13.09.2026
After the razor-thin photo finish the day before, Falken Motorsports struck back at the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup (NLS9) on Sunday. In sometimes difficult weather conditions, Tim Heinemann and Morris Schuring celebrated overall victory in the Porsche 911 GT3 R after starting from pole position. Directly behind them, Nico Menzel and Flynt Schuring secured a dominant one-two finish for Sven Schnabel’s team in the sister car. An all-Porsche podium was completed by Patrick Assenheimer, Tobias Müller and Dylan Pereira in the Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO of 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON (#48), who secured victory in the SP9 Pro-Am category despite a turbulent race. Qualifying decided by the smallest of margins and drama at the startThe drivers already left nothing to chance in qualifying. Pole-sitter Heinemann described his lap after qualifying as a “perfect lap”, the kind rarely experienced in motorsport. However, the competition was close behind: Tobias Müller in the BLACK FALCON Porsche was just 0.020 seconds slower. The top four cars were covered by only 0.460 seconds. Drama erupted immediately at the flying start in the AMG Arena. The previous day’s winner Ugo de Wilde (Schubert BMW) tried to squeeze past Nico Menzel on the inside. Following slight contact, Menzel was forced wide before the BMW was struck shortly afterwards by Daan Arrow and dropped far down the order. On lap eight, the Schubert BMW’s race eventually came to an early end following an accident at Brünnchen. Tyre gamble, scary moments and wild spins As rain arrived in the Eifel, the race developed into a nerve-racking strategic roulette between slicks and wet tyres. For the BLACK FALCON trio, the race became a complete rollercoaster. First, Tobias Müller overlooked a Code 60 board and drove into Thomas Schönfeld’s VW Golf GTI, resulting in a bent wheel and a later drive-through penalty. Shortly afterwards came the scare of the day when Müller spun in the ultra-fast “Mut-Kurve” on the wet track and somehow managed to catch the car without touching the barriers. “The spin, the drive-through penalty and so on – I think we can be super proud to be standing on the overall podium here,” Müller said with relief at the finish. Patrick Assenheimer added on the team’s strategy: “We managed it quite well by stopping earlier when the conditions simply became too bad for slick tyres.” Charge through the rain and a family celebration for the SchuringsMeanwhile, a brotherly battle developed at the front: Morris Schuring temporarily led the field ahead of his younger brother Flynt. For GT3 debutant Flynt, it was a true baptism of fire: “My first GT3 weekend, on the Nordschleife, and then in a race like this with slicks in the rain. It was super difficult, but I’m really happy.” From the pit lane, father Gerwin Schuring, himself a former Nürburgring overall winner, proudly watched his sons secure the one-two finish. Race winner Morris Schuring beamed after taking the chequered flag: “I was already happy just watching from the pit lane, but I always had confidence in Tim. Everything feels so normal right now, but maybe in two or three weeks we’ll look back and think: that was actually pretty cool.” “Driving a motorboat” in the Eifel and the heroes of the dayIn the final laps, the circuit turned into a series of lakes. Breidscheid, Fuchsröhre and Schwedenkreuz became extremely slippery. “Exciting is a huge understatement,” reported winner Heinemann. “I’ve never experienced conditions this bad before. Aquaplaning in every corner, on every straight. I’m really happy we got through it without damage.” Runner-up Menzel also breathed a sigh of relief: “At the end it was almost like driving a motorboat. So much aquaplaning, a few heart attacks along the way, but we managed it quite well.” The “Driver of the Day” trophy went to Moritz Oberheim (#962 AVIA W&S Motorsport). After being forced to sit out Saturday following a qualifying accident, he celebrated a triumphant return on Sunday with pole position, a lights-to-flag victory in CUP3 and the award from the ILN, race control and the TV commentators: “It means a great deal to me. I know there are a lot of great drivers out there. Today was actually a very good day and it’s an honour to receive this trophy.” Title fight postponed: first scoreless result for the championship leadersThe race also developed dramatically in terms of the overall NLS standings. The previously dominant Adrenalin trio of Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich and Sven Markert was forced to retire its BMW M240i due to a technical issue and the car had to be recovered. It was the championship leaders’ very first scoreless result of the season. Their rivals took full advantage of the opportunity: Although Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS missed out on victory in CUP3 to Moritz Oberheim and Lorenz Stegmann, second place still earned valuable points. As a result, Fielenbach and Sandberg have reduced the gap at the top of the standings to just four points. The picture has also changed in the 2026 Production Car Trophy following the intense double-header. Piet-Jan Ooms and Ionuc Catalin Timis in the Toyota Supra (SRS Team Sorg Rennsport) and the trio of Philipp Leisen, Philipp Stahlschmidt and Daniel Zils in the BMW 330i (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels) arrived in the Eifel tied on points in the VT2-RWD class. After hard-fought battles on both race days, Ooms and Timis crowned their weekend on Sunday with a class victory ahead of their Adrenalin rivals, who had to settle for second place. Thanks to this success, the Sorg duo now holds sole possession of the championship lead in the Production Car Trophy and will head to the season finale in October with a four-point advantage. The fight for the NLS crown will therefore be decided at the season finale on 10 October 2026. At the 2nd NLS Sportwarte Trophy (4h), the final victory of the season will be contested and the new champion crowned. Fans should not miss the season finale: Tickets for the decisive race day are available from €25 (children up to and including the age of 14 are admitted free of charge) via VLN.de/tickets and at the circuit ticket offices. As usual, admission includes access to the grandstands, paddock, pit lane, grid walk as well as the popular spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten.
