NEWS

13 May, Tuesday

Looking forward to exciting 24-hour qualifiers

Spectators at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on May 24 and 25 can look forward to spectacular battles, fascinating vehicles, and a dozen or more contenders for victory. Around 20 cars are expected to compete in the class of race-winning GT3 machines. In total, organizers anticipate a starting grid of over 100 participants—ideal conditions for an exciting and high-caliber motorsport...
Looking forward to exciting 24-hour qualifiers

13.05.2025

Spectators at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on May 24 and 25 can look forward to spectacular battles, fascinating vehicles, and a dozen or more contenders for victory. Around 20 cars are expected to compete in the class of race-winning GT3 machines. In total, organizers anticipate a starting grid of over 100 participants—ideal conditions for an exciting and high-caliber motorsport weekend. After all, the two races on Saturday and Sunday are not only about earning valuable championship points for the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS); the weekend also serves as the final opportunity for testing and qualifying ahead of the season’s highlight: the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (June 19–22, 2025). That alone gives participants and fans plenty of reason not to miss out. Tickets are already available starting at €25 (day tickets for Saturday/Sunday). Three NLS rounds are already behind the endurance heroes of the Nürburgring, and now attention turns toward the battle for the most important trophy of the season. So far, Porsche teams have dominated as the main contenders, winning every race so far. After Falken Motorsports claimed victories in the first two rounds, it was Thomas Preining and Ayhancan Güven in the iconic “Grello” who triumphed in the third NLS race. The bright yellow Porsche from the legendary Manthey Racing squad will once again be among the top favorites at the 24h Qualifiers—although there will be a driver change for the 24h prologue. “For Ayhancan and me, this was our last race before the 24h Nürburgring, and it’s obviously nice to finish with a win,” said Preining after the race, making his intentions clear for the 24h: “Of course we want to win.” It would be the team’s eighth overall victory, which would put them alone at the top of the all-time winners' list. Teammate Güven was equally optimistic after the NLS race: “I feel really well prepared. Now we have a bit of time to analyze everything and make sure we’re fully ready for the race we’ve been working toward all along.” But winning the 24h won’t be a walk in the park—the competition on the Nordschleife is far too close. At NLS3, four different manufacturers occupied the first two rows on the grid, and despite Porsche 911s sweeping the top four spots at the finish, five different brands were represented among the top eight GT3 finishers. Excitement and Brand Diversity at the QualifiersFor teams aiming to win the 24h, there's really only one currency that counts: test mileage! As a result, the GT3 class has been stacked in the recent Nürburgring endurance races, and the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on May 24 and 25 will be no exception. Spectators can expect not just top-level racing but also a colorful field. The favorites include seven Porsche 911 GT3 entries across six teams. The challengers feature two GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3s, aiming to turn their second-place finish at NLS3 into one—or even two—victories. The defending 24h champions from Scherer Sport PHX will field an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2, supported by fellow Audi squads Juta Racing, équipe vitesse, and Eastalent Racing Team. Aston Martin will be represented by Walkenhorst Motorsport and PROsport Racing. Lamborghini (Abt) and Ferrari (Realize Kondo Racing) will also join the mix. World-Class Racing GuaranteedTop-level racing will be on display from the first minute of the 24h Qualifiers. In qualifying sessions (Saturday from 10:00 a.m., Sunday from 8:15 a.m.) and the special top qualifying for Sunday’s race (Sunday, 10:30 a.m.), teams will fight for valuable single-lap shootout spots for the 24h grid. Up to four grid spots are up for grabs here, while up to three spots per race will be awarded based on race performance. The four-hour races offer the final opportunity before the 24h in late June to gain competitive experience on the world’s longest and most beautiful racetrack. Saturday’s race begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs into the twilight—perfect for preparing for evening conditions on track. Sunday’s race kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Many teams from the 18 well-filled classes will also use the weekend for preparation. These races also count toward the NLS championship. Heading into the 24h Qualifiers, Arne Hoffmeister and Tim Scheerbarth (Mühlner Motorsport) lead the standings after three victories in the Cup2 category. Their closest rivals currently include the Adrenalin BMW M240i driven by Markert/Wambach in the M240i Cup class, as well as the FK Performance BMW M4 GT4 of Mijatovic/Wüstenhagen/Wahl from the SP8T class. Other classes also promise excitement—such as VT2 Front/4WD, where Hyundai, Audi, and VW have each taken a win in the three races held so far. Two Action-Packed Days at the NürburgringThe two main races during the 24h Qualifiers won’t be the only action on the Nürburgring. Saturday’s program also features a performance test by the RCN, which will bring three and a half hours of racing around the Nordschleife starting at 1:00 p.m. The Mercedes-AMG Arena will be buzzing on both Saturday and Sunday with two slalom competitions for grassroots motorsport enthusiasts. The youngest motorsport talents will showcase their skills on the paddock helipad, where eKart slalom events will be held throughout the weekend.

