05.05.2023
Team Scherer PHX is fielding no fewer than four Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II cars in the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring, two of which even enjoy the accolade of an official Audi Sport Team. While Frederic Vervisch (BEL), Mattia Drudi (ITA), Ricardo Feller (SUI) and Dennis Lind (DEN) will be competing as defending champions in car number #1, a very special "boy group" will be turning the wheel in the sister car #40. Because the names of the drivers feel like a little trip back in time: Mike Rockenfeller, Timo Scheider (both Switzerland) and Martin Tomczyk (Kolbermoor) are celebrating a small "revival" here. Their Scherer PHX team emerged this year from the merger of the Phoenix team, which was accustomed to success, with the up-and-coming team from Scherer Sport. Rockenfeller, Scheider and Tomczyk are thus returning to the Nürburgring-Nordschleife under new auspices after a few years' break. "Mike came up with the idea and asked if we wanted to do something together," says Scheider, explaining how the project came about. The three racing icons are united by one characteristic: "We are all three DTM champions and have raced at Phoenix." One team, three drivers, four DTM titlesAll the drivers closely link their DTM history with Phoenix Racing. Rockenfeller secured the series title in 2013 together with the team from the Eifel. Martin Tomczyk surprised everyone in 2011 together with Phoenix Racing when he won the overall classification in a one-year car. The following year, the man from Rosenheim switched to BMW. Since this year, Tomczyk has now been team manager at Abt Sportsline. "For the 24h Qualifiers and the 24h Nürburgring, I have taken myself out of the operational business," he reports. "You can only do one thing 100 per cent. For me, this project has priority now." Timo Scheider also competed in the DTM together with Phoenix. However, he secured his two titles in 2008 and 2009 together with Abt Sportsline. In return, he won the 24h Nürburgring together with Phoenix in 2003 - at that time still with Opel. Mike Rockenfeller also knows the feeling of being the overall winner on the podium at the 24h Nürburgring. However, he drove a Porsche in 2006. Tomczyk is still waiting for a success in the legendary Green Hell. He finished the 2021 24h race in second place. Having fun with ambitionsWith such a sporting CV, it is obvious that the three top pilots have set themselves ambitious goals for the mission. However, that could be difficult in 2023. "2021 was the last time I was on the Nordschleife in a VLN race," Rockenfeller told us at his start in the 24h Qualifiers. "But it's been a few years since I consciously remember taking part in a 24h race." Tomczyk also used the Qualifiers to get used to the Audi. "The switch from the BMW to the Audi is already big," he reports. "I haven't driven the Audi R8 yet either. But the car feels good and it gives confidence." Scheider last took part in a race on the Nordschleife four years ago. The former DTM champions are supposed to be all about having fun, but they still can't quite get out of their skin. "We want to have fun and when we have fun we are probably fast," Scheider clarifies. "But we are still racing drivers and want to be successful. We could live well with a place in the top 10, top five would be great, a podium incredible." At the ADAC 24h Qualifiers, the trio were already well on their way: they finished the two-hour race on Saturday in fourth place and the 4h race on Sunday in ninth.
03.05.2023
Now it's official: Exactly 136 cars are on the entry list for the 51st edition of the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring. The endurance classic on the legendary Nordschleife is thus just as imposing as last year, when 135 racing cars threw themselves into the battle twice around the clock at the anniversary. As expected, the strongest vehicle class is that of the potential overall winners: more than 30 GT3 vehicles can be found in the SP9 Pro and Pro-AM classes. With Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, there are no less than seven makes here - and many of them will be competing with factory teams or factory-supported entries. But the rest of the field is also sure to please the fans: Well-staffed classes, such as the GT4 racing car category (16 vehicles from four manufacturers) promise the best motorsport entertainment, as does the huge range of vehicles. They range from the small Dacia Logan to the legendary Opel Manta to the latest generation of high-tech GTs. The provisional entry list is now online. > Click here to go directly to the list As last year's winner, an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II