19.11.2025
The countdown to the 2026 racing season is on: tickets for next year's major Nürburgring events have been on sale since 17 November. In addition to the legendary ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from 14 to 17 May 2026, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers from 17 to 19 April 2026 will also be available online in the revamped Nürburgring ticket shop. When advance sales begin, the classic ticket categories – from day tickets to race and weekend tickets to event tickets – will be offered first. The new convenient and particularly user-friendly ticket platform naturally offers a Print@Home option as well as digital tickets for smartphones. The ticket structure successfully introduced this year will be retained: day tickets for Thursday, Friday and Sunday will be supplemented by race tickets valid on Saturday and Sunday. Multi-day options also include the weekend ticket (Friday – Sunday) and the popular event ticket (Thursday – Sunday). The digital ticket has proven its worth and will continue to be used in 2026. It enables uncomplicated access control directly via QR code at the entrance, thus greatly simplifying the process on site. Parking, camping and combination tickets Next year, it will once again be possible to reserve parking spaces in advance. This offer can be easily added when purchasing an event ticket. The popular combination ticket with the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is also returning and is expected to go on sale before Christmas, giving racing fans twice the treat. The newly created Family&Friends area at the Müllenbachschleife was a great success in 2025. The offer is currently being optimised in collaboration with the Nürburgring, with advance sales scheduled to start in spring 2026. ADAC North Rhine-Westphalia and the Nürburgring are also working on a further improvement: they are currently examining whether camping tickets for the temporary campsites around the Nordschleife can also be offered in advance sales in future. Same price structure, same fairness Ticket prices for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring 2026 and the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers will remain at the same level as last year. Visitors will continue to benefit from discounted advance sales prices. A surcharge of five euros applies at the box office. Ticket prices for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring 2026 Ticket Validity Standard* Reduced** Event ticket Thursday – Sunday €74.00 €45.00 Weekend ticket Friday – Sunday €69.00 €42.00 Race ticket Saturday – Sunday €62.00 €38.00 Day tickets Thursday €37.00 €24.00 Friday €37.00 €24.00 Sunday €35.00 €21.00 *) Advance ticket price. From Monday, 11 May 2026, 8:00 a.m., a surcharge of five euros will be added to the advance ticket prices. **) Children up to and including the age of 12 are admitted free of charge. Young people up to and including the age of 15 and guests with disabilities pay the reduced price. One accompanying person per guest with a ‘B’ or ‘H’ ID card also pays the reduced admission price at the box office. Ticket prices for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers 2026 Ticket Validity Standard Reduced** Weekend ticket Friday – Sunday €45.00 €25.00 Day tickets Friday €10.00 €6.00 Saturday €27.00 €16.00 Sunday €27.00 €16.00 **) Children up to and including the age of 12 are admitted free of charge. Young people up to and including the age of 15 and guests with disabilities pay the reduced price. An accompanying person of guests with ‘B’ and ‘H’ ID cards also pays the reduced admission price at the box office.
19.11.2025
Dive into Germany’s most beautiful and thrilling journey through motorsport history – on both the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife. From pre-war racing machines to the single-seaters, Grand Prix cars and supercars of the 1950s and 1960s, all the way to the touring cars and GT racers of the former DTM and DRM: this irresistible blend guarantees heart-pounding, wheel-to-wheel action in full colour at the Nürburgring during the 53rd BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix. One of the many highlights already in preparation is the spectacular one-hour Saturday evening race, rounded off by a fireworks display at the chequered flag! The icons of motorsport history can also be experienced up close in the Grand Prix paddock. This is living history at your fingertips: fans can meet motorsport legends at autograph sessions and look over the shoulders of old-school mechanics as they work. The paddock also offers rare memorabilia and period-correct motorsport accessories.A perfectly fitting backdrop awaits in the Historic Paddock, with cars built up to the 1950s, while on the opposite side the exclusive gathering of top marques in the AMG Arena delivers pure fascination. All of this returns on the traditional date: the second weekend of August – 7 to 9 August 2026. Day tickets are now here available in advance from 29.00 Euro, while a full weekend ticket costs 79.00 Euro. Especially attractive for families: children and young people up to and including 17 years of age enjoy free admission!
