When motorsport authority Ulrich Fritz is asked about Finn Wiebelhaus, it’s worth listening, because then people rave in Swabian. It sounds like this: “Finn impressed us. He has the will and the hard work that this sport requires. He has a strong feeling for the vehicle and makes few mistakes.” The 17-year-old sports car driver completed nine races in the first few months of the year for the renowned HRT racing team, whose fortunes Fritz manages as managing director – and won seven of them .
Once he drove his Mercedes AMG GT3 to second place, another time to third place. “To finish nine races like that, not to make any mistakes, never to have been in the gravel trap. Hats off!” says Fritz about his new signing Wiebelhaus, who he had on his radar since the Obertshausen native was in the kart and won three championship titles in one year in 2022.
“Boys in the garage are happy”
The 46-year-old Fritz has already worked with a number of young drivers, be it in the sports car sector or in formula racing, such as today’s Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon. Fritz reveals that Wiebelhaus quickly got the pit crew on his side. “The mechanics are happy when they don’t have to work overtime at night,” says Fritz. “So far, despite many, many hours in the car, Finn has only caused minor damage, so the guys in the garage are happy with him.”
Listen and learn: Finn Wiebelhaus in conversation with Ulrich Fritz.Group C Photography
The engineers were also pleased with the “very, very good feedback” from Wiebelhaus, which helped the clever minds to set up the racing car in the best possible way. “Finn knows what he wants. At the same time, he is clever enough to trust the word of experienced engineers and adapt to the racing car when necessary,” says Fritz.
“I haven’t achieved anything yet”
After a year in French Formula 4, Wiebelhaus, who attends high school in Heusenstamm, decided to drive sports cars in the future. His company vehicle produces 550 hp, powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine. After the successful winter program, which despite all the praise Fritz doesn’t want to place too high a value on, the next big test is now coming up. The season of the GT Masters racing series, organized by the ADAC, starts this weekend in Oschersleben near Magdeburg.
“Finn knows what he wants,” says Ulrich Fritz about Wiebelhaus.Group C Photography
Two drivers share the cockpit, with a change taking place halfway through the race. Wiebelhaus’ teammate is 24-year-old Thuringian Jannes Fittje. On each of the six race weekends there are two races of different lengths, one on Saturdays and one on Sundays. In Oschersleben (each time at 3:15 p.m. on Sport 1) sixty minutes will be completed twice.
As one of the few pilots, Wiebelhaus is able to enjoy the piste with its narrow and winding curves. “The route is technically demanding, that’s something different than just chopping all the time,” i.e. going full throttle, says Wiebelhaus, who is considered a level-headed helmsman who doesn’t do breakneck maneuvers, but rather carefully weighs up the risks.
And he’s also modest: Wiebelhaus says he’s a little proud of his achievements, but he immediately caveats: “I haven’t achieved anything yet. I have to keep delivering and consistently score points.” Next weekend he will spend his 18th birthday trying to get permission to drive on the Nordschleife. His goal, perhaps next year: the legendary 24-hour race on the “greatest race track in the world”.