from Audi Sport Team Scherer PHX has car number #1 on the bonnet this time. The former Phoenix team has merged with Scherer as a strong partner since the triumph at the 50th anniversary, with Belgian Frederic Vervisch the only one of last year's winning drivers remaining in the cockpit. He tackles the title defence project with Mattia Drudi (ITA), Ricardo Feller (SUI) and Dennis Lind (DEN). Also represented in the Audi camp are the Car Collection and Land Motorsport teams. The trio of drivers from GetSpeed, who finished second and third in last year's 24h, have been retained in their entirety: Adam Christodoulou (GBR) will team up with Maximilian Götz from Uffenheim and Fabian Schiller from Troisdorf in the cockpit of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #2. The #3 sister car is driven by Maro Engel (MON), Jules Gounon (AND) and Daniel Juncadella (ESP). The latter also recently showed top form at the 24h Qualifiers at the end of April, when he took a win and a second place in the two races together with Christodoulou. With a total of nine GT3 racers, the Mercedes-AMG faction is the strongest participating make in the top class this year, on which GetSpeed, HRT and Schnitzelalm also rely. The spearheads in the BMW camp are the factory's own Junior Team, whose BMW M4 GT3 carries the #72, Walkenhorst Racing (with the starting numbers #100 / #101 / #102) as well as Rowe Racing with the traditional starting numbers #98 and #99. Here, one of last year's winners, Dries Vanthoor (in the #98), also turns the wheel, thus making a brand change from the Audi camp. Last year's team-mate Kelvin van der Linde did the same, driving a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 for Abt Sportsline (#27) in the field. The second Lambo in the field (#7) is entered by Konrad Motorsport, a team that has gathered a wealth of successful experience with the Italian brand. New sports car developments give chaseWith the Huracan GT3, a completely new development enters the motorsport stage this year, but it is not the only novelty at the 24h. Ferrari will bring three cars of the newly developed Ferrari 296 GT3. Frikadelli Racing (#30), a team that is at home on the Nordschleife, is the spearhead. With victory in the second 24h Qualifiers race in April, Klaus Abbelen's team not only took the 296's first race win worldwide. It also knocked audibly on the door of the supposed top dogs to announce its ambitions. But the newly developed GT3 also includes the Porsche 911 GT3 R, which is now based on the 992 model series. The car from Zuffenhausen, always on the shortlist as a candidate for top positions at the 24h anyway, proved to be well sorted out in preparation. At the 24h Qualifiers, the 911 of Manthey Racing (#911) managed to jump into second place in the first of the two races, while their brand colleagues from Falken Motorsports (#44) followed suit with a podium finish in the second heat. All in all, the new "911" is represented six times in the field - and the teams are all professionally set up teams with a lot of experience: good prerequisites for top placings. The Aston Martin models are an unknown quantity in the GT3 field: the experienced Dörr team (#69) and the Pro-AM team Prosport-Racing (#28) rely on the Vantage AMR GT3. Here, the big hit has not yet been achieved, but like all the other teams, these teams will be perfectly prepared for the 24h. Class and model diversity provides plenty of spiceTraditionally, the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring have a lot more to offer in addition to the battle for overall victory. The champagne and seltzer competitions in the numerous classes are also thrilling every year. The group of GT4 cars, for example, which are grouped in the SP10 class, deserves special attention. Here, 16 participants promise an interesting event, especially since four different makes are represented with Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Toyota, all of which are entered by well-known and competent teams. The Cup Porsche classes from the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring are also very popular with many fans because they are extremely exciting. Although they do not race for championship points at the 24h, they nevertheless offer the drivers a very attractive platform to fight in the front third of the classification. Ten entries in the Cup2 class for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) and eleven starters in the Cup3 class for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport (982) therefore enrich the field. In total, vehicles from 19 classes are on the grid. Once again, the range extends from near-series racing touring cars to thoroughbred racing GTs.
