NEWS

24 May, Friday

High tension at the race of superlatives

The biggest race in the world will transform the Nürburgring into a top-class motorsport festival from May 30 to June 2. At the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the largest field of participants in international motorsport will compete on the world's longest race track in front of the largest crowd in the German motorsport calendar. 130 cars will take part in the 52nd edition of the XXL endurance...
High tension at the race of superlatives

24.05.2024

The biggest race in the world will transform the Nürburgring into a top-class motorsport festival from May 30 to June 2. At the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the largest field of participants in international motorsport will compete on the world's longest race track in front of the largest crowd in the German motorsport calendar. 130 cars will take part in the 52nd edition of the XXL endurance race, including more than two dozen GT3s, which will probably be battling it out for overall victory. Eight makes will be battling it out in this extremely strong group - in addition to the German premium manufacturers Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and an SCG 004c from the Glickenhaus team will also be taking part. Not to be forgotten: the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the defending champions from Frikadelli Racing, which will line up with starting number #1 after last year's success. If you want to experience the race in person, you can buy your ticket directly at the Nürburgring at the open ticket offices. Anyone unable to experience the full-throttle festival, which is once again expected to attract over 200,000 visitors, can follow the race live and in full length on free TV partner NITRO. The 24h livestream, which goes live on Thursdays, provides even more comprehensive coverage of the event. > All info & live streams here.  The Porsche teams come to the 24h Nürburgring as favorites, as they proved to be extremely well sorted at the start of the season. In both rounds of the NLS (Nürburgring Nordschleife Series), which is held according to the same technical regulations, as well as in the two 24h Qualifiers races, a 911 was at the top of the podium. The two cars from Falken Motorsports are the class leaders, with a total of three victories. The fourth was claimed by the 911 from Manthey EMA, nicknamed "Grello" due to its striking color scheme. The most successful team in 24h history with seven overall victories has once again secured the distinctive #911 starting number for its latest-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R, which Falken and three other Porsche GT3 teams also use: Dinamic, Renauer u. Renauer and a Pro-Am 911 from Lionspeed GP will also be on the grid. With six entries, the Zuffenhausen-based team is the GT3 brand with the most participants in this year's 24h alongside Mercedes-AMG. Last year's winner Frikadelli relies on Ferrari againFrikadelli Racing, a team with a particularly large number of fans around the Nordschleife, won last year. The team led by Klaus "Frikadelli" Abbelen was cheered accordingly, especially as the local heroes, based not far from the Ring, also achieved the first Ferrari victory in the 51-year history of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The defending champions will remain loyal to the Italian brand again this year, with which they set a historic distance record in 2023. They completed 162 laps (4085.90 km) on the world's longest race track at 25.378 km. Last year's winner Felipe Fernandez Laser (Leipzig) will be defending his title with three new colleagues as he shares the Ferrari 296 GT3 with Daniel Keilwitz (Villingen), Luca Ludwig (Bornheim) and Nicolás Varrone (ARG). Mercedes-AMG celebrates at the Ring: 130 years of motorsport with a starLike Porsche, Mercedes-AMG is also represented six times on the GT3 grid. A victory would certainly suit the Stuttgart-based brand, which supports its top-class customer racing teams with a large contingent of drivers from the works squad: 130 years ago, vehicles with Daimler engines won the first automobile race, which was held on a track between Paris and Rouen. A GetSpeed-Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the starting number #130 is therefore one of the spearheads of the "star drivers". A good choice, as the team was within striking distance of the eventual winners right up to the final stages last year and ultimately took third and fourth place in the race. HRT should be the second top team from Stuttgart on the agenda. The team led by former DTM driver Hubert Haupt showed its potential in the first two NLS races this year when it took pole position. Another Mercedes-AMG GT3 will also be entered by Schnitzelalm Racing. Small but mighty: the Audi and BMW line-upsAudi and BMW are represented at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with three GT3s each. The spearhead of the BMW M4 GT3s is likely to be the two cars from Rowe Racing: The 2020 24h winners came close to securing a second overall victory last year as runners-up and will be burning with ambition to accomplish the feat this year. The RMG team will also field a third GT3 BMW. In the Audi camp, the last 24-hour overall victory dates back to 2019: it was the sixth triumph for Phoenix Racing, who could draw level with Manthey (7) with another overall win. The team is relying on two of its tried-and-tested Audi R8 LMS GT3s under the Scherer PHX banner in another attempt to attack the top of the statistics. They have already secured pole position in the first round of the 24h Qualifiers - perhaps a good omen? The Audi faction is complemented by a car from the Juta-Racing team, which relies on a Pro-Am driver line-up. This also applies to the majority of Aston Martin entries. In addition to a Vantage AMR GT3 from PROsport Racing, three cars from Walkenhorst are in the race - including the only "Pro" Aston. Much more than just splashes of colorThe supposedly exotic cars in the GT3 field are real eye-catchers: these certainly include the two Lamborghinis from Abt (Pro) and Konrad