Konrad Motorsport’s appearance at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is drawing plenty of attention this year – and not only because of the team’s Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, a car that still carries a certain exotic appeal in the field. The spotlight is also on Patricija Stalidzane, the only woman competing in the GT3 class. The 24-year-old Munich-based driver of Latvian origin is already attracting considerable interest for that reason alone. Adding another compelling angle, she shares the car with her partner Maximilian Paul – making them arguably the fastest couple on the grid.
Alongside life partner Paul, the line-up for the former GT4 Germany driver also features Christian Engelhart and Pavel Lefterov. Stalidzane admits that the step up to the more powerful GT3 machinery proved more demanding than expected: “At first, I thought the GT3 was only a little faster than the GT4, but I quickly realised how wrong I was. The GT3 is completely different in every respect, from its handling to its overall dynamics. That’s why I’m glad I was able to prepare for this event during NLS2 and the Qualifiers. As soon as the weather changes or something on the car is different, you need to adapt immediately – and I definitely needed that track time ahead of this race. The move from GT4 to GT3 was tougher than I expected, and I’m happy to admit that openly.”
Familiarity Builds Team Spirit
And what is it like to share a race car as a couple? Do everyday discussions give way to debates over track time? “Racing in the same car as Maximilian is fantastic,” Stalidzane says. “There is a real sense of trust and familiarity, and you don’t feel that intense competitive tension you might experience elsewhere. Instead, we support each other, because naturally you want the best for one another – and of course for the team and the car as well, because in the end you want to win. That strong sense of cooperation extends beyond our relationship to the other drivers in the team, whom we’ve already got to know quite well. We work together very effectively and actively support one another.”
Aiming for the Podium
Asked about the team’s target for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, Patricija leaves no doubt about the ambition: “Of course we want to win – that is a very clear statement, because we are not here simply to turn laps. We have invested so much preparation, in terms of both budget and time, to be standing here today. We would not have made that commitment if we did not believe we could fight for victory.”