17.11.2025
The first tickets for the 2026 Nürburgring season are now available. Fans can already secure their seats for selected event highlights – and thus officially start looking forward to a new motorsport year. Even though the current season is only just coming to an end, preparations for 2026 are already in full swing. With the start of ticket sales, the stage is set for a year full of thrilling races, unique experiences and unforgettable moments at the Nürburgring. Whether traditional major events or popular crowd pullers: the first events are now available in the ticket shop, offering fans early planning security for the coming season. Secure your tickets now and start the countdown to 2026! ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring | Event ticket & VIP ADAC 24h Qualifiers | Event ticket & VIP BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix | Event ticket & VIP ADAC Truck Grand Prix | Event ticket & VIP Rock am Ring | VIP DTM | VIP & RACE&LUNCH
30.10.2025
Today, on October 30, 1925, exactly 100 years ago, our race track was given its name. In 1925, a public competition was held to find a suitable name, and numerous suggestions were received.The decisive idea came from the then Prussian district president, Dr. Francis Kruse: “Nürburg-Ring.” On October 30, 1925, this name was officially given to the track – and today it is known worldwide. ℹ️ The Nürburgring opened in 1927. As part of #Roadto100, we are looking back at various milestones in our long history in the run-up to our big anniversary year!
11.10.2025
Radiant winners in gloomy weather conditions: The champions of the 2025 season of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie are called Nick Wüstenhagen and Ranko Mijatovic. At the end of an exhausting season, the duo’s second place in the BMW M4 GT4 from FK Performance Motorsport in the tenth race of the season, after nine victories in a row, was enough to secure the title. For the team from Bremen, which has been competing in the NLS for 13 years, it is the first title in the popular endurance series. The last overall victory of the season went to Falken Motorsports. Dorian Boccolacci crossed the finish line after 4:01:30.077 hours, 22.281 seconds ahead of Nico Menzel in the sister car. The man from Kelberg was in action in both Porsche 911 GT3 R of the team and thus finished both first and second, the latter alongside Joel Sturm. The Haupt Racing Team confirmed the upward trend with the third consecutive podium finish for the Ford Mustang GT3. “I hoped that I would be able to defend the title. But you can’t plan something like that,” said Mijatovic. “I wanted to return to FK Performance Motorsport and with Nick it was a mega driver combination.” Mijatovic is, after record champion Johannes Scheid, the first driver to succeed in defending the title after changing cars. Scheid drove an Autobianchi A112 in 1980 and a Fiat 127 Sport in 1981, Mijatovic switched from the BMW M240i Racing to the BMW M4 GT4. Great joy over championship number one also for Wüstenhagen: “We worked towards the title. In the end, however, it was a lot of work. For me it’s the first time, and it’s slowly becoming real what we have achieved. My goal is of course to build on this success next year. But that also has to fit into my professional everyday life. We’ll see where the journey goes.” At the beginning of the season, Tobias Wahl was also part of today’s championship team. After a bicycle accident, however, the 39-year-old local hero from Remagen was forced to watch from NLS7 onward. In his place, Reinhold Renger contested the remaining season. “We as FK Performance have been competing in the NLS since 2013 and it makes us very proud to now be the ones to provide the champions here. This was definitely not the unlucky 13th year for us, because it is one of our greatest successes,” grinned team boss Martin Kaemena. “Congratulations to Martin and his team,” said Matthias Unger, who with his team Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels had produced the champions over the past seven years. “In the coming season they will be the hunted ones and we will do everything to win the title back.” Adrenalin Motorsport, however, does not go empty-handed this year either. Philipp Leisen, Philipp Stahlschmidt and Daniel Zils won the Produktionswagen-Trophäe of the NLS by a wide margin. The trio achieved six class victories in the VT2-RWD with the BMW 330i. Mühlner Motorsport wins the PETNThe runners-up title was secured by Tim Scheerbarth and Arne Hoffmeister in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of Mühlner Motorsport. With their seventh win of the season, together with David Jahn, the trio also won the overall classification