Motorsport (Pro-Am). The Abt-Lambo in particular showed strong form in the first races of the season. The team was even on course for victory in the first NLS race and lost the triumph to Manthey in an extremely close photo finish. Glickenhaus Racing also has a firm place in the hearts of many fans: the team led by US American James Glickenhaus will return from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2024 and will field a beautiful SCG 004c from the sports car manufacturer at the Ring. The "race within a race" promises extra excitementThe appeal of the 24h Nürburgring is not only due to the exciting battle for overall victory. On the contrary, the character of the endurance classic is defined by the "multiclass racing", in which the GT3 cars also take to the track with some much weaker rivals: 23 different classes are represented this year, guaranteeing a gigantic motorsport spectrum from the front-wheel drive VLN production cars to the 24h Specials and GT3s. Nowhere else in international motorsport are so many classes - and so many starters - involved: over 450 drivers from 36 nations are on the provisional entry list. And there is plenty of music in the battle of the classes. The Cup2 class, for example, in which Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars from the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (PETN) will compete, has a strong field. There are also 14 cars entered here, as in the GT4 category. The strongest class of the VLN production cars is the VT2 with rear-wheel drive with ten participants. Starting on Thursday, it's all about the grid positionsThe majority of the field will have three qualifying sessions to determine their grid position: There are already two sessions on Thursday, the second of which runs until 23:30 into the dark. While Q3 on Friday afternoon will be followed by a rest period for most teams before the start of the race on Saturday (16:00), things will then get really exciting for the top teams: Top qualifying (TQ) is scheduled for late Friday afternoon. This individual time trial for pole position is divided into two sections: All teams in the SP9 (GT3) and SP-X classes that have not yet qualified for the decisive TQ2 will battle it out in TQ1 for the five places still up for grabs. Twelve places in the second top qualifying session have already been allocated based on the practice and race results of the previous NLS and qualifying races. So the second round is where it counts: This is where the fastest of the fast compete to take pole in two flying laps on the Nordschleife. This is where the later course of the race can be decided, because those who are further back in the field will find it extremely difficult to move up the field later on. The 24h Nürburgring is probably the only endurance race in the world where the field is not neutralized by a safety car. Only short "Code 60" zones neutralize individual sections of the track in the event of an accident. This means that there are no moments in which accumulated deficits are neutralized - teams have to catch up on their own. Supporting program promises motorsport until you dropThe supporting program of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring also promises additional excitement and many, many beautiful and spectacular racing cars. There will be plenty to see on the Nordschleife from 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, when the RCN (Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring) will run a performance test, which traditionally sees an extremely large and extremely diverse field of starters on the track. There will also be other sporting decisions on this first day of the event. The Cup and Touring Car Trophy as well as the Touring Car Legends will hold their first races on this day, all of which will be held on the Grand Prix circuit. There will be further races in both series on Friday. The touring car legends, with their focus on former DTM cars, will even add a third race on Saturday afternoon immediately before the starting grid for the 24h. Another special highlight of the weekend is the ADAC 24h-Classic. A gigantic field of 210 historic racing cars from the Youngtimer Trophy and the Historic Championship 81 (HC '81) will compete here. With its three-hour race on Saturday morning, it shortens the waiting time for the 24-hour start in a highly entertaining way. Countless fan attractions at the gigantic motorsport festivalThere will be plenty of motorsport entertainment at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h. And as if that wasn't enough, there will also be a jam-packed fan program starting on Thursday. As befits a real festival, there will be several stages next to the race track, which is the "Main Stage", so to speak. Especially around the start/finish there are great offers for the numerous visitors - last year alone, 235,000 guests were counted over the weekend. The ring°boulevard becomes a promenade where manufacturers, merchandising stores and other exhibitors present themselves. They traditionally attract visitors with a variety of promotions, competitions, autograph sessions and much more. The various paddock areas are also well worth a visit. In addition to the teams, tire manufacturers and racing services, the Grand Prix paddock also features many fan animation offers - from Hyundai and Mercedes-AMG, for example. There are also two important fan hotspots at the heliport and the neighboring "multifunctional area". The RAVENOL Ferris wheel, which can be seen from afar, can be found on the heliport. Around the huge Magic Sky tent roof, there is also the MONSTER action area, a video wall and much more. Right next door there will be a catering mile where hungry fans and others will get their money's worth. Other participants will be accommodated in the Historic Paddock (touring car legends) and in the infield of the Mercedes Arena (24h Classic, Cup and Touring Car Trophy). Of course, the spectator areas around the Nordschleife are also worth a visit, where fans can set up home from the Monday before the race and celebrate a great motorsport festival for a whole week.

