Maximilian Buhk Explained

Maximilian Buhk
Nationality: German
Birth Date:1992 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Reinbek, Germany
Racing Licence: FIA Platinum
Current Series:Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
First Year:2013
Current Team:Strakka Racing
Former Teams:HTP Motorsport
Car Number:43
Starts:23
Wins:3
Poles:1
Fastest Laps:0
Best Finish:1st
Year:2013
Prev Series:ADAC GT Masters
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
Blancpain GT Series Asia
ADAC GT Masters
FIA GT Series
FIA GT3 European Championship
ADAC Formel Masters
Prev Series Years:2017-18
2014-18
2017
2012-15
2013
2012
201011
Titles:Blancpain GT Series
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup

FIA GT3 European Championship
Title Years:2016
2015
2013
2012

Maximilian Buhk (born 9 December 1992 in Reinbek) is a retired German racing driver. He experienced considerable success racing for Mercedes-AMG in the GT3 scene, winning the 2012 FIA GT3 European Championship and 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series, before taking the 2015 Blancpain GT Sprint Series title as part of the Bentley factory lineup.[1] [2] [3]

In 2016, Buhk returned to the Mercedes-AMG factory stable to win the overall Blancpain GT Series alongside Dominik Baumann that year.[4] Following six further years with the German brand, Buhk retired from racing in 2022 after two seasons in the DTM.[5]

Career

Karting

Buhk began karting in 2004 and raced only in his native Germany for the majority of his career, working his way up from the junior ranks to progress through to the KF2 category by 2009, when he finished on fifth position in ADAC Kart Masters.[6] [7]

ADAC Formel Masters

2010 saw his debut in the ADAC Formel Masters championship with KUG Motorsport.[8] Buhk finished twelfth in the championship with 12 point-scoring finishes.[9] He remained in series for 2011 but switched to ma-con after five rounds with KUG Motorsport. The switch open road to the podium step at Lausitz and Assen and progress to ninth in the championship.[10]

Sports car racing

For 2012 Buhk moved into the Sports car racing, competing in both 2012 ADAC GT Masters and 2012 FIA GT3 European Championship.[11] Andreas Simonsen was Buhk's teammate in the ADAC series, where they finished eleventh. With Dominik Baumann they dominated the main category of the FIA GT3 European Championship, winning half of the races and the drivers' title on their Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.[12]

In 2013, FIA GT3 European Championship was merged with FIA GT1 World Championship to form FIA GT Series, where Buhk continued to race. He was paired with Alon Day in HTP Motorsport, they were victorious at Zandvoort, but were only seventh in the championship.[13] He remained in the ADAC GT Masters where he participated with Maximilian Götz. They won race at Nürburgring and ended third in the standings.[14] Also he expanded his programme to compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Despite missing two opening rounds, he won 2013 24 Hours of Spa as well as the season finale at Nürburgring, which brought him title in the series.[15] [16]

In 2014, the Buhk kept his three-championship programme with HTP. FIA GT Series was renamed into the Blancpain Sprint Series. He again shared Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with Götz and was set to claim another championship title after three wins but was forced to miss Slovakia Ring round and the remainder of the 2014 ADAC GT Masters season due to his suspension for non-compliance with safety car regulations in the same circuit in the ADAC GT Masters event.[17] But later his racing license was restored, allowing him return to racing.[18] In the Blancpain Endurance Series he had just one podium an ended the season fourth. Also for the first time Sprint and Endurance series formed Blancpain GT Series in which Buhk finished as runner-up to Laurens Vanthoor.For 2015, Buhk concentrated on Blancpain GT Series programme, where he was again runner-up, this time to Robin Frijns. His team HTP decided to use Bentley Continental GT3 car and make Vincent Abril as his teammate in the Sprint Series.[19] They won three races and clinched the championship title.[20] But in the Endurance Series, Buhk raced with M-Sport team with Andy Soucek and Maxime Soulet as his teammates. They finished the season tenth finishing in point all races but 2015 24 Hours of Spa.

In 2016, Baumann returned as Buhk's teammate (Jazeman Jaafar was the third driver in the Endurance Cup), while HTP Motorsport bought new-for Mercedes-AMG GT3 car.[21] Their pair overscored Rob Bell by ten points in the GT Series to take the title. While in the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup they were second and third, respectively, with one race win in the two championships. Also he made his debut in the 2016 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, but his squad was not able to finish the race.