of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. The title in the Cup 3 class of the PETN went to Joshua Bednarski and Lorenz Stegmann, who piloted the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS of W&S Motorsport. Things got really exciting again at the end in the Junior Trophy of the NLS. Noah Nagelsdiek from Alsdorf near Aachen was able to celebrate in the end – even though there was no final race result to count. The 25-year-old retired in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON shortly before the end of the race. Luck in misfortune: his fiercest rival in the title fight, Harley Haughton (20) in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS of SRS Team Sorg Rennsport, suffered the same fate in the first half of the race. Thus, Nagelsdiek ultimately kept the upper hand by just one point. The fastest gentleman of the season was Heiko Eichenberg. The 51-year-old teammate of Haughton prevailed, among others, against the two veterans Joachim and Jürgen Nett, who competed in the Audi S3 of Dupré Motorsport Engineering in the VT2-F+4WD and secured the class winner’s trophy for themselves. A step ahead of her fatherThe NLS Ladies Trophy 2026 goes to Janina Schall. The 20-year-old, competing for the team “Girls only – Ready to rock the Green Hell”, drove her second season in the NLS and is already one step ahead of her well-known father Ralf Schall. The veteran achieved five overall and 106 class victories – most of them in the cult Mercedes-Benz 190E – but never won a title in his long endurance career. “That’s now a point where I can tease my father a bit,” grinned Schall. “And I hope this won’t be my last title. The Girls-Only team was and is exactly right for me for entering the NLS. I’ve learned a lot – not only in driving, but also beyond that.” The Goodyear Award for the most successful vehicle that used tires from NLS partner Goodyear this year goes to the BMW M240i Racing of PTerting Sports by Up2Race, driven in the finale by Jannick Reinhard, John Van Der Sande and ‘Alboretto’. The first champion of the newly introduced BMW 325i Challenge by Goodyear this year is Moran Gott (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels). The Israeli achieved nine victories, six of them as a solo driver. Second and third places go to Eugen Becker (JS Competition) and Juha Miettinen, Dan Berghult and Oliver Frisse (Keeevin Sports and Racing). Falken Motorsports ends the season with a dream resultThe two Falken Porsches were the benchmark this year. The team celebrated not only its fifth win, but four times the 911s finished first and second as well.The car with start number #3 secured victory in the NLS Speed Trophy ahead of the #4. For his performance – finishing both first and second under demanding and partly wet conditions in the Green Hell – Menzel was voted “Driver of the Race” by the race management, the Drivers’ Association of the ILN (Interessengemeinschaft Langstrecke Nürburgring), and the track commentators.“Nico delivered an exceptional performance today,” said Alex Böhm, board member of the ILN. “He drove both spectacularly and with great care in these conditions. That impressed us all.” Menzel, who celebrated his third NLS victory, was thrilled by the award: “It means a lot to me to receive this prize, especially considering which panel awards it. Being nominated by true experts is fantastic.” Mike Jäger draws a positive conclusion“The NLS has had a very good season. There were many highlights on and off the track that participants and fans will remember for a long time,” said VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger. “Max Verstappen in the NLS was, of course, a huge deal, but also the premiere of the NLS Youth Kart Championship or our paddock parties with participants and marshals were among my personal highlights. We achieved new record numbers both for spectators on site and in the live streams. That motivates my team and me to keep pushing full throttle over the winter. We have a number of ideas we want to implement next year – after all, we’ll be celebrating our 50th season in the Green Hell.” The ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will start its jubilee year on March 14, 2026 – the 50th season in the Green Hell. After that, seven more dates with nine races will follow. Following their successful inclusion last year and this year, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers will again count towards the championship in 2026.The virtual competition will continue as early as October 24, 2025. The third race of the Community Cup of the Digital Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will run over three hours and promises thrilling racing, broadcast live at vln.de.