ring°guide for the 24-hour race: Tips for Arrival & Camping

22.05.2024

Important Information for Arrival at the 24-Hour Race at Nürburgring: What Visitors Need to Know This Year The legendary 24-hour race at Nürburgring, a highlight for motorsport fans, is just around the corner. To provide visitors with the best possible experience, Nürburgring is releasing important information and updates regarding arrival and camping that need to be observed this year. All necessary information can be found in the Park & Camping Regulations. Opening Times and Regulated Arrival The campsites at the Nordschleife will open their gates on Monday, May 27, at 6:00 AM, while the campsites at the Grand Prix track in zones A and C will open at the following times: A5 on Monday at 8:00 AM, C-Zone on Wednesday at 7:00 AM. Visitors are asked not to arrive before these times to protect the landscape, nature, and local residents. Violations of this regulation will be strictly monitored by the police, the public order office, and Nürburgring wardens on-site. Regulations for 2024 Opening Times of Campsites: Nordschleife: Monday, May 27, from 6:00 AMGrand Prix Track: A5 on Monday at 8:00 AM, C-Zone on Wednesday at 7:00 AMCamping before the official opening times is strictly prohibited due to landscape, nature, and resident protection. Compliance with these regulations will be monitored by the police, public order office, and wardens. If an earlier arrival is unavoidable due to planning reasons, Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG provides parking spaces. Adenauer Forst – Important Change: Due to construction work, arrival at the campsite in Adenauer Forst before the official opening times is strictly prohibited this year. There is no possibility to queue near the entrance to the camping area in advance. Wehrseifen, Metzgesfeld: For these campsites, early arrival is generally not allowed due to resident protection reasons. Alternative Areas for Other Campsites: For campsites along the Nordschleife, alternative areas for early arrival have been set up, but these should only be used in exceptional cases. Hatzenbach: Early-arriving campers will be directed to the alternative area D1a, accessible from Saturday, May 25, at 8:00 AM. Access is via the B258. It is new this year that setting up on Kreisstraße 73 before the official opening of the campsite is no longer allowed to avoid noise disturbance and inconvenience for residents and to keep emergency routes clear. Brünnchen, Karussell & Hohe Acht: Early-arriving campers will be redirected to parking lot P96 from Saturday, May 25, at 8:00 AM. Brünnchen II, Pflanzgarten: Early-arriving campers will be redirected to parking lot P98 from Saturday, May 25, at 8:00 AM. Schwalbenschwanz: Early-arriving campers will be directed to parking lot P100, which opens on Friday, May 24, at 8:00 AM. One Racetrack. One Community. As in previous years, Nürburgring continues to uphold the principle of "One Racetrack. One Community." in 2024. This includes the request for all visitors to show consideration for the region and its residents during arrival, stay, and departure, and to adhere to the camping regulations.

Tips for fans of the 24h Nürburgring

21.05.2024

In the week around Fronleichnam the Nürburgring will be in full swing: at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the traditional race track in the heart of the Eifel region will be the setting for what is perhaps the most beautiful full-throttle festival in Europe. As early as Monday, May 27, the on-demand campsites around the Nordschleife will be filled with enthusiastic fans who will transform the legendary "Green Hell" into a paradise for motorsport fans until the finish on Sunday, June 2. Even though the actual program on and off the track only really gets underway from Thursday (30 May), the days leading up to the event are also a hive of activity around the world's most beautiful 25 km of asphalt. When the actual racing program starts from Corpus Christi onwards, it's all happening in quick succession: with countless attractions and colourful entertainment, while motorsport can be experienced live on the "Ring". For many full-throttle fans, these days are a must - and once you've experienced it, there's a risk of addiction. If you want to try it out, you can find all the ticket information and the detailed fan program including the schedule here. Even if the wheels don't start rolling until Thursday: The rush of fans traditionally begins on Monday morning, when the on-demand campsites at the Nordschleife open. By then, the numerous individual visitors and fan groups are already hard at work setting up their camps around the legendary Nordschleife - at the same time as the teams arrive in the paddock. However, there won't be anything to really see there until Tuesday afternoon, because that's when scrutineering begins, which lasts until Wednesday evening. Vehicle after vehicle will then roll into the test hall - and visitors will have the opportunity to take a look at the competition vehicles. On Wednesday - for once! - the traditional Adenau Racing Day, which unfortunately falls victim to roadworks in the center of the racing town on the Ring this year. Nevertheless, the trip to Adenau is worthwhile, as the REWE supermarket, which is popular with fans, will start its daily 24-hour promotions on this day. Incidentally, the merchandising collection of the Eifel classic will also be on sale here. Information on this and other promotions can also be found in the 24h fan guide. The race program starts on Thursday It's "full throttle" from Thursday - both on and off the track. The RCN performance test on the Nordschleife will take over wake-up duty in the morning from 8:30 a.m., and the first races with the touring car legends and the Cup and Touring Car Trophy on the Grand Prix circuit will start in the late morning. The highlights are, of course, the two 24-hour qualifying sessions, the second of which lasts until 11:30 p.m., creating that authentic endurance racing feeling at dusk. From Thursday, the 24h fan buses will also be operating a shuttle service around the circuit and the fan mile on the ring°boulevard will open its doors. Friday is fan day! Friday not only brings the third 24h qualifying (from 13:30) and the decisive battle for pole in the top qualifying (from 17:30). The touring car legends and the Cup and Touring Car Trophy will also contest two more races. While they race on the Grand Prix circuit, there will be a lap of honor around the Nordschleife with 24h partner Monster - fans can look forward to a variety of activities. And once the pole has been awarded, the party will of course continue. The pit lane will open at 19:45: at the big autograph session with all the teams, visitors can look forward to selfies and small talk with the drivers, autographs and the real 24-hour family feeling. After all, when else do you get the opportunity to take a selfie on the start-finish straight or in the pit lane and stroll around? At the same time, you'll be spoiled for choice, as the Falken Drift Show in the Müllenbachschleife will be offering squealing tires, smoky drifts and spectacular action. Lars Gutsche will present the action there, which will also be broadcast on the 24h live stream and where many other vehicles can be seen alongside the Falken Drift Team. For the first time: two Hyundai models with electric drive! Saturday won't be long until the start Before the 24h Nürburgring finally starts on Saturday at 16:00, there will be an extra dose of entertainment. One highlight: the 24h Classic race in the morning. The touring car legends will also provide racing action on the Grand Prix circuit with their third race of the weekend. Once they have crossed the finish line, the final countdown begins: there will then be a Toyota lap of honor and car parades with BMW, Hyundai and Volkswagen on the Nordschleife. Watch out for the VW defile: there are some very special models here, as the Wolfsburg-based company is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Golf this weekend. While the starting field forms on the start-finish straight from 14:45, there will be an FMX show by Monster in front of the cars. Of course, traditional highlights such as the presentation of the Glickenhaus Cup are also part of the scheduled program. Paddock: RAVENOL Ferris wheel, birthday parties and much more When the race finally gets underway, the entertainment continues - because from Thursday to Sunday, there will be plenty of fan highlights next to the track. From Thursday, the Fan Mile on the ring°boulevard will open its doors, where there will not only be a number of companies with exhibitions, autograph sessions and entertainment. Of course, there will also be delicious catering - and two genuine premieres. Volkswagen is celebrating the Golf anniversary with the world premiere of the Golf GTI Clubsport (Friday, 16:30). Toyota will be presenting the new GR Yaris for the first time in Germany at its large stand on Saturday. There will also be a birthday atmosphere in the paddock. Mercedes-AMG will be celebrating 130 years of motorsport with a star by continuing its birthday tour of the top international events. At the 24h, there will be a large exhibition and action area on the heliport, which will be a hotspot for fans. Finally, RAVENOL also invites you to take a ride on the Ferris wheel here - sponsored by the 24h title partner at a significantly reduced price, it offers an incomparable panoramic view over the Eifel. A Magic Sky tent roof with a diameter of 30 meters also ensures that the fan area on the heliport is weatherproof. There is also a Monster fan zone with an action area, lounge area and many attractions. The fan hospitality of "Bembel with Care" with bullriding action and the ADAC video wall can also be found here. New this year is a catering mile on the multifunctional area next to the heliport: The CEWE photo truck will be waiting here, club members will be able to enjoy free coffee in the ADAC Advantage World, and a DTM Infomobile and many food trucks will also be positioned here. Hyundai will also be making a big appearance in the paddock: The official vehicle partner of the 24h Nürburgring is planning a great deal of entertainment for visitors in its exhibition area in the paddock, including a DJ, video wall and much more. Always stay informed: All information online All important information for visitors as well as the fan schedule is also available online on the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring homepage. As many dates and activities are traditionally finalized in the days leading up to the event, it is worth checking here for the latest information: Visitor information Fan schedule Fan guide

