellent level, there is no reason for us not to be a part of it in the coming years." Fans wishing to experience the ADAC GT Masters live at the racetrack can purchase tickets for all fixtures for the price of 20 euros, which includes access to the paddock, from www.adac.de/motorsport.