The 54th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy will conclude the first third of the Nürburgring Endurance Series season on 15 April. Once again, more than 140 cars have announced their participation, no less than 26 in the GT3 class SP9. Two of the nine races have been completed and the first tendencies are already emerging as to who will have a say in the battle for the championship. NLS3 runs over the usual distance of four hours. Tickets are available from 20 euros, children up to 14 years have free entry. Those who can't be there can follow the action in the Green Hell via livestream on VLN.de from 8:15 a.m. onwards.
Two races, two winning teams, one brand: BMW dominated the first two NLS races. While Maxime Martin and Dries Vanthoor from ROWE RACING triumphed in the opener, Jakub 'Kuba' Giermaziak and 'Jesse Krohn' in the BMW M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport did the same in NLS2. The other podium places went to Audi (Scherer Sport PHX) and Mercedes-AMG (Schnitzelalm Racing) as well as Porsche (Rutronik Racing) and the BMW Junior Team. The exotics in the GT3 class SP9 are currently still under the radar: Ferrari 296 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 and Aston Martin Vantage GT3. But it seems to be only a matter of time until the supposed underdogs will also score points in the Green Hell.
Adrenalin and FK Performance drivers lead the standings
After two races, there are already first tendencies in terms of the championship. Three teams are leading the standings with equal points, each having started the season with two victories in strongly contested classes: Daniel Zils, Oskar Sandberg and Philipp Leisen were successful in VT2-R+4WD for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. Their teammates - Sven Markert, Nils Steinberg and Yannick Fübrich - won the BMW M240i Racing by Goodyear class twice. Thorsten Wolter and Nick Wüstenhagen are entered for FK Performance Motorsport, who were flagged off as winners twice in SP10 with the BMW M4 GT4. Steinberg leads the medienkraftwerk Junior classification. In the NLS Speed Trophy, the BMW Junior Team takes first place ahead of the Rutronik Porsche and the Walkenhorst BMW #34.
In classes with seven or more participants, full points are awarded in the NLS for registered drivers and teams. This also applied to the two classes of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (CUP2 and CUP3) at the first two races of the season, to SP9 and VT2-FWD. However, no team managed two wins in a row. At the end of the year, two strike results are taken into account after nine races have been run.
Nordschleife debut for Samantha Tan
Samantha Tam will be making her Nordschleife debut this coming Saturday. The Canadian will start in the BMW 325i from RPM Racing in the V4 class, with the aim of recording her compulsory laps for the big Nordschleife permit. Normally, Tam is used to more powerful cars. In 2021, she won the 24h GT Series with her own team in a BMW M4 GT4. Last year, she moved up to the top class with an M4 GT3 and was also successful here at the 12h of Mugello. In 2023, she will be driving multi-track: she will be competing in the GT World Challenge America with a BMW M4 GT3 and in the European equivalent with a Ferrari 488 GT3.
Timo Scheider celebrates his NLS comeback. The two-time DTM champion (2008/2009) and 2003 24h winner last competed in the Nordschleife Championship in 2019. In the 54th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, he will share the cockpit in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II of Audi Sport Team Scherer PHX with he Frédéric Vervisch and Mattia Drudi.
Manthey-Racing evaluates customer feedback
There is a special guest entry in CUP2: With an exceptional permit, Marco Holzer and Jaxon Evans will start in a further developed Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). The car features a number of technical modifications based on feedback from participants in the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring.
Leading the drivers' standings in CUP2 are Benjamin Leuchter and Nico Otto, who are competing for Max Kruse Racing. With two second places, the team of the eponymous professional footballer leads the standings ahead of Paul Harkema and Tim Scheerbarth (AVIA W&S Motorsport) and Christopher Brück and Moritz Kranz (KKrämer Racing). In CUP3, W&S drivers Finn Zulauf, Marius Rauer and Moritz Oberheim are ahead of the SRS Team Sorg Rennsport trio of Heiko Eichenberg, Patrik Grütter and Fabio Grosse.
Brand diversity in the TCR class
Seven cars from five different manufacturers are named for the third NLS race of the season in the TCR class: Audi RS3, Cupra, Honda FK7, Opel Astra and VW Golf ensure brand diversity. Three of the TCR teams prove that motorsport is also a family affair: Marco and Mike Knappmeier start in the Golf together with Dirk Groneck, 2013 VLN Champion, while Michelle and Mike Halder take turns with Roger Vögli in the Honda. And one of the two Cupra cars will be driven by the Italians Armando and Dario Stanco.
Excitement guaranteed - get your tickets now!
Tickets for the third race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series are available for 20 Euros (children up to 14 years free of charge) online and at the box offices. This will get you into the open grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit, the exclusive spectator areas Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten as well as the paddock, the pit lane, the starting grid and the motorsport experience museum ring°werk.