Start list promises an exciting 24h

13.05.2024

The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is regarded by many fans and participants as the "race of the year". The motorsport festival, which is expected to attract over 200,000 spectators again this year, will once again live up to this claim: after the end of the entry deadline, 130 vehicles are on the provisional list of participants. At the top of the field, the stars of the GT3 scene will meet at the upcoming 52nd edition of the endurance classic from May 30 to June 2. Eight car manufacturers with 26 top-class super sports cars will be competing in the top classes (GT3 / SP9 and SP-X), in which the overall victory will be contested. It will also be exciting behind the top-class field, because the battle for victory in the numerous vehicle classes will also be exciting action without end. > Click here for the entry list for the 24h The "title defense" project is likely to be difficult for the crowd favorites from Frikadelli Racing. Because the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the team around Klaus "Frikadelli" Abbelen is not only facing fierce opposition in terms of numbers, the driver line-up is also excellent. Top-class customer racing teams from the major German car manufacturers Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG will be supported by works drivers and equipment in their bid to take the crown on the longest and most beautiful race track in the world. The Porsche teams are the provisional favorites, having won all the races in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the ADAC 24h Qualifiers in April. Most successful: Falken Motorsports - the works team of the Japanese tire manufacturer sent two Porsche 911 GT3Rs with top drivers into the race. The green and blue nine-eleven cars with the starting numbers #33 and #44 are likely to be a benchmark for the entire field - together with the car of their brand colleagues from Manthey Racing. The #911 in the familiar "Grello" design will start the race for them, also driven by four proven top drivers. The Porsche GT3 armada is completed by the Renauer, Dinamic GT and Lionspeed teams, with the latter racing in the Pro-Am classification. A total of six 911 GT3Rs are on the grid. Top teams at the front of the fieldIn terms of sheer quantity, the teams that rely on Mercedes-AMG GT3s are right at the front alongside the Porsche teams. Here too, several teams are complemented by drivers from the works squad. The proven and very successful teams from HRT and GetSpeed will be involved as support teams, while a Pro-Am GT3 from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport will also take part in the race. Audi and BMW will each be represented with three cars. The two R8 LMS GT3s from Scherer Sport PHX will spearhead the Ingolstadt outfit, while there will also be a Pro-Am entry from Juta Racing. BMW will rely on the M4 GT3 and the RMG and Rowe Racing teams. Four Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Evo cars from Walkenhorst, Prosport Racing and Four Motors are coming to the Ring in very British style. The two Lamborghini Huracan GT3s from Abt and Konrad Motorsport and the SCG 004C from Glickenhaus Racing will also be in the field to add spice, spectacular visuals and further intensify the competition. Cup classes and GT4 field with a strong line-upThe battle in the other classes, which offer attractive cars and fiercely contested classifications, will also provide plenty of excitement. More than 20 entrants will be competing in the PETN (Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring), for example, with the Cup3 classification standing out in particular with 14 cars: the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport may not be vying for championship points, but they will be competing for the most coveted individual victory of the season. The GT4 class (SP10) also has a strong field, with 14 entrants from Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Toyota. In the production car classes, the VT2 category with rear-wheel drive is particularly fiercely contested with ten starters - it is firmly in the hands of the BMW 330i models. VW celebrates Golf anniversary, Mercedes-AMG celebrates 130 years of motorsportSpread across the field and in different classes, there will once again be a number of factory entries from car manufacturers or companies from the supplier industry at the 24h. These include Subaru and Hyundai. Volkswagen is using the 24h Nürburgring to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf. A Golf GTI entered by Max Kruse Racing will celebrate its race debut at the 24h, bearing the starting number #50 to mark the anniversary. The celebrations will also include a trio of Golf GTIs in the 24h Classic support race and a world premiere: the new Golf GTI Clubsport will be presented for the first time on the ring°boulevard on Friday. Incidentally, this anniversary is not the only one being celebrated on the race weekend: Mercedes-AMG is also celebrating 130 years of motorsport under the banner of the star at the 24h. A Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a strong line-up from GetSpeed will therefore bear the starting number #130, and there will also be a large activity area in the paddock on the theme.