ADAC Truck Grand Prix 2025: Europe's largest truck festival returns

12.05.2025

On the second weekend in July, the Nürburgring will once again be the setting for one of the most spectacular events of the year: the 38th International ADAC Truck Grand Prix combines thrilling motorsport with a diverse festival program, one of Europe's largest commercial vehicle trade fairs, and strong impetus for a sustainable future of mobility. “The International ADAC Truck Grand Prix stands for motorsport and entertainment, but also for sustainability and innovation. Ticket sales have started very well and fans can look forward to a spectacular weekend full of action and entertainment,” says Jörg Hennig, Sports Director at ADAC Mittelrhein e.V. Motorsport action with a focus on sustainabilityThe Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) races will once again take center stage in 2025. The premier class of truck racing offers spectacular duels with race trucks boasting more than 1,000 hp and sets standards in climate protection at the same time: since 2021, all teams have been racing with 100% sustainable HVO fuel (hydrogenated vegetable oil), which reduces CO? emissions by up to 90%. The ETRC was thus the first racing series worldwide to switch completely to alternative fuels and holds the FIA's highest sustainability certificate.German top drivers Jochen Hahn and Sascha Lenz, who finished just behind champion Norbert Kiss (HUN) in 2024, will also be back in action. Fans can also look forward to the popular Dutch Truck Racing Series as part of the Mittelrhein Cup.Also at the start: the ADAC GT Masters, which provides a contrast to the race trucks with super sports cars from Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG and McLaren, and also uses HVO fuel. Premiere for Truck Efficiency RunWith the Truck Efficiency Run (TER), the promoter of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) is launching an innovative competition that bridges the gap between road transport and motorsport while highlighting the role of professional drivers in a sustainable future.The “Truck Efficiency Run powered by Krone” is not about who is the fastest, but who drives the most efficiently.The event will take place on July 10 on the Nordschleife. Participants will compete in various technology categories, including classic diesel-powered trucks and modern electric and hydrogen vehicles. All information about the competition is available at www.truckefficiencyrun.com. Trade fair, job expo, and symposium: The industry meets at the RingParallel to the racing action, one of the largest trade fairs for the commercial vehicle industry will take place in the paddock. Manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics companies will present their innovations, which will bring the sustainable mobility of tomorrow to life, on over 10,000 square meters.A key industry event is the ADAC/TÜV Rheinland TruckSymposium, which will take place for the 18th time on Friday, July 11. Under the title “Transformation in transport logistics: theory meets practice,” decision-makers from politics, business, and research will discuss, among other things, the transformation of vehicle fleets - a political goal that raises many questions and investment needs in practice. Registration is available at www.trucksymposium.de.ADAC Mittelrhein e.V. is tackling the shortage of skilled workers together with the Nürburgring with the ADAC Truck Grand Prix Job Expo, which brings together young talent and companies. It will take place from Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the ring°boulevard. Admission is free. Festival with country, retro, and party nightsThe supporting program also leaves nothing to be desired: music, entertainment, and a cult atmosphere transform the Müllenbachschleife into a huge festival area.On Friday (July 11), the traditional country evening invites you to join in the celebrations: Tom Astor celebrates his incredible 37th appearance at the Truck Grand Prix. Alina Sebastian, Salvati, and The Wild Ride will also be there.On Saturday (July 12), the big party highlight follows: Loona, Malle Anja, Markus Becker, and Sabbotage will rock the Müllenbachschleife. Spectacular fireworks will be the grand finale of the evening.For the first time, the Retro Camp will also take place throughout the weekend in the historic paddock – with an additional stage, musical country influences, and a varied supporting program. This makes the Truck Grand Prix an event for the whole family. Whether it's the truck parade, fan village, children's area with bouncy castles and duck rodeo – children up to and including 12 years of age receive free admission in many categories.

