The season highlight of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is just around the corner. On August 3rd, there will be a 50 percent increase in the race distance. And the ROWE 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal race, which has been designed as a big family festival this year, also has more to offer in many other respects. Tickets are available here and those staying at home can follow the action around the Nürburgring in the livestream here.

There is a lot of action in the premier class SP9. 15 GT3 cars have entered for the 6-hour race. Falken Motorsports has a spectacular new entry. Ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Timo Glock will make his debut in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Alongside Nico Menzel, there is a lot of pressure on the 42-year-old professional, as Falken is the favorite this year with four wins from five races. “I'm really looking forward to my first GT3 race in the Green Hell,” says Glock. "After my permit races with underpowered touring cars in the NLS, the step up to GT4 in the 24-hour race was a big plus in terms of driving fun. I am very grateful to Falken that they are now giving me the opportunity to drive the Porsche 911 GT3 R. In Nico Menzel, I have a strong driver at my side and I'm excited to see how we'll do in the end." In the sister car, Alessio Picariello will alternate with Alexander Lynn, another newcomer. The Briton is the reigning LMP2 champion of the European Le Mans Series and competes in the WEC for Cadillac.

Four teams are celebrating their comeback in the NLS. The two DTM drivers Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining will alternate with Laurens Vanthoor in the Manthey EMA 'Grello'. Alex Fontana, Klaus Koch, Florian Spengler and Johannes Stengel will line up for Car Collection Motorsport in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II, while Dutchman Adrien De Leener and Bastian Buus will share a Porsche 911 GT3 R with Dinamic GT. Hans Wehrmann, Joachim Thyssen and Thomas Kiefer will also be competing for Huber Motorsport in a 911.

Three Mercedes-AMG GT3s will also start the race with strong crews. The ADVAN x HRT team will be on the grid with Jusuf Owega, Arjun Maini and Dennis Fetzer as well as Salman Owega, David Schumacher and Hubert Haupt. Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf is relying on Lucas Auer, Ralf Aron and Jules Gounon. PROsport-Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport will fly the Aston Martin flag. The Renazzo Motorsport team led by Thai drift champion Kiki Sak Nana will field a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo II, while JUTARACING and équipe vitesse will each bring an Audi R8 LMS GT3 to the Eifel. Last but not least, the congenial duo Frank Stippler / Vincent Kolb will continue their journey through the Green Hell in the Porsche 911 GT3 R from Herberth Motorsport.

Professional footballer Max Kruse meets rapper SMUDO in his racing debut
As a partner and namesake of the racing team of the same name, Max Kruse has been present in the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie for years. Now the professional footballer is going one step further and contesting his first race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Together with Nico Otto and Marcus Menden, Kruse will drive a VW Golf VII GTI TCR in the AT class. The vehicle runs on 102-octane Shell E20 fuel, which emits 50% less CO2. “I'm delighted to finally be able to take part in my first NLS race after six years,” says Kruse, who has worn the national team jersey 17 times. "Driving Max Kruse Racing's own Golf on the Nordschleife will be tough competition. The test on Friday as well as qualifying and the race on Saturday - it's going to be a great weekend. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm hoping for bright sunshine." Benjamin Leuchter and Heiko Hammel are also competing in the same class with the new VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h, which celebrated its premiere at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The MKR protagonists will have to compete with two Porsches from Four Motors Bioconcept-Car. Rapper SMUDO (Die Fantastischen Vier) will alternate with Michelle Halder, Henrik Bollerselv and Matthias Beckwermert in the 911 GT3 R.

First-class entertainment on and off the race track
The ROWE 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal race will be a festival for the whole family. On race day, all German states are still on summer vacation. For this reason, the six hours of racing action are not the only reason for a trip to the beautiful Eifel region; fans will also be offered great added value in the paddock. With a bouncy castle and food trucks in the paddock, the fan area invites you to linger. Skye and Chase from Paw Patrol offer selfie opportunities, as does the Nürburgring mascot 'Legend'. All the walking acts will be present between practice and the race during the pit walk in the pit lane and on the grid, which is open to all spectators at the NLS. Another highlight in the fan area is the Volkswagen exhibition. The automotive group from Wolfsburg is bringing ten exhibits from the VW Museum to the Nürburgring to mark the 50th anniversary of the Golf. The legends will also take to the Nordschleife in a motorcade between practice and the race. The same applies to the participants in the charity parade, where fans can rent a car to experience the Green Hell for the benefit of the track safety stewards.

A campaign by VLN boss Mike Jäger on Friday afternoon will also focus on the volunteers, who have one of the most important jobs at the NLS races. The 27-time class winner will take to the Nordschleife in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 from PROsport Racing to give interested fans an unforgettable lap of the Nordschleife. Incidentally, the test drive has another highlight in store. BMW will be testing the new BMW M4 GT3 EVO for the first time as part of the NLS - something automotive enthusiasts should not miss out on.