Motorsport galore on the 24-hour weekend

10.05.2024

The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring stands for thrilling motorsport action on the most beautiful race track in the world. But it is not only the actual 24-hour race that is exciting, the sporting supporting program also ensures an extremely entertaining time: current and historic racing cars, popular sport in the best sense and exciting drift action at the Falken Drift Show await visitors on the Corpus Christi weekend (30 May to 2 June). And as befits this racing festival, there is something to experience in all areas of the legendary event site. ADAC 24h Classic with a gigantic starting fieldFor many visitors, the ADAC 24h Classic race is a highlight of the weekend in its own right. In this fast-paced homage to the more than 50-year history of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, historic racing cars follow in the footsteps of the endurance classic. As was the case for the first time last year, the actual race is scheduled for Saturday morning: three hours of thrilling scenes with legendary cars - just the right accompaniment for breakfast and as a prelude to the race day with the start of the 24h Nürburgring at 4:00 pm as the highlight. The 24h Classic is not only very popular with spectators. The organizers of the historic racing spectacle announced well before the closing date for entries: Nothing is left. With 210 vehicles and several racing cars on the waiting list, the maximum permitted by the track license for this race has been reached. Spectators can therefore look forward to a great and exciting starting field with numerous automotive highlights from the two participating racing series. The Youngtimer Trophy, which provides the majority of the participants, stands for timeless touring car and GT classics that are on the starting grid here. From the NSU TT and the classic "dog bone" Ford Escort to the Porsche 911 RSR, everything is represented here. One newcomer is likely to capture the hearts of fans right from the start: the legendary Beckmann-Opel Manta competed in the 24h until last year and is finally moving into the historic vehicle camp this year. The Historic Championship 81 (HC '81), Germany's oldest historic racing series, will make an important contribution to the starting field. The 30 entries also include many Porsche 911 RSRs and STs, as well as Alfa Romeos, BMW M1s, Lancia Flavias and VW Golf 1s. In the footsteps of the DTMThe huge field of touring car legends is also a tribute to 24-hour history. Almost 50 (!) of the classic racing touring cars and GT sports cars from the seventies to nineties with their special focus on historic DTM vehicles are reminiscent of those years when this first league of German touring cars held their races as part of the 24h supporting program. Today, however, the participants no longer race around the 25 km long circuit, but stay on the Grand Prix course. But there is all the more action, as the series holds three half-hour races at the Nürburgring 24 Hours: From Thursday to Saturday, it's "Ring frei" once a day for the forefathers of today's DTM generation. Cup and Touring Car TrophyThe Cup and Touring Car Trophy, which is part of the 24h Nürburgring program for the second time this year, offers a special kind of motorsport mix. More than 35 cars from various cups and racing series, including the WTCC, will compete in the two races on Thursday and Friday on the Grand Prix circuit. It will be the second race weekend of the season after the successful season opener in Hockenheim. Jesco Kaczmarek (Porsche 997GT3 Cup) comes to the Eifel as the championship leader. In the battle for victory, he will primarily have to contend with the drivers of the six Porsche 911s from the 996 and 997 series mentioned above, especially last year's winner Mike Münch. However, the BMW faction with former champion Sascha Faath and Heiko Hammel, who is also known from the NLS, will also want to have a say in the overall victory. The field also includes a number of TCR cars as well as entrants with Mini and Renault Clio vehicles - a colorful field that promises plenty of racing and top entertainment. Four hours of pure Nordschleife racing to kick things offThe motorsport kick-off on Thursday morning is traditionally provided by the Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring. From 9:10 a.m., the large starting field of the popular mass sports series will take to the Nordschleife for the performance test. Although this is a fast-paced event, the diverse vehicles do not compete directly for positions, but mainly against the clock. Target time and best time laps alternate, the evaluation of which only leads to a list of results at the end. So far this season, the duo Julian Reeh / Sascha Steinhardt have best managed the balancing act of mastering the 20 km long track in the RCN version quickly, in a controlled manner and as accurately as possible: at the season opener as part of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in April, Reeh prevailed in the Porsche 997 GT3 against veteran Ralf Schall and drove home the first overall victory for the Porsche team. After winning the second race of the season at the end of April, the two drivers, who share the car, are now also the favorites for the 24h. Falken Drift ShowFriday evening at the 24h Nürburgring is a highlight of its own kind. After the fastest drivers of the weekend have decided the pole position and best grid positions among themselves in the top qualifying session from 5:30 p.m., it's time for the evening's motorsport. As befits a festival, there is more to experience than just a single stage: While the gates to the pit lane open at the start/finish and fans can collect autographs on the pit walk and take a stroll where normally only teams and racing cars are allowed to go, the Falken Drift Show takes place in the Müllenbachschleife. The in-house drift team of the Japanese tire manufacturer and important 24-hour partner Falken will then take turns with other "drifters" to conjure up the most spectacular drift angles on the track. This fun, which thousands of fans don't miss out on every year, is a highlight of the weekend in its own right and the exuberant finale to a packed day of motorsport.