12.09.2026
The 65th ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen delivered four hours of top-class endurance racing for fans at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and culminated in a dramatic finish. After completing 27 laps, Schubert Motorsport claimed overall victory in round eight of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Jens Klingmann, Jordan Pepper and Ugo de Wilde crossed the finish line in their BMW M4 GT3 EVO with a razor-thin advantage of just 0.308 seconds. Tim Heinemann and Morris Schuring secured second place in the Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Dominik and Marcel Fugel, together with Benjamin Leuchter, completed the overall podium for Max Kruse Racing in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. Their third-place finish was a historic achievement. In addition to a commanding victory in the AT 1 class, the trio became the first team ever to claim an overall podium finish with a GT3 car powered by E20 fuel. Qualifying once again highlighted the exceptional competitiveness of the series. The top twelve cars were separated by just ten seconds. Pole position went to Antal Zsigo, Moritz Kranz and David Jahn in the Gamota Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO with a lap time of 7:53.343 minutes. Dunlop Motorsport faced a setback after Nico Menzel and Flynt Schuring were demoted from eighth to eleventh on the grid following a collision early in qualifying. Nevertheless, they produced an impressive recovery drive to finish fifth overall, behind the fourth-placed Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL. Strategic Pit Stops and Changing Race LeadersThe fight for victory remained wide open throughout all 27 laps. Immediately after the start, Jordan Pepper took the lead for Schubert Motorsport in the AMG Arena, overtaking the pole-sitting Gamota BMW. During the opening stages of the race, the two BMWs exchanged positions in a series of thrilling battles, including a bold overtaking manoeuvre at Schwedenkreuz. Different pit stop strategies ensured that the overall lead changed hands several times throughout the race. Max Kruse Racing's Audi R8, which eventually finished third, temporarily led the field thanks to extended first and third stints. Reflecting on the historic result, Benjamin Leuchter said: “This is huge for us. We are the first AT GT3 car to stand on the overall podium in a field featuring 27 GT3 cars. That makes us incredibly proud, and I’m simply happy that things finally came together for us without any bad luck.” His teammates Marcel and Dominik Fugel were equally delighted: “The three of us really delivered today. Considering that this is not our full-time profession, it wasn't too bad at all.” Following the first round of pit stops, Falken Motorsports moved into the lead and later returned to the front once again. Morris Schuring reflected on the close battle: “That was great racing. I lost a little time while lapping an Aston Martin, which may have made the difference, but it was a lot of fun.” Tim Heinemann added:“That was exactly the kind of racing the fans want to see: close and hard-fought. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough for us in the end, but we're still very satisfied.” Early drama struck in the AMG Arena when the Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3 of Vincent Kolb and Frank Stippler collided with the BLACK FALCON Team EAE Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Daan Arrow, Mustafa Mehmet Kaya and Mike Stursberg. Despite a spin, the BLACK FALCON Team EAE car fought back to secure a commanding SP9 Am class victory and finish eleventh overall. The Mustang was forced to retire. Meanwhile, 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON celebrated victory in the SP9 Pro-Am class with Patrick Assenheimer, Tobias Müller and Dylan Pereira in their Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO, finishing sixth overall. The battle for overall victory was ultimately decided after the final pit stop cycle, when Schubert Motorsport regained the lead on lap 24. During the closing laps, Heinemann and Schuring put relentless pressure on the leading BMW and remained within striking distance until the chequered flag. Schubert Motorsport held firm, however, crossing the finish line 0.308 seconds ahead after four hours of racing. Race winner Jens Klingmann summed it up perfectly: “That was motorsport at its very best, exactly what we as drivers want and what the fans want to see. At NLS6 we lost by two tenths of a second, and today we won. On the Döttinger Höhe I felt fairly confident, but traffic made it incredibly close again. That makes this victory all the more rewarding.” The Oschersleben-based team had even more reason to celebrate on Saturday, as Marco Wittmann claimed victory in the first DTM race at the Sachsenring in a BMW M4 GT3. Photo Finish in the BMW M2 Class and Success in the Cup CategoriesThe excitement was not limited to the battle for overall victory. The BMW M2 class also produced a dramatic photo finish. After four hours of racing, Ranko Mijatovic secured victory for Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport in the BMW M2 Racing, edging out Marc David Müller and Henrik Seibel by just 0.352 seconds. In the highly competitive CUP2 class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN dominated proceedings. Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites and Benjamin Koslowski claimed class victory and finished an impressive 13th overall. Championship Fight Remains Wide OpenThe leading title contenders continued to match each other blow for blow. Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich and Sven Markert extended their perfect season record by securing another class victory for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels in the BMW M240i Racing Cup. However, their closest rivals, Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg, also delivered a flawless performance by winning the CUP3 class for Smyrlis Racing in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. With both title contenders scoring maximum points, the championship standings remain unchanged at the top. Straight Back Into ActionTeams and drivers will not have much time to recover, as the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup takes place tomorrow. Fans attending the event can once again look forward to a full day of Nordschleife action. Tickets are available for €25 per day, with free admission for children up to and including the age of 14. Tickets grant access to the grandstands, paddock, pit lane, starting grid, and the popular spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten. Sunday's schedule mirrors Saturday's programme. Qualifying begins at 08:30, followed by the Pit Walk at 10:20 and the Grid Walk at 11:10, before the four-hour race gets underway at 12:00. Fans watching from home can follow all the action from 08:15 via the livestream on VLN.de or tune in to “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and via the RPR1 app.