For 2017, Buhk got Franck Perera as a teammate for GT Series campaign while Jimmy Eriksson was the third driver in the Endurance Cup. Buhk got his third runner-up spot in the GT Series. He and his teammates were third in both the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup. In the Sprint cup Buhk with Perera was more successful as they won main Misano race.[22] He repeated 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, but once again his car haven't seen a checkered flag.

In 2018, HTP Motorsport left Blancpain GT Series in the favour of 2018 ADAC GT Masters, where Buhk is a teammate of the Indy Dontje.[23] While in 2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup he joined Götz and Álvaro Parente at Strakka Racing.[24]

After the 2022 DTM season, Buhk announced his retirement from racing, citing "shifting priorities".[25]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2010ADAC Formel MastersKUG Motorsport2100003412th
2011align=left rowspan=2ADAC Formel MastersKUG Motorsport240012879th
ma-con
2012FIA GT3 European ChampionshipHeico Gravity-Charouz Team1265282141st
ADAC GT MastersHeico Junior Team1600007211th
2013Blancpain Endurance Series - ProHTP Motorsport32002811st
ADAC GT MastersPolarweiss Racing1611061653rd
FIA GT Series - ProHTP Gravity Charouz101014707th
2014Blancpain GT Seriesalign=left rowspan=4HTP Motorsport1630281902nd
Blancpain Sprint Series - Pro1230271262nd
Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro40001644th
ADAC GT Masters1020049010th
2015align=left rowspan=2Blancpain GT SeriesHTP Motorsport1741181662nd
Bentley Team M-Sport
Blancpain Sprint Series - Proalign=left rowspan=2Bentley Team HTP1241181351st
ADAC GT Masters1000001232nd
Blancpain Endurance Series - ProBentley Team M-Sport500003110th
2016Blancpain GT SeriesHTP Motorsport1521041341st
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup51102672nd
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup101002673rd
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910000N/ADNF
24H Series - A6
2017Blancpain GT Seriesalign=left rowspan=6Mercedes-AMG Team HTP Motorsport1533031202nd
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup103301683rd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup50002523rd
ADAC GT Masters10000635th
Intercontinental GT Challenge100000NC
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910000N/ADNF
Blancpain GT Series Asia - GT3GruppeM Racing Team820341004th
2018Intercontinental GT Challengealign=left rowspan=2Mercedes-AMG Team Strakka Racing40001319th
Blancpain GT Series700012438th
ADAC GT MastersMann-Filter Team HTP141002845th
2019Intercontinental GT Challengealign=left rowspan=2Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing50112583rd
Blancpain GT Series100001044th
24H GT Series - SP4Mercedes-AMG Team Driving Academy
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon10000N/A2nd
202024H GT Series - GT3HTP Winward Motorsport
2021Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersMercedes-AMG Team Mücke Motorsport1400012815th
ADAC GT MastersMann-Filter Team Landgraf-HTP WWR1411041504th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTDAlegra Motorsports2000023757th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupHubAuto100000NC
Intercontinental GT Challenge100000NC
2022Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersMercedes-AMG Team Mücke Motorsport160000125th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupMercedes-AMG GruppeM Racing100 001323rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge100001216th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD ProWeatherTech Racing1000027529th

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine123456789101112Points
2018P1 MotorsportsGTDMercedes-AMG GT3Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8DAY
SEB
MOH
BEL
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
PET
59th24
2019P1 MotorsportsGTDMercedes-AMG GT3Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8DAY
SEB
MDO
DET
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
PET
46th32
2021Alegra MotorsportsGTDMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8DAY
SEB
MDO
DET
WGL
WGL
LIM
ELK
LGA
LBH
VIR
PET
57th237
2022WeatherTech RacingGTD ProMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8DAY
SEB
LBH
LGA
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
29th275

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516PosPoints
2021Mercedes-AMG Team Mücke MotorsportMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMNZ
1

MNZ
2

LAU
1

LAU
2

ZOL
1

ZOL
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

RBR
1

RBR
2

ASS
1

ASS
2

HOC
1
HOC
2
NOR
1

NOR
2

15th28
2022Mercedes-AMG Team Mücke MotorsportMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoALG
1