26.04.2023
Glowing brake discs, steaming running shoes and racing legends: In May, one highlight follows the next at the Nürburgring. With the famous ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (18 - 21 May) as a motorsport highlight, the challenging obstacle course Hootfoot Run (6 May) and the Nürburgring Classic (26 - 28 May) as a classic car event, the merry month is representative of the variety of events at the Ring. Sports enthusiasts who want to be active themselves on the legendary race track will also find the perfect opportunity at the first two cycling and running events of the year. > to the complete event calendar A brief portrait of the highlights: ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring | Thursday, 18 May - Sunday, 21 MayThe supreme discipline of endurance racing, on the most demanding race track in the world, four days in a row: far more than 100 racing cars will fight thrilling duels on the 25.3 kilometres of the Nürburgring at the 24h race. Large and small racing teams from all over the world are at the start again. In addition to high-powered GT3 racing machines, the 24-hour race also offers the familiar variety - including numerous near-series vehicles. In concrete terms, this means that Porsche 911s share the track not only with other super sports cars from Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Ferrari and Co. but also with an Opel Manta, Hyundai i30N or VW Golf GTI. They are cheered on by tens of thousands of spectators. Many of them have pitched their tents directly at the track to celebrate the biggest endurance party of the year. Tickets for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring are available from 32 Euros. Hotfoot Run | Saturday, 6 MayThe well-known obstacle course at the Nürburgring will start this year for the first time under the new name "Hotfoot Run". Numerous obstacles on and around the Grand Prix track await the participants. Those who want to reach the finish line must also be able to climb and crawl. There are three routes to choose from: 6, 12 or 24 kilometres. Along the way, obstacles with names like "Spiderman", "Dip Dip Hurra" or "Hellstadl" get in their way. But between the mud, the pain and the sporting ambition, the Hotfoot Run is all about having fun together. The spectators on site can also experience this. Admission is free. The BMW M Power Grandstand and T12a will be open at the Grand Prix Track. Nürburgring Classic | Friday, 26 May - Sunday, 28 May Historic Formula 1 cars, pre-war racing cars, DTM touring cars from the 1980s and 1990s: At the Nürburgring Classic, fans can look forward to a time travel through a complete century of motorsport. More than 800 participants are expected at the event again this year. And despite the age of some of the vehicles, more than 20 races will be held at full throttle. Spectators will be able to get up close: The ticket - starting at 12 euros - always includes admission to the paddock. Historic motor sport at your fingertips with a colourful supporting programme: this is what awaits you at the Nürburgring Classic on the last weekend in May at the Ring. Cycling and Running Meeting | Monday, 8 May & Wednesday, 24 MayIf you simply want to jog around the Grand Prix Track or cycle around the Nordschleife, the cycling and running club is the right place for you. There are two dates in May: Monday, 8 May, and Wednesday, 24 May, both from 19:00 to 21:30. Runners and cyclists pay just € 5 for the time slot on the Grand Prix Track. Two and a half hours of driving time on the combined Grand Prix Track and Nordschleife cost €18. Participants can park for free in car park D5.
23.04.2023
With victories of the Frikadelli-Ferrari #30 (Race 2 / Sunday) and the GetSpeed-Mercedes-AMG #2 (Race 1 / Saturday), the last qualifying before the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (18th to 21st May) ended. The omens for an exciting climax to the endurance season on the legendary Nordschleife are good after the thrilling weekend, as the sporting chances at this 24h Prologue were even: All makes represented in the top category put exclamation marks on the two races of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers this weekend. In the four-hour race on Sunday, four makes were in the top four at the end. The winning Ferrari 296 GT3 with Earl Bamber, Nick Catsburg, David Pittard and Felipe Fernandez Laser was separated at the finish by 1.935 seconds from Adam Christodoulou / Daniel Juncadella in the second-placed GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG #2, while Tim Heinemann and Martin Ragginger in the Falken Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R #44 finished third. There was jubilation in the victorious Frikadelli team after the second race of the Qualifiers weekend, because the top spot on the podium was a successful conclusion to the 24h preparations: "We had a great weekend without any problems, and we also learned a lot for the 24h race. And of course the victory is the crowning glory. That's how it can stay," Nicky Catsburg was pleased, and Earl Bamber added: "Super! That was a really good race for us. Nicky did a good qualifying and then put in a very good first stint. Perfect preparation for the big 24h race in May." The runners-up were also delighted with their podium finish, having lost a car in an accident at the NLS round the weekend before the Qualifiers. Driver Adam Christodoulou summed up, "It was a great weekend for us. Especially after the last race, which was a complete disaster for us. At first it looked like we wouldn't be able to race at all this weekend. It's a miracle that the team and Mercedes-AMG were able to finish a car. Yesterday was a dream: pole position and victory. Today the start was not so good, but now we are second. We had a good strategy." Pole sitters could not defend top positionIn the top qualifying session, the two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars of Falken Motorsport (#33) and Lionspeed by Car Collection Motorsport (#24) had taken the first row of the grid, but were unable to defend their position. Right from the start, the #30 Frikadelli Ferrari pulled ahead and set the pace at the front until the first pit stop. The role of the leader of the 911s was taken over by the runners-up of Saturday's race. The Manthey-Porsche 911 GT3 R #911 was permanently in the leading group and ended up in fifth place. Kevin Estre analysed the weekend: "We made a few steps forward, but we're still missing some performance. We want to fight for the win and that was not possible here. We're not miles away from