The first quarter of the season in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) has been completed. After a two-month break, the 45th RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen is scheduled for next Saturday (June 25, 2022). Expected at sunny temperatures around 22 degrees anything but a lukewarm motorsport air around the legendary Nordschleife. The field of participants promises exciting duels for top positions in all classes and red-hot action. Tickets are available for a family-friendly 18 euros per person (children under 14 free). This not only gives access to the open grandstands at the Grand Prix Track and the exclusive spectator areas Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, but also to the paddock, the pit lane and the starting grid.

First of all, the focus is on the overall standings. After two races, nine drivers are in the lead with 30 points each. These are, on the one hand, the drivers Felix Schumann, Michael Paatz and Timo Hochwind from the Mathilda Racing Team LAVO Carwash in their Volkswagen Scirocco R from the VT2-FWD class. On the other hand Oskar Sandberg, Daniel Zils and Sindre Setsaas (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Alzner Automotive) in the BMW 330i from VT2-R+4WD. And last but not least Mauro Calamia, Ivan Jacoma and Kai Riemer from Cup3 with the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS from Team Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol. It could hardly be closer. Immediately behind them follow cars and drivers from the classes CUP2, V4, BMW M240i, V5 and BMW M2 CS. So the calculation to make more classes possible master classes with the new points system works out and underlines that the new points scheme of the NLS is already a successful one and provides for more diversity.

Three-time DTM champion René Rast drives with Giermaziak
Of course, as always, the SP9 cars will be particularly in the spotlight over the course of the four-hour race. An interesting pairing will start for Scherer Sport Team Phoenix in the Audi R8 LMS GT3. Driving with Poland's Jakub "Kuba" Giermaziak is three-time DTM Champion René Rast, who celebrated his 25th DTM victory last weekend at Imola (ITA). "I really enjoy racing on the Nordschleife," said Rast. "It's a lot of fun to drive the R8 there. I haven't driven an NLS race for a long time and have never won one. Therefore, it's about time."
Schnitzelalm Racing brings a touch of romance to NLS, with Carrie Schreiner forming a fast pair for the first time with her boyfriend Peter Terting in the Mercedes AMG GT3 as part of the NLS. "I am full of anticipation for the upcoming weekend. We have worked hard to put together a good package. I am convinced that I can learn a lot from Peter. He has already proven on all kinds of cars that he can be very fast. I will definitely enjoy every second, on the best race track in the world, on a GT3 car and then together with my friend. This is very special for me," says Carrie Schreiner.

Janine Shoffner back in the Nürburgring Endurance Series
In the Pro-Am class, Janine Shoffner is making a comeback. She is back in action for Team GetSpeed with Moritz Kranz in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. Last year, the US-American was the first driver to take on the challenge of racing solo on the Nordschleife in a GT3 car. Prior to that, she won the Am class classification of SP9 in 2021 in the NLS six times in a row with a wreath and thus also the associated class winner's trophy. She also finished the season as the NLS Ladies Trophy winner.

The Junior Team starts with the new BMW in SP8T 
Hardly had they said goodbye, they are already back on the mat. We are talking about the drivers of the BMW Junior Team. Daniel Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen are competing in the SP8T with the recently presented BMW M4 GT4 Concept. In the VLN TCR class, Scherer Sport is also causing a stir with the entry of the new Audi RS3 LMS. In addition to the former VLN Junior Christoph Breuer, the car will be driven by the "golden Leuchter" Benjamin Leuchter and Andreas Gülden. The car is supported by the new Scherer Team Project, which is made up of employees from various Scherer Group companies.

Janis Waldow competes in SP10 with a new car
Some people will rub their eyes in surprise when Janis Waldow climbs out of the cockpit in the pit lane. Because this time the man from Bonn is not driving a Renault Mégane RS or Alpine A110 GT4 as usual. Together with Max Lamesch and Andreas Patzelt, Waldow Performance is bringing a Mercedes-AMG GT4 into the grid. "We are starting with Mercedes as a new brand in addition to our existing program. We see this as a new challenge and want to position ourselves more broadly for the future. For us, we have identified the Mercedes GT4 as the suitable vehicle. We want to be competitive in the SP10 class. I am very much looking forward to the new project. I'm excited to see how the new project will start this weekend," says Janis Waldow.

Those who can't watch the race live on site should tune in to the elaborately produced livestream on Saturday morning. The broadcast with gripping footage from the ROWE helicopter, numerous onboard cameras and the KW-SlowMo starts at 08:15 and ends with the podium ceremony at around 16:30.