10.09.2026
The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is entering the final stretch of the season and has a very special highlight in store for motorsport fans: an action-packed double-header on the legendary Nordschleife next weekend (12 and 13 September). As late summer settles over the forests of the Eifel, races eight and nine of the championship will raise the stakes significantly. With the 65th ADAC Reinoldus Endurance Race on Saturday and the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup on Sunday, drivers will face two four-hour races that could have a major impact on the title fight. Tickets for the motorsport festival are available from €25 per day at VLN.de/tickets, while children up to and including the age of 14 enjoy free admission. Fans unable to attend in person can follow all the action free of charge via the livestream on VLN.de from 08:15 on both days, with race starts scheduled for 12:00. One of the most emotional stories in the paddock belongs to Dutch driver Loek Hartog. Just a few days ago, the 23-year-old became an internationally celebrated hero during a China GT race in Shanghai. When rival Ollie Millroy’s car caught fire following an accident, Hartog did not hesitate. He stopped at the scene, grabbed a fire extinguisher and helped rescue the injured Briton from the burning vehicle. Following this courageous act, Hartog now returns his focus to competition. This weekend in the Eifel, he will drive for Dinamic GT, sharing the No. 54 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Danish driver Michael Klitgaard Christensen. Star Power and Maximum Performance in the Fight for Overall VictoryThe entry list for the championship finale is both strong and diverse, featuring 136 cars from 14 different manufacturers. The top categories in particular promise exceptionally close competition. Alongside the 22 GT3 cars entered in the SP9 class, four high-profile cars from the AT 1 class for alternative fuels will also compete. As both categories operate at a similar technical and performance level, the number of contenders for overall victory rises to 26 cars. The premier class boasts impressive manufacturer diversity, with seven brands competing for victory in the Eifel: Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Ford and Lamborghini. As a result, the field is packed with top-level teams. Schubert Motorsport enters with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, while Haupt Racing Team fields the Ford Mustang GT3. KCMG brings a Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi. Additional front-running entries include Falken Motorsports and Dinamic GT with Porsche machinery, Walkenhorst and PROsport with Aston Martin, and Renazzo Motorsport with Lamborghini. Adding further excitement, Max Kruse Racing will compete not only with a VW Golf GTI driven by the former German international footballer himself, but also with three Audi R8 LMS GT3 entries in the AT 1 category. Double Points Opportunity Intensifies Title BattleWith two races taking place on consecutive days, the championship contenders face a crucial weekend. As all rounds count toward the final standings this season and there are no dropped scores, every point is valuable. Leading the overall standings are Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich and Sven Markert with 79 points. Driving for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels in the BMW M240i Racing Cup, the trio has enjoyed a flawless season so far, winning every race in their class. Their closest challengers are Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg, who occupy second place on 64 points in the Smyrlis Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. A costly retirement earlier this season has left them trailing, but they remain within striking distance. In third place are PROsport racing drivers Anton Abée, Yannik Himmels and Jörg Viebahn in the Mercedes-AMG GT4, with 56 points. In the prestigious NLS Speed Trophy, Schubert Motorsport sets the benchmark, leading with an impressive 121 points in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Team 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON follows with 75 points in the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, while Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol currently occupies third place with 60 points. The battle for the Junior Trophy is equally intense. Raphael Rennhofer (Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) leads with 55 points, holding a ten-point advantage over Tim Lukas Müller, who has already concluded his season early. Behind them, Ryan Harrison, Leon Wassertheurer and Santiago Baztarrica are tied on 40 points each. However, Harrison and Wassertheurer share Rennhofer’s Porsche cockpit and are therefore unable to gain points directly against him. This leaves Santiago Baztarrica (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, BMW M2 Racing) with the strongest opportunity to close the gap during the double-header, as he is the only active challenger competing independently this weekend. Tickets cost €25 per day, with free admission for children up to and including the age of 14. They are available via VLN.de/tickets and at the circuit's ticket offices. Admission includes unrestricted access to all open grandstands on the Grand Prix circuit, the popular spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane and starting grid. The timetable offers a full day of Nordschleife action on both Saturday and Sunday. Qualifying sessions take place from 08:30 to 10:00 each morning. Fans can then enjoy the Pit Walk from 10:20 in the pit lane, followed by the Grid Walk from 11:10, providing an excellent opportunity to get up close to the cars and drivers. Both four-hour races will start punctually at 12:00. Those unable to attend can tune into the official livestream on VLN.de from 08:15 or follow the action via “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and in the RPR1 app.
02.08.2026
The KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie delivered a spectacular setting for the traditional season highlight in the Green Hell on August 1, 2026. Under glorious sunshine and in front of packed grandstands during the height of the summer holidays, the seventh NLS race of the year featured six hours of strategy, intense wheel-to-wheel battles, and an outstanding atmosphere. After completing 41 laps, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL claimed overall victory ahead of Schubert Motorsport and 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON. The emotional return of Ralf Aron was one of the defining stories of the race. Around five months after his serious accident at the 12 Hours of Bathurst, the Estonian made an impressive racing comeback in the #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Aron already made a statement during the morning qualifying session by securing pole position with a sensational lap time of 7:51.506 minutes. In the race, Aron and Luca Stolz delivered a flawless performance, crossing the finish line after six hours as overall winners. For Stolz, the triumph was the perfect present for his 31st birthday. “It was a fantastic race for us and an incredible amount of fun. Six hours of action in perfect Eifel weather – I still have a huge smile on my face. It really is the best birthday present I could have wished for. We had a completely mistake-free day, and the car barely picked up a scratch – simply perfect,” said a delighted Luca Stolz after the finish. Ralf Aron was equally emotional: “This completes my comeback, and I couldn't be happier. I wouldn't even have dared to dream of this beforehand. It was a tremendous pleasure to share this race with Luca.” Second place overall, 39.480 seconds behind after 41 laps, went