the top, but there's still some work to do because we're not fast enough on the straights." Elsewhere, the action at the front was also even with alternating leads for Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Ferrari. Saturday race: GetSpeed-Mercedes ahead of Manthey-PorscheAlready on Saturday evening, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers had seen the first race run over two hours. Despite the compact distance, the evening race demanded a lot from the teams and their drivers, because as darkness fell, changeable weather conditions made for difficult track conditions. The GetSpeed duo Adam Christodoulou / Daniel Juncadella coped best, taking the narrow victory in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 ahead of the two Porsches #911 from Manthey and Lionspeed by Car Collection Motorsport. In fourth place: the team of ex-DTM champions Martin Tomczyk, Timo Scheider and Mike Rockenfenfeller, who in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II formed a spearhead for the Ingolstadt team this weekend. This role was then taken over by Kim-Luis Schramm and Alexander Sims in the Audi R8 #16 of Scherer Sport PHX in the race on Sunday: the Audi teams thus also showed themselves to be well sorted and competitive in the final 24h test. 24h Nürburgring: Hot preparation phase for fans and teamsThe 24h Qualifiers also marked the end of the phase of preparatory races in which the teams and pilots were able to test their strengths and weaknesses in competition. Now the final phase of preparations begins, in which the cars are meticulously maintained before they return to the Nürburgring on the Ascension weekend (18-21 May). Many fans who are planning their trip to the giant festival of motorsport probably feel the same way. Traditionally, they already populate the camping areas around the world's most beautiful race track in the days before the sporting programme begins. The weekend will kick off with the Adenauer Racing Day from 4 p.m. on Wednesday (17 May), when teams and fans will meet in the afternoon for a big come-together in the racing city at the Ring. From Thursday to Sunday, the wheels will finally turn - and those who want to be there live can secure their ticket in advance. All information is available at www.24h-rennen.de/ticketbestellung on the official homepage of the event. It also offers all other important news and information for visitors.
22.04.2023
The preparations for the race of the year on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife are now getting serious. Before the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (18 - 21 May 2023), the teams traditionally take every opportunity to prepare their cars and drivers perfectly for the prestigious event. Next weekend is the last opportunity to do so at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers - and it offers plenty of driving time on the longest, most beautiful and most demanding race track in the world: with one race each on Saturday and Sunday as well as extensive qualifying sessions, the set-up of the cars can be optimised one last time. The BMW teams are likely to take the least homework with them to the Eifel, as the BMW M4 GT3s have always finished in front in the three NLS (Nürburgring Endurance Series) rounds held so far. On the weekend before the Qualifiers, the factory's own Junior team and Rowe Racing's M4 even scored a double victory. The other teams and manufacturers in the fight for the 24h overall victory will therefore be working all the harder at the Qualifiers to be fit to the point on Ascension weekend. Anyone who wants to witness the battle of the brawny GT3s from Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche is very welcome at the Ring. On Saturday and Sunday, tickets for the grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit including access to the paddock are available for 23 Euros (weekend ticket: 38 Euros), admission to the Nordschleife is even free. Information and advance ticket sales can be found on the official homepage at www.24h-Rennen.de. Even those who cannot experience the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers live on site will still be able to keep up to date on the weekend. On the 24h Qualifiers live page at www.24h-rennen.de/live there is a compact info centre with live ticker and timing, audio commentary and a selection from all the live streams of the event. A total of eleven track cameras, one wireless camera in the pit camera and seven live onboard cameras will capture the action in the live stream on Saturday from 18:45 to approx. 22:20 and on Sunday from 10:30 to approx. 17:50. After the third NLS race, there were beaming faces among the three BWM juniors: Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen had decided the race in their favour and were almost 17 seconds ahead of their brand colleagues Marco Wittmann and Maxime Martin in the cockpit of the Rowe team at the finish. "Everyone is of course very happy with the one-two win for BWM," Max Hesse summed up afterwards. "BMW has a super car, we are totally happy with it. It's also nice to see that three different teams were right at the front in the three NLS rounds." In fact, the NLS wins went to Rowe (NLS1), Walkenhorst (NLS2) and now the Juniors - the three teams thus drove themselves into the role of favourites for the 24h. In the third NLS run, the front runners also managed their position in a commanding manner. "After the great groundwork of my colleagues in the first two stints, it was all about maintaining the lead in my double stint," described Hesse, who took over the part of the tail driver. "The first section was a bit tricky because I lost a lot of time in code 60 zones several times. But when it came down to it, I was able to regain the lead right away. In the last two laps it drizzled a bit, which made it even more exciting." Marco Wittmann in second-placed BWM was also pleased with the double podium: "It's always nice to be on the podium, especially because we started the race from P7," described the two-time DTM champion. "We had a good start and good pace in the race." His teammate Sheldon van der Linde had put the team's second M4 GT3 on pole in qualifying in the morning, also proving the strong form of the white-blue marque. "After four years, finally my first pole on the Nordschleife - I'm very happy," said the reigning DTM champion. "I'm very happy with where we are before the 24h. The main goal is of course to be optimally prepared for it, which I think we are. The BMWs look very strong, which is promising for us as a brand."
