Comeback Colin with a podium finish!
The 21-year-old racing driver from Lower Saxony battled for victory in both races at the high-speed Salzburgring in stunning Alpine backdrop.
Colin Bönighausen made his return to the ADAC GT Masters last weekend following his thigh fracture in a workplace accident two months ago. At the Salzburgring, the driver from Isernhagen immediately picked up where he left off before his enforced break, putting in a blistering performance and securing second place in Sunday’s race. “I didn’t feel any limitations while I was driving. Of course, I’m absolutely delighted with this podium finish!”
Colin Bönighausen started the race in second place on the grid. He blocked his following opponents before the first chicane and set off in pursuit of the leading HRT Ford. Despite the Porsche 911 GT3’s lack of top speed, he managed to defend second place and stay within striking distance of the leader. After 20 minutes, the first pit stop took place, involving a driver change. His teammate, Leo Pichler from Austria, took over and returned to the track in first place, at one stage holding a clear lead. However, differing team strategies meant that nothing had yet been decided in the 80-minute endurance race.
When Pichler pulled into the pits, it all came down to a head-to-head battle with the Engstler Lamborghini. With fast lap times after the second stop, Colin made it a nail-biting finish for the 10,000 fans lining the track. However, the Lamborghini took first place and held onto the lead, despite Colin giving it his all once again. He was just 1.7 seconds short of victory. “We gave it our all, but we didn’t stand a chance against the Lambo.” With second place in the ADAC GT Masters race in Salzburg, he and his teammate Pichler secured their long-awaited second podium finish of the 2026 season. Following their victory at the Red Bull Ring in April, they have now done it again at the Salzburgring, some 200 kilometres to the west. “The quality in this racing series is high. You need to have a perfect weekend to finish in the top three,” Colin analysed.
In race 1 on Saturday, the razoon – more than racing Porsche was in contention for victory too. For a long time, it looked as though Bönighausen/Pichler were set for a top finish. Colin had everything under control during the long middle stint on dry tyres in difficult and changeable conditions. However, it started raining harder just as Pichler has taken over, and with new, cold tyres it took Colin’s teammate longer to bring them up to temperature. “We were a bit unlucky there because we had the pace.” Ultimately, the German-Austrian duo secured a respectable yet disappointing fourth-place finish. Colin said, “My leg’s absolutely knackered now. I’m glad it’s over.” CJB now has a month to recharge his batteries and prepare for the season finale at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. “It would be great to finish in first place and round off the season – we’ll give it our all and we’ve got nothing to lose in the championship.”
Picture: Manuel Mackinger