to Schubert Motorsport. In the #77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, and Nordschleife GT3 debutant Tim Tramnitz delivered a highly focused performance. “Luca was an incredibly strong opponent. The Mercedes crew was already extremely fast in qualifying and deserved today's victory. We were within striking distance at times, but whenever we got closer, they were able to raise the pace again. I'm extremely proud of both of my teammates – especially Tim, who contested his first GT3 race on the Nordschleife,” summarized veteran Jens Klingmann. Tim Tramnitz was equally pleased with the result: “It feels fantastic. We had a slightly tricky pit stop after my opening stint, but the car was excellent. Jens' experience helped me enormously during the preparation for this weekend.” His teammate Ugo de Wilde added: “I really wanted to achieve my first Nordschleife podium. Tim did a fantastic job on his debut.” The final place on the overall podium went to 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON, who also claimed victory in the SP9 PRO-AM class with the Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO (#48). Patrick Assenheimer, Tobias Müller, and Dylan Pereira also produced a strong performance. While Dylan Pereira immediately left for his next race in Magny-Cours after completing his stint, Patrick Assenheimer and Tobias Müller celebrated the trophy on site. “Dylan called us via FaceTime from the car on his way to the airport, and we were able to experience his celebrations live. He followed the entire race with great excitement. The race went brilliantly, and after the final round we are back on the overall podium. Despite slightly misaligned suspension settings, we delivered a completely solid race without any mistakes or penalties,” explained Tobias Müller. Fourth overall went to the #4 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Goroyan RT by Car Collection, driven by Artur Goroyan, Alex Fontana, and Nico Menzel, who also secured second place in the SP9 PRO-AM class. Fifth overall was claimed in dramatic fashion by FK Performance Motorsport in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO (#1). On the final lap, Leyton Fourie, Dan Harper, Pavel Lefterov, and Maxime Oosten overtook the Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO (#123) of Mühlner Motorsport, driven by Martin Rump, Ben Bünnagel, and Noah Nagelsdiek, which ultimately finished sixth overall. In the SP9 AM class, Renazzo Motorsport emerged victorious after a dramatic battle following the final pit stop. Sak Nana, Christoph Breuer, and Thomas Mutsch guided the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO II (#786) to class victory ahead of the Porsche 911 GT3 R (#5) of BLACK FALCON Team EAE, driven by Mustafa Mehmet Kaya, Gabriele Piana, and Mike Stursberg. Emotional Moments and Action in the One-Make Cup ClassesBeyond the headline SP9 category, the six-hour Eifel classic produced many memorable stories. One of the emotional highlights came from the joint project of Porsche Heritage and Museum and Team75 Bernhard. In the specially designed Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS (#718), Nordschleife legends and Porsche brand ambassadors Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister gave the very last mid-engined race car of this model line built in Zuffenhausen a fitting farewell. “This car has been an extremely important customer racing model for Porsche. We wanted to give it the farewell it deserved. The reception from the fans was simply incredible – it makes you immensely proud,” said an emotional Timo Bernhard before the start. Jörg Bergmeister added with a smile: “When I received the invitation, I didn't have to think twice. Just as we started together back then, it feels like we've now come full circle here on the Nordschleife.” The duo completed 37 flawless laps and crowned the emotional farewell with fourth place in the SP10 class. The fiercely contested one-make cup categories also provided plenty of excitement. In the CUP2 class, BLACK FALCON Team ZIMMERMANN celebrated a commanding class victory. Alexander Hardt, Benjamin Hites, and Benjamin Koslowski prevailed in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (#900) ahead of teammates Ryan Harrison, Raphael Rennhofer, and Leon Wassertheurer from LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON (#902). Third place in the CUP2 standings went to Patrik Grütter and Fabio Grosse for SRS Team Sorg Rennsport (#901). In the CUP3 category (Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring), Oskar Sandberg and Alexander Fielenbach celebrated their fourth victory of the season. Driving the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS (#953) for Smyrlis Racing, the duo fought back brilliantly after serving a drive-through penalty for a jump start and emerged as class winners after six hours. They finished ahead of Lorenz Stegmann and Moritz Oberheim of W&S Motorsport (#962), while Marius Rauer, Michal Makes, and Toby Goodman (#961, also W&S Motorsport) completed the podium in third place. Championship Battle IntensifiesWith another class victory at the season highlight, Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich, and Sven Markert from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels further strengthened their lead in the overall standings. The trio has scored a perfect 79.00 points, with their BMW M240i (#650) winning its class in every race entered so far this season. Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg follow in second place with 64.00 points, ahead of Anton Abée, Yannik Himmels, and Jörg Viebahn on 56.00 points. Benjamin Albers and Raphael Rennhofer round out the top ten with 55.00 points each. As there are no dropped scores this season, every result counts towards the championship. This makes the title battle even more intense, as the championship contenders must continue to score consistently in the remaining rounds without any mistakes or retirements. Following the successful six-hour spectacle, the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie now heads into a short summer break before returning on September 12–13, 2026, when the highly anticipated Double-Header featuring NLS8 and NLS9 takes place at the Nürburgring.
30.07.2026
This coming Saturday (1 August), the traditional KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen will take centre stage as the season highlight of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. With 50 percent more racing than the regular four-hour events, the six-hour spectacle on the legendary Nordschleife promises even more action, strategy and drama. With favourable weather conditions forecast, the entry list features a thrilling and diverse field: from brand-new GT3 projects and emotional comebacks to unique grassroots racing stories. Tickets are here available from 25 Euro, while youngsters up to and including the age of 14 enjoy free admission. Fans unable to attend in person can follow all the action live and free of charge from 08:15 (race start at 12:00) via the official livestream. A rolling work of art celebrating family: Tribute to the Porsche MuseumThe six-hour race will feature a historic highlight on the Nordschleife. An exclusively designed Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport serves as a rolling work of art, creating a bridge between history, architecture and modern customer racing. What makes this project particularly special is the family spirit behind it: for this one-off appearance, the teams from Porsche Heritage and Museum, the motorsport specialists from Weissach, and Team 75 Motorsport are working hand in hand. The car pays tribute to Porsche's successful GT4 customer racing heritage while also marking the farewell of the very last mid-engine race