The Nürburgring highlights in May

03.05.2024

Classics, bikes and thrilling endurance motorsport: numerous events will be held at the Nürburgring in the coming weeks. At the end of May, the racing world will be looking to the Eifel for the prestigious ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 - June 2). The week before, the Nürburgring Classic (May 24 - 26) invites you to a three-day celebration of historic motorsport. Two-wheeler fans will get their money's worth with the motorcycle double-header of the ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 9 - 11) and the Cologne circuit (May 12). The “May highlights” will kick off with the race premiere of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (May 3 - 4), which will also be the teams' last test of strength before the 24-hour race. Further information is available online at nuerburgring.de. The events at a glance: ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (Thursday, May 30 - Sunday, June 02)The supreme discipline of endurance racing, held on the most demanding race track in the world. Year after year, the 24-hour race fascinates motorsport fans from near and far. The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring promises to be another highlight in 2024. For one day and one night, around 130 racing cars will engage in thrilling duels on the 25.3 kilometers of the Ring. They are cheered on by thousands of spectators. Many of them pitch their tents right next to the track and celebrate the biggest racing party of the year. It all starts on Corpus Christi Thursday (30 May) with qualifying sessions, races from other series and a large supporting program next to the track. The 24-hour race starts on Saturday (June 01) at 4 pm. Tickets for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring are available online (orderable until May 17) or on site from as little as 34 euros. Nürburgring Classic (May 24 - 26)100 years of motorsport history will take to the track at the Nürburgring Classic from May 24 to 26. Fans can look forward to historic formula cars, pre-war racing cars and DTM touring cars from the 80s and 90s. Hundreds of these rare garage treasures are expected at the Nürburgring Classic, which takes place partly on the Nordschleife and mostly on the Grand Prix circuit. The drivers put the pedal to the metal in the 20 or so races, despite the often advanced age of the vehicles. A visit is also worthwhile because of the atmosphere next to the track. The ticket - from just 18 euros - always includes entry to the paddock. There, a Ferris wheel, live music and racing legends are waiting to be discovered. ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 09 - 11) & Cologne circuit (May 12)Two motorcycle events in one go: with the ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 9 to 11) and the Cologne circuit (May 12), the Grand Prix circuit will be dominated by sleek two-wheelers for one weekend. While modern machines conquer the Eifel circuit at the Race Weekend, racing motorcycles from past eras take to the track at the Cologne circuit. Large starting fields and challenging endurance races alternate with entertaining program items at the ADAC DMC Race Weekend. In the Scooter Cup, for example, iconic scooters do their laps on the Ring at two and four engine speeds. The sidecar teams at the Cologne circuit are also very popular. In addition to the acrobatic two-man motorcycles, spectators can look forward to many other historic racing machines on that Sunday. Day tickets (including paddock) cost 15 euros for the ADAC DMC Race Weekend and 10 euros for the Cologne circuit. Those wishing to attend both events are advised to purchase a discounted combined ticket. Events in May 2024: May 03 & 04: Nürburgring Endurance Series 2 May 09 - 11: ADAC DMC Race Weekend May 12: Cologne circuit May 24 - 26: Nürburgring Classic May 25: GLP regularity test May 30 - June 02: ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (and RCN) Further information:www.nuerburgring.de