18.04.2023
At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on 22nd and 23rd April, a compact grid of 68 cars will compete in the last test opportunity for the race of the year: the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (18th to 21st May). Although the number of entries is somewhat lower than in previous years due to overlapping dates with other race series, the weekend will be convincing in terms of quality: as many as two dozen starters in the SP9 and SP-X classes, which are capable of winning overall, want to compete in the two races, which offer the teams a perfect opportunity to put their cars through their paces once again under racing conditions and to work out the final details on the set-up. The visitors can thus also experience the main protagonists of the 24h live once again in just over a month's time - in a racing situation that often offers a clear track. It would be hard to find out the true balance of power on the legendary race track better than at the 24h Qualifiers. > more info & tickets The 24h Qualifiers offer one race each on Saturday and Sunday, plus plenty of track time during practice and qualifying - for many teams, the weekend is a welcome opportunity to complete their preparations for the 24h Nürburgring. Because the other way round also applies: what remains undone at the 24h Qualifiers becomes a risk factor at the season's highlight. That's why all seven GT3 makes that want to have their say in the battle for the Nordschleife crown this season are represented. Teams with Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche will be there, for many of the top teams the weekend is virtually a must-attend event, with Porsche being the most strongly represented with six cars. A special treat for fans will also be brought to the Ring by the HRT and Schnitzelalm teams, who will each be fielding the new Mercedes-AMG GT2. This means that practically the entire top group of the 24h Nürburgring will be coming together to cross blades. The qualifiers, which have been held since 2014, have repeatedly been a yardstick for the actual 24h - but no team has yet managed the double of qualifier and 24h victory. Last year, the race wins in the two races of the prologue weekend went to the BMW Junior Team and the Mercedes-AMG team from GetSpeed. Top qualifying feeling in the raceThe "newcomers" also want to continue the set-up work at the 24h Qualifiers - established teams that rely on the brand new GT3s, which are only getting their baptism of fire on the Nordschleife this season. This applies to the Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Frikadelli Racing. As expected, the new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 is also represented by Konrad Motorsport and Abt Sportsline. And last but not least, the top dogs from Falken Motorsport and Manthey Racing are relying on the Porsche 911 GT3 based on the 992. In the numerous other classes in the 24h grid, there are also quite a few teams taking advantage of the 24h Qualifiers. In the SP10 class (GT4 cars), for example, four different makes are fighting for victory, the Cup3 class (Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport) is also well represented. All the starters have one thing in common: they are looking forward to the free drive over the most beautiful, longest and most demanding race track in the world, on which some laps, with a bit of luck, can almost be driven like a top qualifying session. Fans welcome - free admission at the Nordschleife From as little as 23 Euros (day tickets Saturday / Sunday), fans can experience the action at the Qualifiers from the open grandstands of the Grand-Prix track. The weekend ticket is available for 38 Euros, and of course the paddock entrance is included in each case. Admission is even free at the spectator points around the Nordschleife, and even those who spend the whole weekend at the Ring will find the doors wide open. The visitor zone at the Brünnchen will be open for campers. The usual fees apply there. And it will not be boring for the visitors on the 24h Qualifiers weekend, because the programme offers plenty of action on the Nordschleife. Already on Saturday morning, the circuit will be crowded by the participants of the RCN regularity test "Schloss Augustusburg Brühl" starting at 8:00 am. At the same time, the 24h Qualifiers teams will start their first free practice session on the overall circuit at 10:00 a.m., which will be followed by the first one-hour qualifying session on the overall circuit at 12:30 p.m. This will determine the starting positions for the two-hour evening race on Saturday, which will start at 19:30 and continue into the twilight. As an appetiser before that, the participants of the RCN performance test "Preis der Schloßstadt Brühl" will be on the track from 14:30. On Sunday, the 25 km long circuit belongs entirely to the 24h teams: After qualifying (from 8:15 a.m.) and the top qualifying of the SP9, SP-X and SP-Pro classes (from 10:30 a.m.), it's "Clear the Ring" at 1 p.m. for the four-hour main race of the weekend.