08.10.2025
This coming Saturday, October 11, marks the season finale of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. The 1st Sports Officials Trophy will see a number of decisions made in the various NLS classifications. Even though the new champions are practically certain – Nick Wüstenhagen and last year's champion Ranko Mijatovic are uncatchable at the top with the BMW M4 GT4 from FK Performance Motorsport – the four-hour race still promises plenty of excitement. Tickets are available from $25 at VLN.de/tickets. Admission is free for young people up to the age of 14. Those who are not there in person can follow the race day via the free livestream at VLN.de. With nine wins in nine races, Wüstenhagen and Mijatovic have delivered a strong performance in the 2025 season. Tim Scheerbarth and Arne Hoffmeister, who drive the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from Mühlner Motorsport together with David Jahn, can still catch up with the FK Performance Motorsport duo in terms of points. However, in the event of a tie, different rules apply, which would put Scheerbarth and Hoffmeister at a disadvantage, as they have two second places and one sixth place among their discarded results. Even though it is no longer necessary to win the championship, Wüstenhagen and Mijatovic, who drive the BMW M4 GT4 together with Reinhold Renger, naturally want to end the season in style with a victory. But the competition should not be underestimated. After clinching the ADAC GT4 Germany championship at the Hockenheimring last weekend, Jay Mo Härtling will make a guest appearance in the NLS alongside Kenneth Heyer and Tim Neuser in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 from SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm. Influencers Jimmy Broadbent, Steve Brown, and Follow @mgcharoudin will also be back in action after a two-race break, teaming up with veteran Manuel Metzger in the BMW M4 GT4 from Team BILSTEIN by BLACK FALCON. NLS Speed Trophy: Which Falken Porsche will take the crown?The overall victory will be decided between the two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars from Falken Motorsports. The team from Butzbach already has four season victories to its name. In the NLS Speed Trophy – the classification for top cars – the #3 car leads the #4 car by 16 points. There are still 38 points up for grabs. Nico Menzel is named on both cars for the final. He shares the #3 with Joel Sturm and the #4 with Dorian Boccolacci. The opponents in the GT3 SP9 class are once again the two Ford Mustang GT3s from Haupt Racing Team. Frank Stippler and Vincent Kolb have recently shown an upward trend, securing a victory and a third place with the beefy muscle car. Patrick Assenheimer, Dennis Fetzer, and DTM driver Fabio Scherer will take turns driving the sister car. Fetzer and Scherer recently finished second behind Max Verstappen and Chris Lullham in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. The NLS Junior Trophy is fiercely contested. Noah Nagelsdiek leads by just one point ahead of Harley Haughton. Nagelsdiek will be racing alongside Tobias Müller and Carlos Rivas in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON, while Haughton will be racing alongside Heiko Eichenberg in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS from SRS Team Sorg Rennsport. Overall standings for Cup 2 and Cup 3 in the PETN still open ahead of the finalThings are also set to be exciting in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. The titles are still up for grabs in both classes – Cup 2 for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and Cup 3 for Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. In Cup 2, the decision will be between Mühlner Motorsport and Team LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON. In Cup 3, W&S Motorsport and Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol are the main contenders for the title. The SRS Team Sorg Rennsport still has a theoretical chance of finishing at the top. The drivers' standings in both classes are also still open. The overall PETN champions for 2025 will also be crowned. Decisions are also still pending in the class winner trophy and the KW team trophy, including in the VT2-F+4WD between CSRacing, Dupré Motorsport Engineering, and Auto Thomas by Jung Motorsport, as well as in the BMW M240i class between PTerting Sports by Up2Race and the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels. Tickets and programTickets for the 1st Sportwarte Trophy cost €25 (children under 14 free) and are available at VLN.de/tickets and at the box office. This gives access to the open grandstands on the Grand Prix circuit, the exclusive spectator areas Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane, and starting grid. The best positions on the starting grid will be decided in qualifying between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. During the break between qualifying and the race, fans will have plenty of time to experience the cars up close: with a ticket, they can enter the pit lane at 10:20 a.m. for the pit walk, before the starting grid attracts even more motorsport fans at 11:10 a.m. The four-hour endurance race starts at 12:00 p.m. The livestream at VLN.de begins at 8:15 a.m. In addition, there is ‘Radio Nürburgring’ at rpr1.de and in the RPR1.APP.
