Successful GT4 debut for the Bäckman siblings

Last weekend, April 21-23rd, Andreas and Jessica Bäckman made their race debut together in a one-off entry in the GT4 European Series at the Monza circuit in Italy. It was an instructive weekend with good speed in the two qualifiers but a slightly heavier race.
- It was very instructive to get a race before the start of the season in Germany and extra fun that the qualifyings went beyond expectations, Jessica Bäckman says.

Since the siblings made the step to car racing five years ago, they have competed in Touring Car Racing in TCR cars. The previous season, Andreas competed in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) and finished third overall in the championship with three wins, two pole positions, seven podiums and three fastest laps. Jessica was competing in the ADAC TCR Germany Championship, which is the German equivalent of the STCC, Jessica finished second overall in the championship with four wins, nine podiums, two pole positions and three fastest laps.

For this year's season, the siblings have chosen to go a completely different route and steps into GT racing. Throughout Andreas and Jessica's motorsport career, they have competed individually in each car. For this season, they will share a car with each other and race together in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 car. The races are one hour long, with a mandatory driver change midway through the race, which will be something completely new for Jessica and Andreas to adjust to.

The siblings qualify inside the top 10 in their premiere race in GT4 European Series at Monza
Last weekend, April 21-23rd, the Bäckman siblings made their debut race together in GT4, by doing a one-off entry in the GT4 European Series at the well-known Monza track in Italy. On the starting line, Bäckman was up against 51 of the best GT4 drivers in the world, where the goal was to watch and learn in order to be more prepared for the season opener in ADAC GT4 Germany, which begins at the end of May. The weekend started with mixed weather, where the majority of the practices were on wet surfaces, but in the last practice on Friday it was finally dry. The qualifying on Saturday morning was also dry and went beyond expectations as the siblings qualified as 6th and 9th respectively in the two qualifyings out of a total of 52 starters.

- The speed we showed in qualifying surprised both ourselves and probably most others, as it was our first GT4 competition together. We were not far from pole position in both qualifyings among Europe's top drivers and that bodes well for the rest of the season, Andreas Bäckman says.

Tougher and instructive races
In the first race on Saturday afternoon, Andreas started the race which was his first race in GT4. It was an educational race with a lot to learn. Halfway through the race, the siblings made the obligatory driver change and handed the car over to Jessica, who put in a good finish to move up to 16th place.

- There was a lot to learn for both of us in this race. There were a lot of incidents out on the track which made it hard to overtake. At the end of the race, the speed in the car was good and then we managed to take advantage of this and advance, Jessica Bäckman says.

On Sunday, the second race was held and it was Jessica's turn to start the race. Like Andreas in the first race, she had a difficult start to the race before handing over to Andreas in the mandatory pit stop. Andreas made a good finish and was up to 16th place when the car stopped on the last lap with a technical problem.

- The feeling in the car was good and everything felt much easier today as I had taken with me all the experience from the first race. It was sad that we had technical problems on the last lap that made us stop the race, but that can happen sometimes in motorsport, Andreas Bäckman says.

- It was a learning weekend that started great but with a tougher ending. But there were many invaluable experiences that we will take with us to the start of the season in the German series at the end of May. We know where we can improve and look forward to an exciting season. Many thanks to our team PROsport Racing for all the support during the weekend, Jessica Bäckman says.

Andreas and Jessica´s results:
Free practice 1: 19th place
Free practice 2: 14th place
Qualy 1 (Q1): 6th place
Qualy 2 (Q2): 9th place
Race 1: 16th place
Race 2: DNF

Andreas and Jessica Bäckman are looking forward to competing together in 2023, which they believe they can benefit from by helping each other forward. It will be a tough season where the siblings will give everything they have to master a brand new car model in a new championship.

- It was very fun to do the debut race together with Andreas. We work very well together and push each other forward. Our strength is that we are both very equal, and with more routine and driving, I am convinced that our lineup this year will go far, Jessica Bäckman says.

Next up for the siblings is the season opener of the ADAC GT4 Germany Championship, May 26-28th, at the Oschersleben circuit in Germany.

TV links in case you missed last weekend’s qualifying and races:
Click to watch the qualifyings
Click to watch Race 1
Click to watch Race 2

ADAC GT4 Germany calendar 2023:
May 26-28th - Oschersleben, Germany
June 23-25th - Zandvoort, Netherlands
August 4-6th - Nürburgring, Germany
August 18-20th - Lausitzring, Germany
September 8-10th - Sachsenring, Germany
October 20-22nd - Hockenheim, Germany

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