Maximilian Buhk ended a 17-month dry spell with victory in 51. ADAC Barbarossapreis. The driver of the #48 HTP Motorsport Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3 took a dominant win in a race he described as ‘quite boring’.

RACE REPORT | GALLERY | NOTEBOOK | RACE RESULTS | INTERVIEW RAFFAELE MARCIELLO | INTERVIEW CHRISTIAN KROGNES

After taking over from Raffaele Marciello at the halfway point, the ‘Green Mamba’ already held a gap of nearly 50 seconds to second place, leaving Buhk with not much else to do than reach the finish.

“It was quite boring, to be honest,” Maximilian Buhk said. “‘Lello’ was able to pull quite a big gap quite quickly, so I was driving on my own, just trying to bring it home in one piece. It was relaxed. There was nothing really exciting.”

The Mercedes-AMG works driver’s last race win came 17 months ago when he celebrated victory in the Blancpain GT Series Asia at Buriram. Although the three-time Blancpain GT champion had never gone without a win so long since he stormed onto the GT racing scene seven years ago, Buhk wasn’t rattled by his winless streak, taking satisfaction in podium results.

“It feels quite good [to win after such a long time]. I mean, a podium always feels good as well, and then when you win it’s even a bit better. It’s not the first time since one and a half years that I’m on the podium, so it’s quite good.

“I always have confidence when I come to the racetrack, so I don’t need especially a win for that, but it’s always nice.”

Next VLN, the season finale in two weeks, sees Buhk return with HTP Motorsport to race the brand new Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, a car he has already driven as part of the test program in preparation of a proper 2020 competition debut.

“It’s quite similar to the current one,” Buhk describes the new model. “It’s a bit easier for the mechanics and the teams to work on some things, but from a driver’s point of view, it’s as good as the current car.”