02.10.2025
The lights are green for advance ticket sales for 2026: As the 2025 DTM reaches its climax in Hockenheim (3rd to 5th October), tickets for the coming season go on sale. Tickets for the 2026 DTM still start as low as € 49 and are available in the online shop at dtm.com from 16:00 on Sunday 5th October. Those who act quickly enough will not only get their hands on the best seats for next year, but can also save up to 30 percent. The DTM is once again family friendly in 2026: under 16s go free at all circuits when accompanied by an adult. The start of advance ticket sales means fans can purchase tickets for seven of the eight race weekends, saving money not once, but twice. Anyone purchasing tickets by 16th October 2025 will receive a ten percent early booking discount on tickets in all categories. ADAC members benefit from an additional saving of ten percent, allowing them to save a mighty 30 percent on the price of tickets purchased on the day. Tickets for the race weekend at the Norisring will be available at a later date. At all eight events, visitors can look forward to an entertaining and varied programme, extending far beyond the thrilling action on the track: all ticket holders have free access to the paddock, the pit walk and the DTM Fan Zone. As weil as free admission, young fans can also look forward to a hast of activities across the event sites. "The DTM is booming. This year, more than half a million people flocked to the circuits to watch the races live," says ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss. "The DTM offers visitors an accessible event that is outstanding value for money. With this in mind, we are sticking with□ur tried-and-tested ticket range, and are delighted to be able to keep the prices the same forthe coming season." 2026 sees the DTM kick □ff the new season in Austria for the first time. The opening round will take place at the Red Bull Ring from 24th to 26th April. The calendar features a total of 16 races spread across eight race weekends in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. After the season opener in Styria, the season heads to Zandvoort on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands for its second event outside of Germany. In keeping with tradition, the Hockenheimring Baden Württemberg will hast the grand finale to the season. Other venues include the Dekra Lausitzring, the Norisring, Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, the Nürburgring, and the Sachsenring.
29.09.2025
Fans of the Nürburgring can look forward to the finale of the ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series, the thrilling conclusion to the Nürburgring Drift Cup season, and the European TimeAttack Masters & Tuning Masters in October. But there is also a big highlight for young Nürburgring fans away from the racetrack: The big Nürburgring Family Day on Sunday, October 26, promises an unforgettable experience for the whole family – with free admission as usual. The events at a glance: Nürburgring Family Day | October 26, 2025On Family Day, the Nürburgring will once again be transformed into an adventure land for young and old – with free admission. The ring°boulevard on the Grand Prix circuit will become a family-friendly horsepower extravaganza. The Nürburgring mascot “Legend” and his friends, soccer artist Jannik Freestyle, and children's artist Volker Rosin will be appearing on the large RPR1 stage. Real vintage cars and formula cars can be admired from the viewing stand. In addition, there will be hands-on activities at the stands of Rhein-Zeitung, monte mare, Junior Uni Daun, AOK, and, of course, the Nürburgring. As every year, the fire department, police, and rescue services will be there with their emergency vehicles and much more. ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series – Season Finale | October 11, 2025The crowning finale of the season in the Green Hell! At the season finale of the ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series, the championship title will be decided on the most demanding race track in the world. And spectators can experience the excitement up close: for €25, adults can watch the race from the grandstands and spectator areas along the track. A special highlight is access to the paddock and the pit and grid walk, which offers unique insights and proximity to the teams shortly before the start of the race. Children up to and including the age of 14 accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge. European