NLS3: Manthey EMA wins after four hours of thrilling racing in the Green Hell

10.05.2025

The third round of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie was a celebration for every motorsport fan: four hours of gripping racing action featuring countless, sometimes spectacular overtaking maneuvers and beaming winners. After 29 grueling laps in the Green Hell, Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining claimed the 58th victory for Manthey EMA in their Porsche 911 GT3 R. At the finish line, their lead over Maro Engel, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of the Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed was 11.163 seconds. After two consecutive wins, Falken Motorsports' streak came to an end at the 56th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy. Sven Müller and Morris Schuring drove their Porsche to third place. Starting from pole position, Manthey driver Güven dominated the first four laps. On lap five, he was briefly overtaken by Ricardo Feller in the Porsche 911 GT3 R of Scherer Sport PHX, only to reclaim the lead a few kilometers later. The Scherer Porsche remained among the front-runners for much of the race but had to pit for a splash of fuel just one lap before the end, dropping to sixth overall. The sister car, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO 2 driven by Christopher Haase and Luca Ludwig, was also in the fight for the podium but fell back from second place shortly before the final stint. With a tire issue looming, Ludwig brought the R8 back to the pits at reduced speed to prevent further damage. David Perel, Axcil Jefferies, and Thomas Neubauer also led their first laps of the season in the Ferrari 296 GT3 of REALIZE KONDO RACING with Rinaldi, but a faulty alternator after the first stint forced their early retirement. GetSpeed clocked seven laps in the lead and also set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 7:52.588. “We had to wait more than a year for this win – it felt really long,” said Preining after the race. “We’re super happy that things went so well. We still need to fine-tune a few things, and with the DTM races in between, it certainly won’t be boring.” Stolz was also pleased: “That was a really good race, and I had a lot of fun on the Nordschleife in this great weather. Manthey just beat us at the end. Next time, we hope to move up one step on the podium. We won’t rest on our laurels.” After the race, Schuring was named Driver of the Race by the race directors, the ILN drivers’ committee, and NLS commentators for his exceptionally smart yet spectacular overtaking maneuvers despite his young age. “I gladly accept this honor – it means a lot to me, especially considering the experienced pros I raced against today.” The Dutchman added: “Even though we didn’t win today, we can be very satisfied. The competition was really strong. We’ll analyze everything closely and aim to take the next step at the Qualifiers in two weeks.” The second Falken Porsche finished fourth after four hours, ahead of the top-finishing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo from Walkenhorst Motorsport. Ben and Phil Dörr won the Pro-Am class in the SP9 category with their McLaren 720s GT3 Evo. Arno Klasen, Eric Ullström, and Michael Heimrich were the fastest Am drivers in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 of équipe vitesse. Cup 2 Victory and Championship Lead for Mühlner MotorsportWith their third win in the Cup 2 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring, Tim Scheerbarth and Arne Hoffmeister also took the overall lead in the NLS standings. Together with David Jahn, the trio in the H&R Spezialfedern-liveried Porsche 911 GT3 Cup beat Tobias Müller, Noah Nagelsdiek, and Carlos Rivas of LOSCH Motorsport by Black Falcon to second place. The Cup 3 victory went to Joshua Bednarski, Kai Riemer, and Lorenz Stegmann in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS from W&S Motorsport. Following a crash in qualifying that couldn’t be repaired before the race, Heiko Eichenberg and Harley Haughton of SRS Team Sorg Rennsport—who had been tied for the championship lead after two rounds—registered their first dropped result. Similar misfortune struck Daniel Zils, Philipp Stahlschmidt, and Philipp Leisen. After a tire failure on their BMW 330i from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, the team found additional damage in the pits and retired early. Zils / Stahlschmidt / Leisen also arrived at round three as points leaders. Benefiting in the VT2-RWD class were Jan-Piet Ooms, Calvin de Groot, and Marius Rauer in the BMW 330i from SRS Team Sorg Rennsport. De Groot thus took the lead in the NLS Junior Trophy. Tightest Finish in Class V6The closest finish of the race occurred in the V6 class. Klaus Faßbender, Christian Büllesbach, Andreas Schettler, and Daniel Zils in the Porsche Cayman S of Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels crossed the line just 1.736 seconds ahead of Christian and Thomas Heuchemer in the Porsche 911 from Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol. Exciting Action for the NLS Kart Kids TooThere were beaming faces among the young talents at the third round of the NLS Youth Kart Slalom Championship – not only when Nürburgring mascot "Legend" and Stitch from "Lilo & Stitch" made an appearance at midday. Victories and trophies also brought joy to the top-performing kids – such as Jonas Bohrer from MSC Adenau, who took his third win of the season in K1. One class up, Mick Schmidt from OC Lahnstein took victory. In the highly competitive K3 class with 14 participants, David Bötcher from MSC Konz came out on top, while local favorite Florian Rauhe celebrated his third consecutive win in K4. In K5, Luis Müller-Herrfarth of the PSV Wengerohr MSA prevailed. The junior championship now heads into a well-deserved summer break. The fourth of five rounds is scheduled for August 16 as part of the NLS. Double-Header Ahead for the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-SerieIn just two weeks, the next two championship rounds of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie are on the schedule. Since last year, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers count towards the series. The ADAC Nordrhein will host a double-header on May 24 and 25, with two four-hour races on tap.