11.04.2023
BMW in provisional favourite role for the 24h after two NLS wins Last chance to prepare at the 24h Qualifiers (22/23 April) Tickets for the Qualifiers available from 23 euros here Every year, it's like waiting for Christmas presents when teams,teams, drivers, organisers and fans look forward to the ADAC TotalEnergies 24hNürburgring. At the big season highlight from 18 to 21 May, it is always proven anew who has brought together the best combination of racing equipment, drivers and team on the legendary Nordschleife. And fortunately, the waiting time - much like in Advent - is shortened in the most pleasant way: Two of three rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series before the 24h have already been completed, in which the GT3s from BMW and Porsche in particular made a strong impression. One more NLS round and the final prologue as part of the ADAC Qualifiers 24h Nürburgring 2023 on 22-23 April remain for the protagonists to prepare perfectly. Around 30 starters recently competed in the top class, where the GT3s of the provisional favourites battle for supremacy with their rivals from Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mercedes-AMG. Every kilometre on the race track is coveted in order to put together a successful package.It's just as well that two races can be used for this purpose at the Qualifiers: A short two-hour heat on Saturday evening is followed by a race over the four-hour distance on Sunday. Together with the time in the qualifying sessions, this is a perfect last test before the season's highlight in the "Green Hell". If you want to experience the 24h Qualifiers live on site, you can get your tickets here (day tickets Saturday / Sunday 23 Euros each, weekend ticket 38 Euros). At www.24h-rennen.de you will also find all the other important facts and news. The race win in the second NLS round of the year also went to a BMW. After Rowe Racing (NLS 1), this time it was Jakub Giermaziak (POL) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) who brought the M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport home ahead of Matteo Cairoli (ITA) and Julien Andlauer (FRA) in the second-placed Porsche 911 GT3 R from Rutronik Racing. Third place was also firmly in BMW hands as factory Juniors Daniel Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (Wernau) and Neil Verhagen (USA) claimed the remaining podium spot after the #3 Falken Porsche collected a drive-through penalty following an incident in lapped traffic. With two wins now, the BMW teams could therefore be the favourites for the time being, but race winner Giermaziak urges caution. "Our BMW M4 GT3 was clearly one of the fastest cars in the field today and we made no mistakes. But before the 24h race, it's also always the case that some teams don't want to reveal their performance. We, on the other hand, didn't hide, and already had that pace in the first NLS run - now we were able to translate it into the victory we were hoping for." After taking pole position at NLS1, Walkenhorst rewarded itself this time with victory against strong competition - the team's first ever NLS triumph with the BMW M4 GT3. Team-mate Jesse Krohn was also delighted after his successful first outing in the M4: "You couldn't wish for a better start to the preparation for the 24-hour race." Every preparation chance must be usedPorsche also proved to be very competitive at the second NLS round, where Rutronik and Falken fought it out on equal terms with their 911 GT3 R in the leading group. The runners-up from Remchingen in Baden-Württemberg also underlined their strong form with the pole position. "We worked consistently and fine-tuned the set-up," described Cairoli. "Especially in qualifying in the morning, I felt very comfortable - the 911 GT3 R was almost perfect and I was able to finish on the podium." His team-mate Andlauer was also very satisfied after the race. "We did a great job over the two days and everyone worked hard to get the car perfect. We're still missing a little something to be completely at the music, but in the difficult conditions we were able to stay out of any trouble and finish on the podium with a good strategy." So there is little doubt that Porsche will also be fully competitive at the 24h at the latest: The strong performance at the second NLS round and three remaining preparation races (NLS3 as well as the two rounds at the 24h Qualifiers) still give the teams the opportunity to get their beefy race cars into shape down to the last detail. The chasers have also long been on a par with usIt is also clear that these opportunities should not be missed! Because not only BWM and Porsche definitely have competitive equipment this year: Audi and Mercedes-AMG have also long since shown what their GT3s of the 2023 season are capable of. In NLS2 qualifying, the two GetSpeed-Mercedes AMG GT3s captured places on the second and third rows of the grid, while Audi brought two R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs home in top-10 positions - both brands also made it onto the podium at the NLS season opener. And with the changeable weather typical of the Nordschleife, a race day can end without a countable result, even with the most meticulous preparation. Ernst Moser, team principal of the best-placed Audi team Scherer PHX, was nevertheless able to take something positive from the event. "There are days like this in motorsport. We put in a lot of effort, which unfortunately wasn't reflected in the result in the end. We still learned a lot, especially about tyre handling in mixed conditions. The drivers also gained a lot of track time, which is worth its weight in gold with regard to the 24h race." His driver, Frédéric Vervisch (BEL), sees it similarly. The previous year's 24h winner shared the best-placed Audi with Mattia Drudi (ITA) and Dennis Lind (DEN) and was particularly pleased with "a trouble-free race that was a lot of fun. It was the first time I've been back to the Nordschleife since my victory in 2022 - great to be back." Endurance feeling at the 24h Qualifiers Even if the individual GT3 top models of the 2023 vintage are largely competitive, every testing opportunity is highly welcome for the individual teams. After all, in the end there will probably be between 20 and 30 cars capable of winning at the Nordschleife classic. Even the smallest advantage can be decisive. That's why practically all the top teams are likely to use the two remaining preparation weekends. After the third NLS round in mid-April, the main focus will be on the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on the fourth weekend in April. The compact two-day programme offers a lot of driving time on the Nordschleife, including six hours of racing alone. On Saturday, after two and a half hours of intensive practice on the Grand Prix circuit and the entire circuit, a two-hour race will start in the evening. When the race is waved off at 9.30 p.m., the headlights will already be flashing - the aim is to deliberately prepare the evening and night procedures as well. On Sunday, there will be another qualifying session as well as the individual time trials of the top teams for pole position. From 1 p.m. on, it's another four hours of seconds, positions and, of course, data. Because when race director Walter Hornung waves the black and white chequered flag at 5 p.m., the wheels won't start rolling again until the season's highlight a month later. So if you don't have your set-up together by then, you will be behind from the start at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring.