TimeAttack Masters & Tuning Masters | October 12, 2025In the fall, the tuning scene traditionally meets again at the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit. On October 12, there will be an exciting showdown of enthusiast cars and fast laps at the European TimeAttack Masters in the paddock of the GP circuit. In addition, the event, presented by the ESSEN MOTOR SHOW, offers a large exhibitor mile in the Grand Prix paddock, a VIP car exhibition, and program items such as drift and taxi rides, a dB competition, and the AvD Drift Championship final – a true festival for all petrolheads. Adults pay €20 admission. Children up to 14 years of age have free admission. ADAC Westfalen Trophy | October 17 to 19, 2025Fans of popular sports will get their money's worth at the ADAC Westfalen Trophy. Current GT racing meets historic formula and touring cars on the Grand Prix circuit. Series such as the Special Touring Car Trophy, the Belcar Historic Cup, and the Historic Formula Vau Europa ensure action-packed duels. As usual, spectators have access to the paddock. This allows visitors to experience the fascinating races not only on the track, but also behind the scenes. Tickets are available from 10 euros. ADAC RGB Season Finale | October 4 to 5, 2025For the 46th time, the Bergisch Gladbach Racing Association is hosting its season finale – once again at the Nürburgring. On both days, fans of historic motorsport will once again get their money's worth. The popular battle of the minis with numerous starters will take to the track, as will the Youngtimer Trophy, the Cup and Touring Car Trophy, and the Dutch SLK Cup. A full program of events on the Grand Prix circuit is therefore guaranteed. Tickets are available on site: a day ticket for adults costs €26. A weekend ticket is available for €47. RCN 3-hour race “Schwedenkreuz” | October 25, 2025The 3-hour “Schwedenkreuz” race is the traditional season finale of the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN). The race is held on the 24.358-kilometer combination of the Nordschleife and the sprint track. The RCN is considered one of the best-known amateur racing series in Germany, in which mainly amateur teams and touring cars compete – usually in single-start time mode. The Schwedenkreuz race is different: here, all vehicles start the race together, competing directly against each other with a flying start, ensuring thrilling duels. With its special format, it is the only real race in the RCN calendar and therefore a highlight for participants and spectators alike. Nürburgring Drift Cup | October 25 to 26, 2025Smoking tires and spectacular sideways drifts – the Nürburgring Drift Cup celebrates its end of the year in the Müllenbachschleife. For two days, the drivers once again show off their skills and engage in breathtaking duels where vehicle control is key. Spectators can experience the action up close. Depending on the time and mood, day tickets and weekend tickets are available. The day ticket costs €20 for adults, while the weekend ticket for both days is available for €35. Children up to and including the age of 14 have free admission and can marvel at the drifting spectacle free of charge. Events at the Nürburgring – October 2025: 03. – 05.10. Green Hell Driving Days 04. – 05.10. ADAC RGB Saisonfinale 11.10. ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie 12.10. European TimeAttack Masters & Tuning Masters 17. – 19.10. ADAC Westfalen Trophy (Final ADAC Racing Weekend) 24.10. GLP 25.10. RCN – 3h Race 25. – 26.10. Nürburgring Drift Cup 26.10. Nürburgring Familientag
27.09.2025
Exactly 100 years after the foundation stone was laid for the unique Eifel circuit, Max Verstappen and Chris Lulham made history at the Nürburgring. The four-time and reigning Formula 1 World Champion, together with his friend and teammate, won the ninth race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Driving the EMIL FREY RACING Ferrari 296 GT3, the duo beat Dennis Fetzer, Jann Mardenborough, and Fabio Scherer in the Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3 by 24.496 seconds. In the sister car, Vincent Kolb and Frank Stippler finished third after four hours. For Verstappen, victory at the 57th ADAC Barbarossapreis, organized by MSC Sinzig, marked several milestones: his first GT3 race, his first outing in a multi-class field, and his first win outside Formula 1 – at least in real-world motorsport. In the Digital Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Verstappen