Strong lineup: Masters gala at NLS3

08.05.2025

All signs point to a fantastic race day as a top-class field lines up for the third race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie this coming Saturday (May 10). The provisional entry list for the 56th Adenauer Rundstrecken-Trophy features 141 cars – 510 drivers from 36 nations in vehicles from 18 different manufacturers. Among them are a number of champions who have already celebrated major successes in 2024 across various international racing series and prestigious events. Joel Sturm, a genuine world champion, will be on the grid. The 23-year-old German won the LMGT3 category in the WEC together with Manthey PureRxcing. At NLS3, he will share the cockpit of the Dinamic GT Porsche 911 GT3 R with Bastian Buus and Loek Hartog. Sturm will face strong competition, including Lucas Auer and Maro Engel, who are racing for the Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed and are the reigning champions of the GT World Challenge Europe – arguably the toughest GT3 championship in the world. Auer will alternate driving duties in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Adam Christodoulou and Mikaël Grenier, while Engel teams up with Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz. Also competing is reigning DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti, representing the Red Bull Team ABT. He will drive a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 alongside Luca Engstler and Christian Engelhart. Scherer Sport PHX is fielding two champions in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO 2 with start number #15: Christopher Haase, who won the 2024 International GT Open title, and Luca Ludwig, the GT Cup Europe champion. In addition to the stars already mentioned, other champions will be taking part in the third round of the Nordschleife racing series. Lorenz Stegmann, who won the 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge GT3, is competing in the Cup 3 class in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS for W&S Motorsport, together with Joshua Bednarski and Kai Riemer. Also in the PETN class is Nick Deißler, who dominated the RCN performance test last year. His teammates in the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels are Stefan Kruse and Aaron Wenisch. Frank Stippler, Ricardo Feller, and Dennis Marschall – last year’s winners of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring – are also returning, albeit in different cars. Stippler is moving into the cockpit of the powerful Ford Mustang GT3 from HRT FORD Performance. Feller remains loyal to Scherer Sport PHX and will race in a Porsche 911 GT3 R for the team based at the Nürburgring industrial park. Marschall, meanwhile, is driving for Falken Motorsports, also in a Porsche. He shares the 911 with, among others, Morris Schuring, who won the LMGT3 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year. The top-tier field is further enhanced by Nicki Thiim, winner of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, who will drive an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo for Walkenhorst Motorsport with David Pittard. Naturally, the top drivers from the 2024 NLS season are also fully represented. However, the champion trio is going their separate ways. Sven Markert will pilot the BMW M240i Racing Cup car for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels with start number #1. Toby Goodman has switched to AVIA W&S Motorsport in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, while Ranko Mijatovic will compete in the 2025 season in a BMW M4 GT4 for FK Performance Motorsport. Ladies Trophy winner Desiree Müller has moved up to the Cup 3 class. Only three teams remain unbeatenAfter two of ten races in the 2025 season, the first title contenders are beginning to emerge. With two wins each in their class, Heiko Eichenberg and Harley Haughton (Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, SRS Team Sorg Rennsport), Tim Scheerbarth and Arne Hoffmeister (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Mühlner Motorsport), and Philipp Leisen, Philipp Stahlschmidt, and Daniel Zils (BMW 330i, Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels) are leading the standings. Eichenberg also leads the Gentleman Trophy, while Haughton tops the Junior Trophy. The Adrenalin trio leads the Production Car Trophy. Falken Motorsports, with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, car #3, comfortably tops the NLS Speed Trophy. Home race for seven teamsSeven cars will start NLS3 under the entry of the organizing MSC Adenau. In SP10, W&S Motorsport fields a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 for Stephan Brodmerkel, Jürgen Vöhringer, and Hendrik Still. Also racing a Cayman are Laurents Hörr, Ulrich Daniel Nölken, and David Ackermann from rent2Drive-racing in the V6 class. Georg Albinger and Jérôme Larbi will start in the V5 class, also in a Cayman. Two Hyundais will be entered by STENLE Marketing by Mertens Motorsport in the VT2-F+4WD class. Daniel Mertens, Alex Schneider, and Akshay Gupte will alternate driving duties in car #493, with Ralf Wiesner and double starter Schneider in car #496. In the BMW 325i Challenge by Goodyear, two local teams are also represented: Sven Oepen and Manuel Dormagen in #112, and Simon Sagmeister, Jürgen Hubert, and Dirk Vleugels in #700. Get your tickets now! Tickets for the 56th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy are available for 25 euros (children up to and including age 14 are admitted free) here and at the box office. The ticket grants access to the open grandstands on the Grand Prix circuit, the exclusive spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane, and starting grid. The third round of the NLS Kart Slalom Championship will also take place again on the helipad in the paddock. The battle for the best grid positions will take place during qualifying between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. During the break between qualifying and the race, fans will have plenty of time to get up close with the cars and soak up the racing atmosphere: with a ticket, visitors can enter the pit lane at 10:20 a.m. for the Pitwalk, followed by the gridwalk at 11:10 a.m. The Nürburgring mascot 'Legend' and Stitch from 'Lilo & Stitch' will also be there on Saturday. The start of the four-hour endurance race is at 12:00 noon.