30.03.2023
Great events are known to cast their shadows ahead - and this is also the case at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburging from 18 to 21 May. Before the big highlight of the Nordschleife season, many teams and drivers will be preparing intensively once again on 22 and 23 April 2023. At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, they will have nine and a half hours to test their equipment for the last time at the venue of the endurance showdown - because that is how long the qualifying sessions and races are scheduled for this weekend. Teams and spectators can experience all facets of the 24h race weekend "in miniature", after all, in addition to the qualifying practice sessions and a top qualifying session, the programme includes two races, the first of which runs into the evening hours. Six race hours offer enough time to optimise performance and assess the balance of power. > more info & tickets After that, the engines will be silent for almost a month before the 24h, and there will be no further opportunity for preparation. Accordingly, all the top teams and manufacturers from the top group are expected to be present at the 24h Qualifiers. So it's a great opportunity for real fans to get an idea of how things are going on site - especially since, despite all the professionalism in the preparation, many of the players will have even more time than at the season's highlight to have a petrol talk or fulfil an autograph request. Tickets for the 24h Qualifiers cost 23 euros (day tickets Saturday / Sunday in advance) or 38 euros (weekend ticket). More than one reason to startThere are three rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) before the 24h Qualifiers - even on the weekend before the 24-Prologue the wheels are turning at the Ring. And at least until after the second NLS round (8 April), one or the other team will still be playing poker before finally submitting their entry: The closing date for entries for the Qualifiers is the Wednesday after Easter (12 April). Accordingly, it is not yet possible to predict exactly who will be on the grid. However, the teams have already announced around two dozen GT3 cars, and there will certainly be one or two more. After all, the Qualifiers weekend is not only attractive as a testing opportunity. Here, teams can also secure a disproportionately large number of the highly coveted starting places for the top qualifying of the 24h. This time trial for the order in the first rows of the grid has become one of the factors that significantly influence success, not only at the 24h. It is also part of the programme of this prologue as the final time chase on Sunday morning before the second qualifying race. Here, the teams from the classes SP9 (GT3), SP-X and SP-Pro will have a final opportunity to intensively rehearse the procedures for this part of the programme. But the weekend of the 24h Qualifiers is also important for starters from other classes, so that there will be a number of starters in the other touring car and GT classes as well. For them, among other things, it is often a matter of acquiring the necessary practice to obtain the DMSB permit as a separate "Nordschleife licence". Because without this special licence level, no pilot is allowed to start at the 24h. Varied race programme on the NordschleifeThe fans at the race track will also experience other vehicles on the track at the 24h Qualifiers: On Saturday morning, a three-and-a-half-hour regularity test is on the agenda from 8:00 a.m. - mass sport of the most beautiful kind, which already encourages a visit to the Nordschleife. On Saturday afternoon, following the qualifying for the first race, there will be a performance test of the RCN, which is also scheduled for three and a half hours. For the 24h teams, the weekend offers two runs: the first one on Saturday evening (19:30 - 21:30) runs for two hours, run two on Sunday afternoon (13:00 - 17:00) offers four hours of racing action. Indicator for the distribution of power in the current seasonIn recent years, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers have always been an important indicator of the balance of power on the Nordschleife. Although none of the winning teams in the eight editions so far has managed to win the 24h Nürburgring in the same year. But the composition of the podium has always been an important indicator of what will happen in the race: Brands that finished on the podium at the Qualifiers were usually also among the tight circle of podium aspirants at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring. But you can't really rely on that either. Last year, for example, it was the BMW teams in particular that shone in the qualifiers. In 2022, the poles in both qualifying races belonged to them, a double victory in Heat 1 was followed by a second place in Heat 2. Quite a different story then at the 24h, when the then brand-new M4 GT3 was dogged by bad luck. In general, the events of 2022 are a clear indication that all forecasts, especially on the Nordschleife, should always be treated with caution: The "Green Hell" has its own laws. And events like the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers can help to prepare optimally for the endurance classic. But the 24h of the Nürburgring remains unpredictable, exciting and unique.