The 24h countdown runs relentlessly

02.05.2024

Preparations for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from May 30th to June 2nd are in full swing. After the prologue at the 24h Qualifiers, the teams now have just under a month left to get their cars ready for the race of the year. There can be no talk of "great silence". Numerous top drivers are on the road in the coming weeks to chase points in the DTM, Intercontinental GT Challenge and other top series. At the end of May, they will all come together again at the Nürburgring to determine the best in the longest race of the year on the longest race track in the world. The benchmark seems to be the Porsche teams: after a dominant performance in the four Nordschleife races completed so far as part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and 24h Qualifiers, they have assumed the role of favorites. The exciting hunt for the nine-eleven is therefore on - and fans can experience it live on site: Tickets for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring are available from 34 euros (day tickets Thu / Fri / Sun) in advance here on the official homepage! The current balance of power on the Nordschleife is also reflected in the joint manufacturers' classification for the NLS and the 24h Nürburgring. This is where the GT3 manufacturers collect points. After two NLS races and two 24h Qualifiers races, Porsche is clearly ahead of Audi and Mercedes-AMG. The nine-eleven cars of the Falken and Manthey teams have shared the victories so far, while all other makes have had to line up behind them. "A positive weekend with two podium finishes," was how Manthey driver Ayhancan Güven summed up the qualifiers, only to add with a lot of understatement: "I think the preparation is going well for us. On Sunday we were even faster than on Saturday." In the Falken team, which alone accounted for three of the four victories, the mood is also excellent after the successful test phase: "We currently have a very good basis and have made a step forward compared to last year with the combination of tires, car and set-up," said Klaus Bachler, summing up the experience for the Japanese tire manufacturer's team. Keeping up with the Porsche's insane pace was still difficult for others at the start of the season because the decisive fractions of a second were missing. "We're not completely sorted yet," said Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel. "The new tires are playing into the hands of the competition at the moment. We have to analyze the data and draw the right conclusions." Others got off to a slightly better start, but were also still struggling: one of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo IIs has finished in the top three twice in the races so far. "Our car is well known and we have a similar speed to last year," explained veteran Frank Stippler (Scherer Sport PHX). "Not much has happened in terms of development. The competitors have made more progress in terms of development. We still have to find something somehow, because otherwise we're a tad too slow." By the 24h Nürburgring - that much is certain - not only Stippler's team is likely to have thoroughly checked and optimized the race car once again. 24h Qualifiers impressed with class diversityA large part of the show on the Nordschleife is provided not only by the mighty GT3 cars, but also by the many production and special race cars. At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in April, the more than 120 participants were divided into almost 20 different vehicle classes. Here, too, every meter and every second is at stake. And those who classify this "colorful league" as a "popular sport" are only partly right: quite a few of the vehicles are used or at least financed by car manufacturers or companies from the supplier industry. Subaru, for example, started in the SP4T class, and Hyundai has just announced the biggest entry in its history for the 24h Nürburgring endurance classic: The Koreans are sending three works cars into the battle for the crown in the TCR class, which is also attracting a lot of international attention. They will be joined by several tire manufacturers, who will not only be promoting their own cause with some very prominent entries, but will also gain important motorsport knowledge that will later be incorporated into the development of road tires. Interim manufacturers' standings after 4 races POS MANUFACTURERS POINTS 1 Porsche  86 2 Audi     65 3 Mercedes-AMG 60 4 Lamborghini 56 5 Glickenhaus 41 6 Aston Martin 31 7 BMW 30 8 Ferrari 15

Porsche victory in the evening race at the Ring

13.04.2024

Porsche is the match winner in the first prologue race for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. Three nine-eleven GT3s were in the lead at the finish line after the thrilling first of two four-hour races at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on Saturday evening. Tim Heinemann and Sven Müller in the Falken Porsche (#44) were ahead of their team-mates Julien Andlauer and Klaus Bachler in the #33 and Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining in the Manthey 'Grello' (#911) after 27 laps. However, the Falken Porsche with the #33 was given a time penalty of 32 seconds for overtaking under yellow flags after crossing the finish line, meaning that second place ultimately went to the Grello shortly after the podium ceremony. The second part of the intensive weekend of preparation for the season highlight at the end of May starts tomorrow: The four-hour race starts on Sunday (April 14) at 13:00. Admission to the open spectator areas around the Nordschleife will again be free (only parking fees apply), tickets for the paddock and the grandstands of the Grand Prix circuit will be available at the open box offices. After winning the season opener of the NLS (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie), today's success was the second triumph for Falken Motorsports in the young Nordschleife season. "I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the pace of the Audis at the start today. But things went better and better for us," said Falken driver Sven Müller, summing up the opening race of the weekend. "The balance of the 911 was perfect and the tires were great. The pit strategy was also right - that's a successful start to the season! Tomorrow we'll change the driver pairings a little and want to continue working on the set-up for the 24-hour race." Team boss Sven Schnabel was also in a positive mood: "As a team, we've had a good start to the season and I hope it stays that way. If it stays like this for the 24h race, that would obviously be perfect." Previously, a quintet had dominated the action at the front of the field for a long time: Initially, the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II cars from Scherer Sport PHX (#15 and #16) were able to maintain the lead, having also shared the front row of the grid. Starting driver Ricardo Feller lost the internal team fight against Christopher Haase, who headed for the pits in the lead. "We are already close to the top condition of our cars, which can now really be considered 'bulletproofed'," said the driver from Kulmbach, describing the team's current advantage over the competitors with fresher material, who used the two qualifying races in particular to further refine the optimum set-up for the 24-hour race at the end of May. Ultimately, however, it was not enough against the currently strong Porsche. Axel Randolph, Team Principal of Scherer PHX, had to admit: "I think you could see today that we can't keep up with the Porsches at the moment. We were in front and drove a good race, but the Porsches are better in terms of speed." Large grid offers exciting motorsportAlmost 130 teams lined up for the first four-hour race of the weekend, providing the best entertainment of the evening. The starting field, which was significantly larger than last year, also included many entrants from the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), which is taking part in its third and fourth races of the season this weekend. Even though the almost 30 cars in the top classes, which are capable of winning, dominated the action at the front, there was also excellent sport in the fight for victory in the other outstanding classes. As the fastest non-GT3, #148 Steve Jans, Tobias Müller and Noah Nagelsdiek (Black Falcon) won the Cup2 category and thus also took the day's victory in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (PETN). Things are looking particularly good for two touring car teams in the standings after the third NLS race. The Adrenalin Motorsport-BMW M240i Racing Cup #650 and the Hyundai i30N from Mertens Motorsport #491 both won their well-populated classes today, as they did in both NLS opening races, and are therefore leading the standings going into the overnight break. The action continues on Sunday!The second race of the weekend will take place on Sunday (April 14) at lunchtime. Before that, however, the morning qualifying starts at 8:15 am. At 10:40 a.m., the fastest teams will then start the top qualifying for the best grid positions. The four-hour race will be released at 13:00. On Saturday, the RCN performance test brought the first sporting decisions of the weekend. Prominent guest in the field: former national soccer player Max Kruse, who also used this opportunity to gain practical experience. His goal is to compete in the 24h next year. Throughout the weekend, there will be real junior and amateur sport with automobile slalom competitions in the Mercedes Arena and youth kart slaloms on the helicopter course in the paddock.

