BMW calls up Spengler for ADAC GT

BMW DTM driver Bruno Spengler will make his ADAC GT Masters debut in the series' 2015 decider at Hockenheim this weekend.

The 2012 DTM champion has been drafted into the Team Schubert line-up in place of fellow BMW factory driver Jens Klingmann, who is racing for the Rahal BMW team in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship finale at Road Atlanta on Saturday.

Spengler will share the Schubert BMW Z4 GT3 with Austrian Dominik Baumann, who together with full-season teammate Klingman lies 31 points behind championship leaders Zakspeed Mercedes drivers Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig.

The move means that Spengler, who has driven Z4s in GT Le Mans and GT3 specification, respectively, at the Daytona and Spa 24-hour classics this year, will become the first active DTM driver to race in ADAC GT Masters.

"I'll try to remain calm before the finale," Austrian Baumann said. "Being realistic, it won't be easy to make up this big deficit, because the Mercedes-Benz will be fast in Hockenheim."

Schutz Porsche driver Klaus Bachler can also take the title this weekend. The Austrian, who again shares with Martin Ragginger, is 37 points off the championship lead with 50 points up for grabs over the two races of the finale.

ADAC GT MASTERS STANDIINGS

1 Asch/Ludwig - Zakspeed Mercedes: 187 points
2 Baumann/Klingmann - Schubert BMW: 156 points
3 Bachler - Schutz Porsche: 150 points