car of this model line built in Zuffenhausen, featuring a design inspired by the futuristic architecture of the Porsche Museum. The spectacular anniversary entry will be driven by two true Nordschleife icons and Porsche brand ambassadors: Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister. Both bring extensive Eifel experience to the cockpit – Bernhard has celebrated ten overall victories in the NLS, while Bergmeister has claimed two overall wins. For the first time, the two Nordschleife legends will share the cockpit of a GT4 race car and are eagerly looking forward to the challenge, with the Eifel circuit being one of their favourite tracks. Coming out of retirement: Passion and high-revving Civic Type R soundsProviding the perfect contrast to the factory-supported anniversary project is the entry of Mark Giesbrecht, Frank Kuhlmann and Michael Flehmer, who perfectly embody the diversity and grassroots character of the NLS. The trio consists of genuine Nordschleife veterans. Flehmer leads the group with an impressive 42 class victories and crowned his career with the overall NLS title in 2014 alongside Rolf Derscheid. Giesbrecht and Kuhlmann complete the experienced line-up, each having celebrated 26 class victories in the series. The fact that their faithful Honda Civic Type R will line up for the six-hour race is an emotional twist in their season plans and perhaps only the beginning of their return, as Giesbrecht explains: "For us, it's basically a comeback from retirement. We originally planned to compete in the DHLM this year, but had to postpone those plans due to scheduling conflicts. After sitting on the sidelines for half a season, we simply couldn't stay away any longer. We decided at short notice to enter the six-hour race and if everything goes well, we'll definitely add one or two more races this season. Everyone in the team was immediately excited, and we're really looking forward to bringing a genuine two-litre Group H car back to the fans on the Nordschleife." Long-awaited racing comeback: Ralf Aron returns after injuryGT3 fans can look forward to an emotional highlight. Around five months after his serious accident at the Bathurst 12 Hour, Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Ralf Aron is returning to racing. The 28-year-old Estonian, who suffered two fractured vertebrae in February, will make his comeback in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL during the seventh NLS round. Following months of intensive rehabilitation, Aron is delighted to be back: "The motorsport community gave me incredible strength during this time. After rehabilitation and intensive training, everything immediately felt right again during the tests in May. I'm even happier now that my first race weekend is finally here." He will share the cockpit with newly crowned 24h Nürburgring winner Luca Stolz, who celebrates his 31st birthday during the race weekend. GT3 category continues to grow: New projects with long-term ambitionsSpeaking of GT3, the NLS's premier category welcomes several exciting new additions for the season highlight. Alongside the established contenders, several teams are launching fresh projects—many with long-term ambitions. One particularly exciting debut comes from American team ERA Motorsport, well known from IMSA competition. The team will field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO customer racing car on the Nordschleife for the first time, entering Kyle Tilley, Adam Christodoulou and Jake Hill in the SP9 Pro-Am class. Another eye-catching return comes from Dörr Motorsport, entering the spectacular McLaren 720S GT3 in SP9 Am for brothers Ben Dörr and Phil Dörr, alongside Nordschleife legend Volker Strycek. Reigning NLS champions FK Performance Motorsport will also reach a major milestone. After securing last year's overall title, the Bremen-based team makes its GT3 debut on the Nordschleife with a BMW M4 GT3 Evo driven by an impressive quartet consisting of BMW factory driver Dan Harper, Leyton Fourie, Maxime Oosten and Pavel Lefterov. Meanwhile, Joos Sportwagentechnik is making the long-term step into SP9 Am with a Porsche 911 GT3 R for team owner Michael Joos, Nordschleife regular Fidel Leib, and Marco Lamsouguer. Their ambitions extend far beyond the six-hour race, as Joos explains: "Since our test last year, we've been working on our own GT3 programme for the Nordschleife. We'll compete in the remaining four NLS races this season with the 911 GT3 R. Our goal is to gain as much experience as possible and build a solid foundation for a long-term commitment to the series." Completing the line-up is team up2race, making its NLS debut with its gold-coloured Porsche 911 GT3 R, affectionately nicknamed "Goldy". In SP9 Pro-Am, DTM star and former sim racer Tim Heinemann will share the cockpit with former professional footballer Oleksii Kikireshko, whom Heinemann also coaches. International star power and Permit A challenge at Four MotorsSustainable racing team Four Motors also adds a fascinating story to the entry list. Their Bioconcept Car #420 (Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport) will be shared by an outstanding international trio: Australian WEC driver and Le Mans class winner Yasser Shahin, reigning Porsche Junior Marcus Amand from France, and Italian Enzo Trulli, son of former Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli.For all three drivers, the seventh NLS round also represents an important milestone as they complete their DMSB Permit Nordschleife A in the Bioconcept race car, securing the highest licence level required for future appearances in the top classes of the Green Hell. Tickets for the race weekend cost 25 Euro (children up to and including the age of 14 receive free admission) and are available here as well as at the ticket offices on site. The ticket includes access to the open grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit, the spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane and starting grid.Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning from 08:30 to 10:00. Afterwards, fans can get up close to the cars and drivers during the Pitwalk in the pit lane from 10:20, followed by the Gridwalk on the starting grid from 11:10. The six-hour race begins at 12:00.Those unable to attend can tune in to the official livestream from 11:15 or follow the action via Radio Nürburgring on rpr1.de and in the RPR1 App.
20.06.2026
The sixth race of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie ended with a true photo finish. In perfect weather and midsummer temperatures that pushed both drivers and machinery to their limits, Nico Menzel and Sven Müller celebrated a historic victory after 4:09:46.280 hours in the new Dunlop-Porsche 911 GT3 R. At the 1. ADAC Eifel-Trophy, the duo crossed the finish line with a lead of just 0.319 seconds. For Menzel, it was the fifth win of his NLS career, while Müller recorded his seventh overall victory. After 27 laps, the duo narrowly defeated Jens Klingmann and Robin Frijns in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Schubert Motorsport. Third place went to the Pro-Am crew of 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON: Patrick Assenheimer, Tobias Müller and Dylan Pereira guided their Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO to the remaining podium position after a faultless team performance. In qualifying, Christian Krognes and Mateo Villagomez initially demonstrated their potential in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO from Walkenhorst Motorsport. With a lap time of 7:54.452 minutes, Krognes secured pole position for the team. The Norwegian maintained the lead at the start and entered the first corner in first place. However, as the race progressed, the Aston Martin lost ground during the first pit stop phase and had to let the leading group pull away. In the very last lap, the Walkenhorst team lost another position when Adam Christodoulou, Jake Hill and Kyle Tilley in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from PROsport racing overtook them in the final sprint to secure fourth place. For the pole setters, fifth place overall was the final result. Strategic undercut and late drama on track The battle for overall victory was largely influenced by pit strategy in the first third of the race. While most of the top cars stayed out until lap seven, the Dunlop-Porsche 911 GT3 R and the Schubert-BMW pitted already at the end of lap six. Thanks to this early stop, the duo moved to the front of the field, where Menzel took the lead on lap twelve. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from Falken Motorsports, driven by Klaus Bachler and Tim Heinemann, was also on course for a podium finish for a long time. However, a left-rear tire failure on lap 21 forced the team to retire the car prematurely, allowing Black Falcon to move into third place. In the closing laps, Klingmann in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO closed the gap significantly to the leading Porsche due to heavy traffic and a late Code 60 phase. Nevertheless, Müller kept his composure in traffic and defended the lead all the way to the finish line. Relief after hard work in the cockpits After crossing the finish line, the intense tension of the final laps was clearly visible on the drivers’ faces. Müller, visibly emotional about the close finish, explained: “I don’t think it could have been any closer. We didn’t expect it to get that tight at the end.” His teammate Menzel added with relief: “No fingernails left! My heart nearly sank when another Code 60 came out on the last lap.” At the second-placed Schubert Motorsport team, Klingmann still drew a positive conclusion despite narrowly missing victory: “It was definitely fun. There was a lot going on out there and it was pretty messy. But in the end, it’s P2. I think we can still be satisfied.” Commenting on the extreme temperatures, Pereira added: “It was a hot race, but we fought through it. In the end, we finish P3 overall and P1 in Pro-Am. We’re happy!” Raphael Rennhofer named Driver of the Race In the Cup-2 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring, Raphael Rennhofer attracted attention. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with starting number 902 from LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON, the young driver delivered a strong performance in the highly competitive one-make cup. As a result, ILN, race control and the track commentators jointly named him “Driver of the Race.” Rennhofer, who finished second in class alongside Ryan Harrison and Leon Wassertheurer, commented enthusiastically: “Yes, that’s super cool! I was very satisfied with my own performance and felt like this was my best race on the Nordschleife so far. The fact that the officials noticed that makes me proud.” Meanwhile, class victory in Cup-2 went to Nico Bastian and Martin Rump in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from Mühlner Motorsport. Thriller decided by seconds in the BMW M240i Racing Cup and shift at the top of the standings In addition to the GT3 cars at the top of the overall classification, the BMW M240i Racing Cup class delivered excitement right up to the finish line. In a nail-biting finish, Sven Markert, Edoardo Bugane, Tim Lukas Müller and Yannick Fübrich claimed victory in car number 651 for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels. After more than four hours of hard racing on the Nordschleife, the class winners were separated from their closest rivals by just 1.028 seconds at the finish. Aiden Mulready, Joshua Hislop and James Breakell mounted a fierce charge in car number 667 but, after 23 completed laps, had to concede defeat to the well-drilled Adrenalin quartet by the narrowest of margins in the final sprint. This dramatic outcome had an immediate impact on the championship at the start of the second half of the season: before the race weekend, Bugane, Fübrich and Markert were tied on points with the Smyrlis duo Oskar Sandberg and Alexander Fielenbach at the top of the standings. While the Adrenalin team secured maximum points with their class win and moved into sole championship lead with 60 points, their rivals experienced drama. After an accident in the Schwalbenschwanz section, Sandberg was forced to retire the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. Focus on young talent Parallel to the action in the Green Hell, young motorsport talents competed in the second event of the NLS Youth Kart Slalom Championship 2026 in the historic paddock. Across six different age categories, the young drivers delivered clean and millimeter-precise duels decided by tenths of a second. At the end of an intense race weekend, Leonie Heiermann (K1 / MSC Altenbach), Luise Schwarz (K2 / MSC Adenau), Jeremy Port (K3 / MSC Piesbach), Leo Pawelczyk (K4 / MSC Losheim), Tim Schneider (K5 / AMC Hellertal) and Francis Rittinger (K6 / OC Lahnstein) secured the coveted class victories. On August 1, the XXL-distance race is on the schedule. The KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen is the highlight of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie season.
18.06.2026
The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie enters the second half of the season. This coming Saturday (June 20), the 1st ADAC Eifel Trophy is on the schedule at the legendary Nordschleife. A look at the provisional entry list promises a diverse field ranging from international top drivers and ambitious newcomers to a strong GT3 presence. Tickets are available from €25 at VLN.de/tickets. Children up to the age of 14 receive free admission. From Le Mans straight to the Grüne Hölle: Kobayashi and Frijns go on the attackJust one week after his overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Kamui Kobayashi switches directly from the Sarthe to the Nordschleife. True to the motto “Business first, pleasure second,” the Japanese star driver takes on the challenge in the Eifel. Kobayashi will pilot the No. 47 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for KCMG in the SP9 PRO class. “Le Mans and the Grüne Hölle are two completely different challenges. After the fantastic victory, I’m now looking forward to returning with KCMG after a great experience at NLS3,” says Kobayashi. “My goal is to continue improving on the Nordschleife in a GT3 car. This is another great opportunity to continue my learning process on this legendary racetrack. With an all-Japanese driver lineup, we are confident that we can enjoy a successful race day.” In Le Mans, Robin Frijns had to settle for second place behind winner Kobayashi. In the Grüne Hölle, however, a rematch now awaits. The Dutchman will drive the BMW M4 GT3 entered by Schubert Motorsport. Nordschleife debuts for Scott Speed and Tim TramnitzIn addition to Kobayashi, several other well-known drivers will enrich the field and make their NLS debuts. Former Formula 1 and NASCAR driver Scott Speed will compete for Mühlner Motorsport in the No. 999 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS in the CUP3 class. Also making his debut is Tim Tramnitz. The young German driver, who competed successfully in the FIA Formula 3 Championship over the past two years and was a member of the Red Bull Racing junior program, became a BMW works driver this year. He will pilot the No. 651 BMW M240i Racing Cup for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels with the goal of completing the laps required for his Nordschleife permit. “For me as a German driver, making my NLS debut is simply a huge thing,” says Tramnitz. “Completing the permit process together with