Double victory and AM class glory at Hockenheim

Garage 59 delivered a dominant performance at the Hockenheim round of the International GT Open championship, securing both overall race wins and a commanding AM class victory.

After qualifying on pole position for Race 1, Marvin Kirchhöfer took the start in the #8 McLaren, building a strong lead before handing over to Thomas Fleming during the driver change window. As a new entry to the championship, the #8 McLaren was hit with a 10-second additional pit stop penalty, forcing Tom to rejoin in fifth place.

A lengthy safety car period bunched up the field, setting the stage for a dramatic sprint to the finish with just 18 minutes remaining. The question: could Tom fight his way to the front in time?

The answer: absolutely. With 10 minutes still on the clock, Tom surged into the lead and never looked back, taking a spectacular overall victory for Garage 59.

In the AM class, Mark Sansom started the #188 McLaren from third in class. He and teammate Alexander West delivered a flawless drive to not only take the class honours but finish a solid 18th overall.

Race 2 started in challenging conditions, with heavy rain soaking the track. Tom once again took the wheel of the #8 McLaren and expertly handled the treacherous start, leading confidently through the first stint. At the halfway mark, he pitted from the lead, and despite serving another 10-second penalty, this time a “success penalty” for winning Race 1, the team remained firmly in contention.

With Marvin back behind the wheel and another safety car intervention bunching up the field, it was all down to a final eight-minute sprint. In worsening conditions, Marvin kept his cool and maintained the lead through to the flag, claiming a second overall victory for the #8 McLaren and completing a dream weekend for Garage 59.

In the AM class, Alex West found himself in the thick of a tough battle in the closing stages. Despite a valiant effort alongside Mark Sansom, the #188 duo finished fourth in class—just shy of the podium, but with heads held high after a strong performance.

Two overall wins, an AM class victory, and a car that proved unbeatable in both dry and wet conditions—Garage 59 leaves Hockenheim with plenty to celebrate.