Xiaomi becomes new premium partner at the Nürburgring

08.05.2025

The technology company Xiaomi and the Nürburgring have agreed on a far-reaching partnership. From now on, the Chinese car manufacturer will be a premium partner of the world's longest permanent race track and will also be present there with advertising installations. These include the new Xiaomi curve on the Grand Prix circuit and a new advertising installation on the Nordschleife. Last year, Xiaomi attracted international attention with a vehicle and a lap on the Nordschleife. The brand is no longer known just for mobile phones. The nearly 1,500 hp sports sedan “SU7 Ultra Prototype” completed the 20.8-kilometer track in 6:46 minutes – an impressive time. At the same time, this was also the start of a deeper partnership. Beyond the record-breaking drive, Xiaomi is now also a member of the test and development drives at the Nürburgring (colloquially known as the Industriepool). Sixteen weeks a year, companies from the automotive and supplier industries test and develop vehicles and components in this setting. Xiaomi is now also pushing ahead with its vehicle development here. Naming rights at the Grand Prix circuit, advertising facility on the NordschleifeThe advertising commitment is also clearly visible. The new Xiaomi curve on the Grand Prix circuit is the flagship of the new collaboration. This is curve 12 – a fast, technically demanding left-hand curve. It follows the Michael Schumacher S or, if the shorter sprint version is driven, the Goodyear Spange. Spectators have a good view of this section of the track from the large grandstands at the end of the start/finish line. The Xiaomi logo is also present on the Nordschleife. A large advertising installation has been erected on the bridge between the Aremberg and Fuchsröhre sections of the track. In addition, the brand will be visible at the entrance to the Nordschleife. Thanks to its extensive commitment, the Asian manufacturer is one of the Nürburgring's premium partners and is also a member of the Nürburgring Business Club, the B2B network for large and small companies from various industries. “We are delighted that Xiaomi, a strong brand from Asia, is using the Nürburgring as an important development and communication platform,” explains Nürburgring CEO Christian Stephani. ”Xiaomi has recognized that the Nürburgring, and the Nordschleife in particular, is exactly the right place to advance new technologies and innovations, including in the field of electric mobility.”

Ford Mustang GTD masters the Nordschleife in 6:52,07 minutes

05.05.2025

Mustang GTD was already the first sports car from an America automaker to set a sub-7-minute lap. Now it’s improved on that lap, with a faster time driven by track-proven updates and refinements: 6:52.072, making Mustang GTD the fourth fastest vehicle in the production sports car class. All record drives and further information Onboard through the Green HellThe record lap of the Porsche 911 GT3 is now available on the Nürburgring YouTube channel. The onboard footage from the cockpit of the vehicle offers the opportunity to relive this fantastic lap. Information about the official “Nürburgring record laps”The following principle applies to all drives: one track, one complete lap, one time – according to uniform standards. In addition to timekeeping with calibrated measuring technology, official record attempts and attempts to achieve a lap time are always accompanied by a notary. In addition to monitoring the timekeeping, the vehicle is also inspected. TÜV Rheinland checks for standard conformity and documents this. The exact length of the track and the start and finish lines are precisely defined. A full lap of the Nordschleife is driven and measured with a flying start (20.8 kilometers). The vehicle categories for record drives and official lap times at the Nürburgring are divided into different segments by the Federal Motor Transport Authority and specially defined special classes.