BMW and hopefully competing in GT3 soon is an absolute childhood dream. Every German motorsport enthusiast associates racing with the Nordschleife, so I’m really looking forward to it. In the long term, the goal is crystal clear: one day to fight for victory in a GT3 car at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.” A full GT3 field: New cars and an AT premiere for équipe vitesseEven after the 24-hour race, the top class remains strongly represented, with around 20 GT3 cars expected to line up on Saturday. Particularly noticeable is the increase in new entries in the AM and alternative-fuel classes. Among the new entries are the No. 6 Audi R8 driven by Pierre Lemmerz and Alexander Kroker (SP9 AM), as well as the No. 11 Audi R8 LMS GT3 entered by Max Kruse Racing in the AT 1 class. Also new to AT 1 is the second Audi R8 LMS GT3 fielded by équipe vitesse, carrying the No. 18. The team is expanding its program and will run this GT3 machine on environmentally friendly Racing eFuel 98 E10. Experienced racing driver Carrie Schreiner will share the cockpit with Andreas Ziegler and Roland Froese. Team principal Jil Herbst emphasizes: “The use of synthetic fuels for the future of motorsport is very important to us. We are delighted to have secured this high-caliber driver lineup, which has emerged from long-standing relationships and our shared commitment to promoting women in motorsport.” The team’s well-known sister car, carrying the No. 50, will compete as usual in the SP9 AM class. A renewed attempt: Mario Fuchs returns to the challengeMario Fuchs is set to make his second attempt in the NLS after his debut last year ended prematurely due to a technical failure. Together with Eugen Weber and Axel Duffner, he will field the No. 333 Mitsubishi Lancer CT9A in the SP3T class, the same car with which he recently won the RCN race held as part of the 24-hour race weekend. Fuchs is optimistic ahead of the upcoming race weekend:“The start had actually been planned for quite some time, but scheduling conflicts, preparations for the 24h race, and the special technical supplementary regulations meant that it only worked out now. Our Mitsubishi requires an enormous amount of maintenance, which unfortunately makes a full season financially impossible. But the fantastic spectator atmosphere, the many fan inquiries, and the excellent organization of the NLS really drew us in. In addition, Eugen Weber and Axel Duffner put enormous pressure on us to finally make this project happen. We’re absolutely thrilled and hope for a long and successful race.” A varied support program around the RingThe race weekend also offers a diverse program away from the Nordschleife. In the Historic Paddock, the second round of the NLS Youth Kart Championship 2026 will begin at 10:00 a.m., where young drivers will weave through the cones in electric karts. At the same time, participants in the ADAC Slalom Youngster Cup (ADAC Mittelrhein) will demonstrate their precision driving skills on the helipad in the paddock area. In the area of the former Südschleife, the ADAC Clubsport Rallyesprint Cup Region Mitte will host rounds three and four of its championship. Young motorsport talents will tackle a spectacular special stage on mixed surfaces while working together in close team cooperation. But motorsport is not the only attraction: the “STAGE National Championships” in cheerleading will take place simultaneously in the ring°arena. Tickets for the race weekend cost €25 (children up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge) and are available at VLN.de/tickets as well as at the ticket offices on site. The ticket includes access to the open grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit, the spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane, and starting grid. Qualifying to determine the starting positions will take place on Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Afterwards, fans will have the opportunity to experience the cars and drivers up close during the Pitwalk in the pit lane from 10:20 a.m. and the subsequent Gridwalk on the starting grid from 11:10 a.m. The four-hour endurance race will start promptly at 12:00 noon. Those unable to witness the spectacle in person can tune into the official livestream on VLN.de from 8:15 a.m. or follow the action via “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and in the RPR1 app.
28.05.2026
Rock am Ring is the big headliner among June’s events: the mega-festival has been sold out for months. But the Green Hell has even more in store: a fascinating journey through time at the ADAC Nürburgring Classic, thrilling endurance racing action in the Green Hell, and the 10th anniversary of “GRIP – The Motor Event.” Visitors can also look forward to the Cheerleading Nationals at the ring°arena, as well as GT and touring car racing at the ADAC Racing Weekend featuring the Porsche Sports Cup. Here are the Nürburgring highlights for June: Linkin Park & Co. in front of 90,000 fans – and via livestream: Rock am Ring | June 5–7Rock am Ring made history even before the first chord was struck: The 2026 edition of the legendary festival sold out faster than ever before. With 90,000 weekend tickets, fans are underscoring their enthusiasm for this time-honored music festival. Headlining acts including Linkin Park, Volbeat, Iron Maiden, and Limp Bizkit will set the stages ablaze. Those who couldn’t snag a ticket can still experience the RaR moments: Telekom is bringing the event into every living room via a free livestream on MagentaTV. It’s not just on the stages that things will be revved up this weekend: The Nordschleife tourist drives will take place as usual despite the festival. Experience has shown that the track can be reached without major traffic disruptions despite the festival. The Best of 100 Years of Motorsports: ADAC Nürburgring Classic | June 12–14At the ADAC Nürburgring Classic, the icons of automotive history return to the asphalt of the Grand Prix circuit and the Nordschleife. The event offers hands-on historic motorsport—from thrilling battles for position on the track to elegant classics in the paddock. The term “Classic” is broadly defined here: touring cars from the ’80s and ’90s, pre-war race cars, and Formula cars from the ’90s and 2000s are a treat for the eyes and ears. Those looking for a special experience can opt for a VIP ticket (starting at 300.00 euros) and enjoy prime seating, a variety of food and drinks, and an exclusive VIP shuttle to the Nordschleife. The action continues in the Green Hell: Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie – Race 6 | June 20About a month after the legendary 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the popular endurance racing in the Green Hell picks right up: The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) kicks off its sixth race of the season. The “1st ADAC Eifel Trophy” features a new event name but retains the familiar fan-friendly concept. The ticket grants access to all open grandstands, the paddock, as well as the pit lane and the starting grid before the race. Prices remain fair and family-friendly as always: Tickets cost 25.00 euros for adults, and children up to and including 14 years of age enjoy free admission. Exclusive insights are provided by the popular RACE&LUNCH tickets (190.00 euros) or the complete VIP package for 285.00 euros, which includes first-class catering, box seats, a guided bus tour of the track, and a VIP shuttle to the Nordschleife. 