ALG
2

LAU
1

LAU
2

IMO
1

IMO
2

NOR
1

NOR
2

NÜR
1

NÜR
2

SPA
1

SPA
2

RBR
1

RBR
2

HOC
1

HOC
2

25th1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gt . Amigosracing/mrs . 2012-09-22 . Racing with Professionals/MRS GT Racing: FIA GT3: Baumann and Buhk crowned 2012 drivers' champions (Nurburgring). . 2024-05-30 . Racing with Professionals/MRS GT Racing.
  2. Web site: 2013-09-22 . Buhk Blancpain champion as HTP Mercedes wins . 2024-05-30 . RACER . en-US.
  3. Web site: Blancpain Sprint Series: Zandvoort, Main Race, Buhk & Abril Win The Race & Title . 2024-05-30 . www.dailysportscar.com.
  4. Web site: Hudson . Joe . 2016-12-12 . 2016 Blancpain GT Series Season Review . 2024-05-30 . The Checkered Flag . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Euwema . Davey . 2022-10-09 . Buhk Announces Retirement from Racing – Sportscar365 . 2024-05-30 . sportscar365.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: About Maxi Buhk. maximilian-buhk.de. 5 May 2018.
  7. Web site: ADAC Kart Masters — KF2 2009. Driver Database. 9 April 2012.
  8. News: Starterfeld des ADAC Formel Masters nimmt Form an. ADAC Formel Masters. ADAC. 2010-03-18. 2010-03-25. German. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718195007/http://www.adac-formel-masters.de/news/index.php?SID&flash=&lg=d&st=146&id=181. 18 July 2011. dead.
  9. Web site: ADAC Formel Masters 2010 standings. driverdb.com. Driver Database. 5 May 2018.
  10. Web site: ADAC Formel Masters 2011 standings. driverdb.com. Driver Database. 5 May 2018.
  11. News: Round 1 (Nogaro) Entry List . FIA.com . . 3 April 2012 . 4 April 2012.
  12. News: 2012 FIA CHAMPIONS. 5 May 2018. fia.com. FIA. 8 December 2012.
  13. News: Watkins. Gary. Zandvoort FIA GT: Mercedes gets first win of 2013 with Buhk and Day. 5 May 2018. autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 7 July 2013.
  14. News: Mercedes-Benz victory for Buhk & Götz. 5 May 2018. adac-gt-masters.de. ADAC. 3 August 2018.
  15. News: Buhk, Schneider, Götz claim overall win in 24 Hours of Spa. 5 May 2018. motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 28 July 2013.
  16. News: Simmons. Marcus. Nurburgring Blancpain: HTP Mercedes wins to crown Buhk champion. 5 May 2018. autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 22 September 2013.
  17. News: ten Caat. Marcel. Buhk Suspended for Slovakia Ring After GT Masters Incident. 5 May 2018. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 21 August 2014.
  18. News: Watkins. Gary. Blancpain Sprint Series frontrunner Buhk to return after case dropped. 5 May 2018. autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 3 September 2014.
  19. News: Double programme pour Vincent Abril. Double programme for Vincent Abril. 19 March 2015. AUTOhebdo.fr. Grouppe Hommel. French. 19 March 2015.
  20. News: Wouters. Vincent. Buhk, Abril Claim Blancpain Sprint Title in Zandvoort Thriller. 5 May 2018. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 11 October 2015.
  21. Web site: Wouters. Vincent. Monza Entry List Update: 4.6. sportscar365.com. Sportscar 365. April 22, 2016. April 6, 2016.
  22. News: Morson. Lucy. Buhk and Perera complete Misano Blancpain sweep. 5 May 2018. motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 2 April 2017.
  23. News: HTP Motorsport with two mambas and strong drivers. 28 February 2018. adac-gt-masters.de. ADAC. 2 March 2018.
  24. News: Strakka Reveal Blancpain Endurance Cup Driver Squads. Goodwin. Graham. 16 March 2018. dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. 16 March 2018.
  25. News: Buhk Announces Retirement from Racing. Euwema. Davey. 9 October 2022. sportscar365.com. Sportscar365. 10 October 2022.