had already claimed two victories in Season 5. In qualifying, Verstappen had to settle for third. Christian Krognes, current lap record holder on the NLS layout of the short course and Nordschleife, secured pole position in the Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with a time of 8:06.057 minutes. Second went to double starter Stippler, just 2.119 seconds off pole in the JUTA RACING Audi R8 LMS GT3. Verstappen briefly led the timesheets but ultimately finished 3.069 seconds down. Interest from fans was huge, with large crowds following the Formula 1 star in the paddock and on the starting grid. At the race start, Verstappen grabbed the lead into turn one and extended his advantage during a double stint to around one minute ahead of Stippler. Lulham then took over the Ferrari for the final two stints, delivering a strong performance against Kolb and the second Mustang entry. “It feels amazing to win here in my first race,” said Verstappen. “My goal is to compete in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring one day. Hopefully, we’ll do more NLS races next year.” Lulham was equally stunned: “Unbelievable, I can’t even put it into words yet. The car was fantastic, but driving with so much traffic on track was far from easy.” The runners-up were gracious in defeat, acknowledging Verstappen’s achievement. “Sharing the podium with someone like Max Verstappen is fantastic. That was mega. I’m rarely nervous, but today I was a little bit,” said Fetzer. Mardenborough echoed the praise: “It was extremely cool to race alongside Max and Chris.” Stippler was satisfied with yet another podium: “Our goal was to be in better shape at the end of the season than we were in March, and we’re well on track. Finishing behind the best driver in the world is perfectly fine. I fully expected Max and Chris to win.” Speaking of “best driver”: for his outstanding performance on his GT3 debut, Verstappen was named “Driver of the Race” by representatives of the race direction, the Drivers’ Association of the ILN (Interessengemeinschaft Langstrecke Nürburgring), and the race commentators. Behind the top three came another surprise: Dominik and Marcel Fugel, together with Benny Leuchter, finished fourth in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. The car ran on Volkswagen-developed E20 Gasoline, a biofuel that is 60% renewable. A strong debut for the first sustainable GT3 car in the Green Hell. Pole-sitter Krognes, together with Mateo Villagomez and Anders Buchardt, claimed victory in the SP9 Pro-Am class for Walkenhorst Motorsport. The SP9 Am crown went to Kiki Sak Nana, Christoph Breuer, and “Dieter Schmidtmann” in the Renazzo Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo II. Thai drift champion Sak Nana expressed his passion for the Green Hell: “I raced here in the NLS from 2013 to 2016. Afterwards, I competed on other circuits in Asia and Europe, but I always thought about the Nordschleife. I’d be at the Red Bull Ring or Barcelona – why was I always thinking about the Green Hell? People told me: if that’s what you want, just do it again. Now I’m back and simply very happy. Thanks to the team, because our Lambo is getting easier to drive every time.” Ex-Formula 1 driver wins TCR classIn the TCR category, a former Formula 1 driver came out on top. Tiago Monteiro shared the ALM Motorsport Honda Civic TCR FL5 with Spain’s current TCR championship leader, Mike Halder. After 26 laps, they won by 2:35.083 minutes over Kenneth Østvold and Anders Lindstad in the Møller Bil Motorsport Audi RS3 LMS from Norway. Artur Goroyan, Roman Mavlanov (both Armenia), Oleg Kvitka (Kyrgyzstan), and VLN champion Danny Brink finished third in another Audi entered by Goroyan RT by sharky-racing. Championship leaders virtually uncatchableWith their ninth class win in nine races, Nick Wüstenhagen and Ranko Mijatovic have all but secured the title. The FK Performance Motorsport duo in the BMW M4 GT4 holds an unassailable lead in the standings and are practically guaranteed to be crowned champions at the season finale. They will succeed Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, who had dominated the championship for the past seven years. Fans who don’t want to miss the big finale of an unforgettable season: tickets for the season finale of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie are here available from 25 Euro in advance sales. Children up to 14 years are admitted free of charge.