10 Years of GRIP – The Motorevent: The big anniversary in the Eifel | June 21An anniversary with guaranteed adrenaline: “GRIP – The Motor Event” is celebrating its 10th anniversary and inviting the community to the Nürburgring. Together with Matthias Malmedie and the other familiar faces of the TV crew, the paddock will be transformed into a horsepower paradise. Visitors can look forward to a diverse program: spectacular drift shows, the large GRIP fan base including autograph sessions, race taxi rides in a GT racer, a varied expo mile, the open-to-all drag race on the track, and the “Concours d’Coolness.” A great addition for young visitors: the Kids Area, featuring inflatable bouncers and more. Variety on the track: ADAC Racing Weekend & Porsche Sports Cup | June 26–28The ADAC Racing Weekend, taking place June 26–28 on the Grand Prix circuit, provides the month’s motorsports finale. The event boasts an incredibly diverse motorsports program, enriched by the thrilling races of the Porsche Sports Cup. Fans can look forward to various racing series for GT cars, touring cars, and formula cars from a wide range of model years. Family-friendliness is a top priority here: day tickets start at just 10.00 euros, and children up to and including 12 years of age enjoy completely free admission. The VIP ticket, starting at 290.00 euros, offers first-class catering and a lounge atmosphere. The Nürburgring highlights in June 2026:▪️ June 5–7: Rock am Ring▪️ June 12–14: ADAC Nürburgring Classic▪️ June 13: GLP (Nordschleife)▪️ June 20: ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (Race 6)▪️ June 20: Cheerleading Stage Championship Nationals (ring°arena)▪️ June 21: 10 Years of GRIP – The Motor Event▪️ June 26–28: ADAC Racing Weekend with Porsche Sports Cup
19.04.2026
In the fifth race of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Team Scherer Sport PHX secured the overall victory. Driving the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II, Christopher Haase, Alexander Sims, and Ben Green crossed the finish line in first place after 28 laps. In second place was the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 from Red Bull Team ABT, driven by Luca Engstler, Mirko Bortolotti, and Patric Niederhauser. Thomas Preining and Matt Campbell rounded out the podium, piloting Manthey’s Porsche 911 GT3 R to third place. The top five was completed by Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in fourth place and ROWE RACING in the BMW M4 GT3 in fifth place. In the top qualifying session, which determined the starting grid for the second race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo26 from REALIZE KONDO RACING with Rinaldi made a statement: With a lap time of 8:10.275 minutes, Thierry Vermeulen secured pole position. The margin was historically narrow: just a single thousandth of a second separated him from the second-place BMW M4 GT3 from Gamota Racing (8:10.276 min). Starting driver Dennis Marschall initially held onto the lead after the lights went out and battled in the leading group, but fate struck mercilessly after about 40 minutes. During an overtaking maneuver coming out of Brünnchen, the Ferrari collided with a car it was lapping and ended up in the gravel trap. In the first half of the race, the thrilling duel between Christopher Haase in the Scherer Audi and Max Verstappen in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 reignited at the front of the field, appearing to be a carbon copy of their NLS2 duel. Haase enjoyed the once again very respectful battle, but admitted that this time he struggled significantly more due to a lack of balance and oversteer in the cold conditions. Even though the action provided plenty of adrenaline at the command center, according to Steve Buschmann, team manager of Verstappen’s Winward team, Verstappen was given the clear instruction “no risk, take it easy” to avoid jeopardizing his finish. After 90 minutes, however, Verstappen, who was leading, made an unscheduled pit stop, where damage to the front splitter was discovered. “We brought the car in for safety reasons to prevent anything worse from happening, and we’re using the remainder of today’s race as a test run,” said Buschmann. This gave Lucas Auer the opportunity to gain valuable race experience in heavy traffic. The joy among the victorious Audi team was understandably immense following the success. Christopher Haase summed up the day with satisfaction: “Of course, the feedback for the 24-hour race was the most important thing today. Finishing at the top is a nice bonus, but the focus was on working on the setup.” His teammate Ben Green added: “The car felt consistent over the entire distance. We were able to manage the lead well in the final stages.” The final stages were particularly dramatic in the battle for the last podium spot. Thomas Preining (#911) and Fabian Schiller (#80) engaged in an intense duel that lasted for laps, with the two cars often separated by just centimeters. In the end, Preining prevailed and held on to a lead of just under three seconds across the finish line. Speaking into the microphone, Preining described the fierce battle from his perspective: “Fabian tried everything and was right next to me at times, but I was able to close the door every time. It was racing at the absolute limit, but always fair.” In the SP 9 Pro-Am class, the Schnitzelalm Racing team secured the class victory. Kenneth Heyer, Jay Mo Härtling, and Jannes Fittje drove the Mercedes-AMG GT3 (#11) to a strong eighth place in the overall standings. In the SP 9 Am class, the BLACK FALCON Team EAE triumphed. Mustafa Mehmet Kaya, Thomas Kiefer, Gabriele Piana, and Mike Stursberg demonstrated impressive consistency in the Porsche 911 GT3 R (#5). After already shining in qualifying with a tenth-place finish, they were able to confirm this performance in the race and secure the victory in their class. Car number 81 also delivered an impressive performance outside the pure GT3 front-runners. The BMW M3 Touring won the SP-X class and fought its way up to an outstanding seventh place overall, managing to hold its own in the standings even against numerous pure-bred GT3 cars. Sven Markert, Edoardo Bugané, and Benjamin Albers from the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels (winners of the BMW M240i class) as well as Oskar Sandberg and Alexander Fielenbach from Smyrlis Racing (winners of the Cup 3 class) head into a short NLS break until June as mid-season champions after five of ten races. The NLS regulations stipulate that a discard result is only counted after nine races have been completed, and two after ten races. Since the season opener could not start due to weather conditions and the fourth race on Saturday was also abandoned, the season totals eight scored races. This means there are no more discard results this year, and every result counts toward the final driver standings without deduction. Both teams have scored full points at all events so far and therefore jointly lead the standings at the midpoint of the season. Despite all the sporting highlights, Sunday was marked by mourning for Juha Miettinen. The Finnish driver was fatally injured on Saturday in a pile-up during the start of the first race in his BMW 325i (#121). Before Sunday’s start, a deeply emotional moment of silence united the drivers, teams, and fans on the starting grid. Nürburg pastor Klaus Kohns found moving words in his address: “Perhaps this is the most important message we can take away from these days: that we belong together and are there for one another—especially in times of need.” It was a moment of deep solidarity that brought the motorsport community around the Nürburgring closer together and served as a reminder that human connection in such dark hours extends far beyond sporting competition. The qualifiers served as the dress rehearsal for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from May 14–17, where the NLS teams make up a large portion of the starting grid. The 1st ADAC Eifel Trophy will kick off the second half of the season in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series on June 20.