Ring Drivers' Convention as a high-powered promenade

02.05.2025

Car talk, a promenade, and concentrated expert knowledge: On May 1 and 2, the Ring Drivers' Convention powered by Goodyear celebrated its premiere at the Nürburgring. The convention took place at the same time as the Green Hell Driving Days, which are popular with tourist drivers. The ring°carré, located in the immediate vicinity of the ring°boulevard on the Grand Prix circuit, was transformed into an automotive world of experience for horsepower enthusiasts and fans of the Green Hell on both days.  Take a seat behind the wheel of a real race car, marvel at the latest achievements of renowned automotive suppliers, or spend a few enjoyable hours with other petrolheads not far from the famous Nürburgring logo: in perfect Eifel weather, the Ring Drivers' Convention presented itself as a mixture of a relaxed car meet and an informative experience mile. Renowned figures from the industry were in attendance: Ford made the eyes of car fans young and old light up with a Ford GT, while the Nürburgring experts from Raeder Motorsport and suspension specialists such as Eibach and H&R showcased their latest projects and products. Spectators were able to listen to exciting discussions on stage in front of the Eifelstadl in the heart of the ring°carré. Among others, DTM champions Maximilian Götz (Mercedes-AMG) and Timo Scheider stopped by. Well-known influencers from the Nürburgring scene, such as Misha Charoudin and Tom Schütze, were also on hand for discussions. Various attractive prizes were up for grabs in a number of competitions.“With the Ring Drivers' Convention, we have created an exciting format that appeals to our diverse community of Nürburgring drivers and fans,” said Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH. “Together with some long-standing partners of the Nürburgring, we were able to set up an attractive event mile in the ring°carré in perfect weather, which was a real added value for all tourist drivers and Nürburgring visitors.” The convention was rounded off on Thursday evening by the bigFM PartyNight with DJ Rockmaster B, who kept the party going into the night. Another highlight was the opening of a new photo point right next to the Nürburgring eSports Bar, which is now available for souvenir photos with the Nürburgring backdrop. Until Sunday, the Green Hell Driving Days offer the opportunity to experience the fascination of the Nordschleife for yourself. The “Green Hell” will then be open daily from morning to evening for tourist drives. Anyone can take the legendary 20.832 kilometers under their own wheels and experience the myth with their own vehicle.

24h Qualifiers: Highlight of the 24h preparations

29.04.2025

Spring has not only turned the trees green again – it’s also brought new life to the “Green Hell”: The season on the Nürburgring Nordschleife is already in full swing, and after the second race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), the first favorites for the legendary ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from June 19 to 22, 2025, are starting to emerge. But before the spectacular highlight of the season on the world’s longest racetrack, there are more opportunities for valuable test and training kilometers within the NLS framework. The grand finale of the preparations will be the ADAC 24h Qualifiers on May 24 and 25. Since these count as a double-header for the NLS, they carry particular significance not only for the year-long Nordschleife series but also for the 24h Nürburgring itself. All the more reason to mark the weekend in your calendar—and grab your tickets early. Two teams have stood out in particular at the start of the season. On both occasions, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Juta Racing secured pole position, piloted by 24h defending champion Frank Stippler. The driver from Bad Münstereifel once again proved that this GT3 “veteran” may no longer be part of the latest vehicle generation, but in the hands of an experienced racer, it still ranks among the favorites. That said, both race wins went to state-of-the-art machinery. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from Falken Motorsports now boasts two victories and has established itself early on as a strong contender. The traditional works team of the Japanese tire manufacturer prevailed against very strong competition. That was especially evident in the second NLS race, where the Aston Martin from the Walkenhorst team crossed the finish line first but was classified second due to a time penalty for an insufficient pit stop duration. “The penalty is definitely annoying, but in the end, we still got a podium,” said Walkenhorst driver Mattia Drudi (Melle), pleased with a successful debut. “It was my first time in an Aston Martin on the Nordschleife, and our focus is clearly on preparing for the 24h Nürburgring.” The winning drivers also had their eyes firmly on the bigger picture. Falken driver Alessio Picariello (BEL) called it “perfect preparation for the 24h,” while his teammate Dorian Boccolacci (FRA) commented on only his second GT3 race on the Nordschleife: “I don’t have much experience yet in such a car on this track. So it’s even nicer that the season started with two podiums—second in NLS1, and now a win. And in the end, we didn’t even need to take full risks because we knew the second-place car would get a time penalty.” A high-profile showcase of super sports carsThe top tier of endurance racing on the Nordschleife is more diverse than ever this year. In the second NLS race, a BMW M4 GT3 from Rowe Racing joined the podium as the third brand represented. No fewer than six different manufacturers filled the top ten: Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche are all part of this thrilling GT3 spectacle. To ensure the 24h race in June lives up to its excitement, the lead-up phase this year is particularly extensive: after the third NLS race, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (May 24/25) will feature two races that also count toward the NLS championship. That’s when we’ll likely see teams whose race cars haven’t been ready up to now—because by the Qualifiers, things get serious. Extra grid slots for the 24h Top Qualifying are up for grabs, and Nordschleife rookies get an ideal opportunity to fast-track their “Permit,” the mandatory special license for racing on the Nordschleife. Only after the Qualifier weekend will the 24h Nürburgring entry list be finalized: the registration deadline for the 24h is May 28. Unsurprisingly, interest is already high, and the Qualifiers are expected to attract a packed field. A trip to the Ring is worth itAs if two NLS races in one weekend and intensive 24h preparation weren’t reason enough to attend the 24h Qualifiers, the event also features an exciting support program. For example, there’s plenty of grassroots and youth racing to enjoy. On Saturday midday, the RCN will hold a performance test on the Nordschleife. Throughout the weekend, car slalom competitions will be held in the AMG Arena, and youth eKart slaloms will take place in the paddock. One highlight is the first of the two races, which starts Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and runs four hours into the evening—delivering full endurance racing vibes. Sunday is headlined by the Top Qualifying session, where teams battle for the best grid positions at the front. The second four-hour race then begins at 1:00 p.m. If you want to experience this motorsport spectacle live, tickets are available here starting at just €25 (Saturday or Sunday day passes). These grant access to the grandstands on the GP circuit, the paddock, and prime spectator areas along the Nordschleife such as Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten. If you can’t make it to the track, you can tune into the livestream at 24h-rennen.de/live, broadcasting Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