29.03.2023
Thrilling motor sports, breathtaking drifts, thousands of bikers in the Grand Prix paddock and numerous opening hours for tourist drivers - the Nürburgring season kicks off in April with quite a few highlights. On three weekends at once, drivers from a wide variety of nations will face the world's most demanding race track when the vehicles of the Nürburgring Endurance Series and the 24h Qualifying Race chase each other through the Green Hell. Meanwhile, the Nürburgring Drift Cup in the Müllenbachschleife and the motorcyclists at "Anlassen" celebrate the start of the season. Tourist drivers can look forward to over 20 dates and two real highlight weekends in April. The entire event calendar and all information is available at nuerburgring.de. Races 2 & 3 of the Nürburgring Endurance Series in the Green Hell Dress rehearsal for 24h race: ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers Over 20 dates for tourist drivers and Green Hell Driving Days Season opener for Nürburgring Drift Cup and motorcyclists A portrait of the highlights: Nürburgring Endurance Series | Saturday, April 1 & April 15ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers | Saturday, 22th & Sunday, 23th April Gentlemen - start your engines! Endurance motorsport is going full throttle in April: three race weekends are scheduled on the historic Nordschleife. Twice - on April 1 and 15 - the lights go green in the Nürburgring Endurance Series. And with the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on April 22 and 23, the dress rehearsal for the big 24h race in May immediately follows. The spectators can look forward to thrilling motorsport at close quarters during the endurance formats. On the track, hundreds of drivers will engage in thrilling battles with a whole range of vehicles - from arrow-quick GT3 bolides to production-based racers. But the experience also includes small talk with the drivers in the paddock or a visit to the starting grid, autographs and souvenir photos included. At the Nürburgring Endurance Series, visitors to the Nürburgring VIP Lounge can look forward to a special adventure: between qualifying and the race, they will be taken around the circuit by bus. Nürburgring Drift Cup | Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 The drifters are loose again in the Müllenbachschleife. Europe's best drifters face off in hot door-to-door duels. The fluid track layout allows the drivers to perform high-speed drifts and provides the spectators with fast-paced action. In spectacular battles, two drivers compete against each other at the same time - whoever convinces the judges more is in the next round. Day tickets are available for 15 euros - young people up to 17 years of age and people with disabilities pay half price. There are also special benefits for visitors to the Nürburgring Endurance Series taking place on the same weekend. With the NLS ticket they get up to 50% discount at the Drift Cup on Saturday and Sunday. Motorcycle season opening "Anlassen" | Sunday, April 2 The Nürburgring in biker hands: On Sunday, April 2, the motorcycle service "Anlassen" will take place. The traditional event promises to once again become a meeting point for thousands of motorcyclists from all over Germany and neighboring countries. Various exhibitors and demonstrations await in the Grand Prix paddock, as well as the opportunity to take part in guided tourist rides on the Grand Prix circuit. The highlight of the event will be the ecumenical church service followed by a parade around the Nordschleife. Admission to the event and participation in the parade are free. Tourist drives: experience the Nürburgring for yourself A lap around the legendary Nürburgring: this is possible during the tourist drives. In April, there are over 20 dates for this popular leisure activity. Two weekends stand out as real holidays for tourist drivers, because they offer several whole days of driving fun at once. For example, the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit will be open daily from dawn to dusk throughout the Easter weekend (April 7-10). The first Green Hell Driving Days of the year will also offer ample opportunity to experience the Green Hell at the end of April. From April 29 to May 1, the legendary Nordschleife will open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day. Events in April 2023: 01.04. Nürburgring Endurance Series 201 - 02.04. Nürburgring Drift Cup02.04. Motorcycle service "Anlassen15.04. Nürburgring Endurance Series 322 - 23.04. ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers & RCN / GLP29.04. - 01.05. Green Hell Driving Days
