HANKOOK 12H ZANDVOORT | MAXIMILIAN BUHK: “ZANDVOORT IS BECOMING MY HOME TRACK
Despite his young age of only 21, German Maximilian Buhk is one of the rising stars in international GT racing. After two years in single-seaters, he switched to GT racing and became the youngest-ever FIA GT3 European Champion in 2012. Last year, he added the Blancpain Endurance title and also became the youngest-ever driver to win the Spa 24 Hours. This year, he is dovetailing a campaign in the German ADAC GT Masters series with a season of Blancpain GT racing, but he is also competing in this weekend’s Hankook 12H ZANDVOORT where he has been added to the line-up of Hofor Racing’s two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 cars. Prior to qualifying, we caught up with Buhk.
Maximilian, it is already your second time racing at Zandvoort this year, because you were here earlier this month for the ADAC GT Masters. However, this weekend, conditions seem to be significantly better.
“Yes, you can say so! In terms of weather conditions, the Masters weekend was probably one of the worst I have ever experienced. Never before have I seen so much rain! It was just incredible. Now, it seems to be fine and Zandvoort is a nice place when the sun is shining!”
You have been entered on both the Hofor-Racing cars, two identical Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 with two identical driver line-ups. Do you already know what your schedule will be like?
“To be honest, I don’t yet fully know about the regulations as far as driving times and rest times are concerned, but after the first three hours of the race, we will see where the cars are and then we will perhaps apply different tactics for the second part of the race, but first of all, we have to see what the first three hours of the race will be like.”
What are your expectations for this race?
“Well, I reckon that we clearly have the potential to be challenging for victory, no doubt about it.”
What do you think about the concept of an endurance race split in two, with three hours today and nine hours tomorrow?
“I haven’t done such a race yet, so I am curious to find out what it will be like in reality, but it sounds quite interesting and it is nice for the team members to have some time to relax this evening, which is quite nice for a change.”
Traffic is, of course, always an issue in endurance races, and here, you have a wide variety of cars, too. How do you handle that?
“Our motto is quite clear: ‘No contact with other cars’, because that can really go wrong. The smaller cars also have the right to be here, so we have to live with that. It is identical for everyone and either you make it through, or you have some slight problems, but everyone has the right to race.”
You have already raced at many different circuits all over the world. What is your impression of Zandvoort?
“An old-school track, which really is great fun to drive, although it is not easy. Especially the uphill part in the dunes is great from a driver’s perspective. Also the atmosphere in the dunes when the weather is nice, always a great thing to be here.”
And you will be back here in July with the Blancpain Sprint Series…
“Yes, it looks as if Zandvoort is becoming my new home track. Coming from the northern part of Germany, I always regarded Oschersleben as my home track, but now Zandvoort seems to be so, too.”