42,000 bikers celebrate the start of the season at the Nürburgring

27.04.2025

Bright sunshine, thousands of motorcycles, and an incomparable atmosphere: the traditional “Anlassen” event at the Nürburgring was once again a resounding success this year. In perfect weather, around 42,000 bikers transformed the Ring into the roaring heart of the motorcycle scene and celebrated the start of the new two-wheel season together. In addition to the entire paddock, the AMG Arena of the Grand Prix circuit also served as an additional parking area for the large number of motorcycles – both areas were completely filled and made for an impressive sight. From 8:00 a.m. onwards, visitors on two wheels flocked to the Eifel region to get in the mood for the day with a varied program: whether at the Safety Demo by POLO, the impressive demonstrations by the state police and the ADAC Driver Safety Center at the Nürburgring, or with mini bikes. Guided tours took place in parallel on the sprint track of the Grand Prix circuit and were very well received. Social commitment was also in the spotlight: visitors could do a good deed by donating blood in the blood donation mobile or register as stem cell donors with the Stefan Morsch Foundation. Meanwhile, the band “der nächste bitte” provided a great atmosphere with their live music. The highlights of the day were the traditional ecumenical service, during which Pastor Klaus Kohnz, Pastor Rüdiger Wink, and Auxiliary Bishop Jörg Peters gave their blessing for a safe motorcycle season. As always, the emotional finale was the joint parade around the legendary Nordschleife: thousands of motorcycles set off and rode the most famous 20.832 kilometers in the world – a spine-tingling moment that perfectly reflected the special atmosphere of “Anlassen.” “It's just great how many motorcycle enthusiasts have come to the Nürburgring again this year to celebrate their passion at Anlassen. The peaceful atmosphere and this incredible sea of motorcycles create a unique atmosphere. This makes the motorcycle service a real highlight every year – not only for visitors but also for us employees,” said Nürburgring Managing Director Ingo Böder. After a successful start to the motorcycle season, further two-wheeled highlights await, such as the International German Motorcycle Championship IDM (September 5 to 7) and the Kölner Kurs (July 26 & 27) as part of the numerous public events at the Nürburgring.