WRT Pulls Out of Red Bull Ring after Positive COVID-19 Tests

Team WRT has withdrawn its two Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evos from the ADAC GT Masters round at the Red Bull Ring after three crew members tested positive for coronavirus.

The decorated GT3 outfit released a statement on Friday confirming that it will not contest this weekend’s pair of two-driver sprint races as a precautionary measure.

All three of the team members who produced positive COVID-19 tests have entered isolation according to local and team protocols and are reported to be asymptomatic.

A team spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 that Thursday’s positive test results did not come from any of WRT’s four GT Masters drivers.

The rest of the Belgian squad’s crew is undergoing “additional tests at regular intervals” while each of these has come back negative so far, according to the statement.

The WRT Audis were set to be driven at the Red Bull Ring by recently-crowned GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup champions Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, and Mirko Bortolotti and Rolf Ineichen.

Vanthoor and Weerts are currently fifth in the drivers’ championship with six races to go, including this weekend’s round in Austria which they are now missing.

WRT is also due to race in the DTM at Zolder this weekend and is continuing to prepare for that event after its team underwent mandatory COVID-19 testing beforehand.

“We are faced with a situation that we all know could occur in the current context and have immediately activated the strict protocols that the team has prepared for such a circumstance,” said WRT team principal Vincent Vosse.

“Maximum precaution and total transparency are our guidelines.

“This is why we have decided to withdraw from the Red Bull Ring round and to inform the ADAC GT Masters organizers and local authorities, with which we are fully cooperating to ensure maximum safety for all.”

GT Masters series organizer the ADAC also released a statement in which it acknowledged WRT’s decision to withdraw from the Red Bull Ring event.

“In accordance with the hygiene and infection protection protocol applicable to the event, the three people who tested positive were immediately isolated and are in home quarantine,” it read.

“All other members of the team tested negative on Thursday. In view of the incident, Team WRT decided not to take part in the race weekend.

“All parties involved are in close coordination with the local authorities.”