Falken Motorsports dominates 24h Qualifiers

12.04.2024

The second victory in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers also went to Falken-Porsche: Nico Menzel and Martin Ragginger took the second win for the blue and green #44 Porsche 911 GT3-R on Sunday. After 27 laps, they were 1.793 seconds ahead of the #98 Rowe-BMW M4 GT3. The third-placed brand colleagues from Manthey completed the podium on Sunday with the #911 "Grello" nine-eleven. The extensive opportunity to prepare for the 24-hour race at the end of May and the classification of both races for the Nürburgring Langstreckenserie (NLS) meant that the tenth edition of the event attracted more participants than ever and an even bigger crowd. After a top-class sporting weekend, fans will have to wait a little longer until the season highlight in seven weeks' time, when the winner's trophy will be awarded for the 52nd time in the longest race on the world's most beautiful and challenging race track. Information and results from the weekend as well as continuous reporting on the official homepage at www.24h-rennen.de will help to shorten the wait until the race of the year. "It can go on like this - if there was a subscription, I would book it immediately," said local hero Nico Menzel after the finish. He had celebrated his second victory on the Nordschleife in the Falken Porsche #44 in Sunday's race of the 24h Qualifiers, having already won the NLS opener. Team-mate Martin Ragginger, who had previously driven the nine-eleven to the finish in the lead, grinned: "I'm delighted that I was able to clinch victory for Falken with Nico. The weekend went very well for us. Everyone in the team really did a top job and it finally worked out for me." In the end, only the Rowe-BMW #98 was able to hold its own against the dominant Porsche: "As long as you're not at the top, things can always be better - but in principle, I'm personally satisfied with our performance," said former DTM champion Marco Wittmann, who shared the GT3 with Maxime Martin and Raffaele Marciello over the weekend. "After we had a small accident yesterday and were unable to finish the race, things went well today. But we're still missing that crucial bit on Porsche, and I hope that we can make up for that before the 24-hour race. I can hardly wait." Porsche in the role of provisional favoriteWith a track time of just over twelve hours, the weekend offered the top teams in particular a perfect opportunity to prepare for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from May 30 to June 2 and the last chance to drive the 25.378 km "24h version" of the Nürburgring under competitive conditions. Even though many of the top teams were therefore primarily focused on preparations for the 24h at the end of May, this weekend gave a first impression of the balance of power on the Nordschleife. Porsche in particular left a strong impression. After the one-two success at the 24h Qualifiers and two race wins at the NLS opener a week earlier, the Porsche 911 GT3-Rs are now definitely the favorites for the 24h Nürburgring as well. Afterwards, race director Walter Hornung assessed the results from his point of view: "We saw some great endurance racing on the Nordschleife this weekend. Around 130 participants, well-filled spectator areas around the Nordschleife - that was an impressive foretaste of the 24h Nürburgring on the Corpus Christi weekend. The two races on Saturday and Sunday were extremely exciting, but of course we will be intensively evaluating the huge amounts of data from the GT3 cars over the next few days and readjusting the Balance of Performance. After all, that is one of the most important functions of the qualifiers: to enable fair and balanced racing in the actual 24-hour race." NLS brings record number of participants to the 24h QualifiersAround 130 teams submitted their entries for the tenth edition of the 24h Qualifiers, offering thrilling battles across all classes. For them, it was not least about the class and overall placings in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), which included both races of the weekend for the first time this year. With now four races in two "double-header weekends", the NLS has already reached the halfway point of the season. Sven Markert, Ranko Mijatovic and Toby Goodman in the Adrenalin BMW #650 from the M240i Racing Cup class were able to celebrate the unofficial title of "half-time champions". On Sunday, they were the only NLS team to take victory in their well-staffed class for the fourth time in a row, while all their closest rivals in the championship battle had to give up ground. "Our weekend went perfectly again," said a delighted Ranko Mijatovic. "We're taking a more relaxed approach, driving defensively, and that's the key to success. At the moment, I don't even realize that we really are half-time champions - of course I'm mega-happy about that. But it's obviously going to be a huge challenge to keep this up throughout the season."