Tom Calendar: The youngest ADAC GT Masters champion at the age of 16!

Tom Calendar: The youngest ADAC GT Masters champion at the age of 16!

The latest developments in the ADAC GT Masters have caused enthusiasm, as two remarkable drivers, Tom Calendar and Elias Seppänen, have had a lasting impact on the racing business in Germany. During their appearance at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, they not only secured the championship title, but also made history while competing with other talented drivers such as Maxime Oosten and Leon Köhler.

Tom Calendar's record is particularly impressive, as he was crowned the youngest champion in the history of the ADAC GT Masters at just 16 years old. His teammate Elias Seppänen has achieved the feat of defending his title and will therefore be the first driver in the history of the race to be included in this series. These successes are not only personal triumphs, but also mark a significant milestone for the Landgraf Motorsport team, which has now won the drivers' championship title for the third time in a row.

Championship titles and records

Seppänen, who originally started out as a motocross driver on two wheels, eventually found his passion in karting. “After switching to karting, I was able to achieve some success, including several victories,” says the 20-year-old. After a promising career in ADAC Formula 4, where he achieved third place in 2020, he switched to GT racing in 2022 and clinched his first championship title in the ADAC GT Masters. His success this season, which ended with another championship, puts him close to other great drivers such as Kelvin van der Linde and Christopher Mies.

On the other hand, Calendar also impresses with his extraordinary career. He made his debut in the ADAC GT Masters at the tender age of 16 and quickly placed on the podium, followed by a victory shortly afterwards. His successes in karting, including the ADAC Kart Masters 2019 title, and his experience in French Formula 4 show that the young driver clearly has the potential to have a great career in the motorsport world.

Elias Seppänen is supported by effective training and good cooperation with calendar. “We train on the simulator before the races and do sports sessions together,” reports Seppänen. This close collaboration not only strengthened the trust between the two drivers, but also contributed to the overall team performance. Calendar adds that he learned a lot from Seppänen, which also contributes to team morale. “We immediately got along well,” says the young pilot. “The team has always provided excellent cars; this support has been crucial for us.”

Looking into the future

Seppänen's path into the DTM, driven by the “Road to DTM” funding, could represent the next big challenge. “A start in the DTM would be great and would make a dream come true,” says the champion. Seppänen is also supported by the experience of five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider, who acts as a mentor and offers the young drivers comprehensive insights.

The championship season was characterized by exciting duels that began at the start in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, where Seppänen and Calendar took first places. Their competitors, especially the strong drivers from BMW, kept the competition exciting, but the two Mercedes drivers proved their dominance at the Red Bull Ring, which gave them a decisive advantage.

At the end of the season they clinched their title with a top result in the penultimate race at the Hockenheimring, where a third place was enough to secure the title. This result not only confirms the talent of the two, but also the fact that teamwork and smart strategy are crucial to succeed in such a competitive environment.

The successes of Calendar and Seppänen clearly show how important both individual skills and cross-team collaboration are in motorsport. Their achievements could lay the foundation for an even brighter future in German-speaking motorsport, as they also aim for international dimensions.