NEWS

10 September, Thursday

Double the action: the NLS kicks off the final stretch of the season with two 4-hour races

The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is entering the final stretch of the season and has a very special highlight in store for motorsport fans: an action-packed double-header on the legendary Nordschleife next weekend (12 and 13 September). As late summer settles over the forests of the Eifel, races eight and nine of the championship will raise the stakes significantly. With the 65th...
Double the action: the NLS kicks off the final stretch of the season with two 4-hour races

10.09.2026

The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is entering the final stretch of the season and has a very special highlight in store for motorsport fans: an action-packed double-header on the legendary Nordschleife next weekend (12 and 13 September). As late summer settles over the forests of the Eifel, races eight and nine of the championship will raise the stakes significantly. With the 65th ADAC Reinoldus Endurance Race on Saturday and the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup on Sunday, drivers will face two four-hour races that could have a major impact on the title fight. Tickets for the motorsport festival are available from €25 per day at VLN.de/tickets, while children up to and including the age of 14 enjoy free admission. Fans unable to attend in person can follow all the action free of charge via the livestream on VLN.de from 08:15 on both days, with race starts scheduled for 12:00. One of the most emotional stories in the paddock belongs to Dutch driver Loek Hartog. Just a few days ago, the 23-year-old became an internationally celebrated hero during a China GT race in Shanghai. When rival Ollie Millroy’s car caught fire following an accident, Hartog did not hesitate. He stopped at the scene, grabbed a fire extinguisher and helped rescue the injured Briton from the burning vehicle. Following this courageous act, Hartog now returns his focus to competition. This weekend in the Eifel, he will drive for Dinamic GT, sharing the No. 54 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Danish driver Michael Klitgaard Christensen. Star Power and Maximum Performance in the Fight for Overall VictoryThe entry list for the championship finale is both strong and diverse, featuring 136 cars from 14 different manufacturers. The top categories in particular promise exceptionally close competition. Alongside the 22 GT3 cars entered in the SP9 class, four high-profile cars from the AT 1 class for alternative fuels will also compete. As both categories operate at a similar technical and performance level, the number of contenders for overall victory rises to 26 cars. The premier class boasts impressive manufacturer diversity, with seven brands competing for victory in the Eifel: Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Ford and Lamborghini. As a result, the field is packed with top-level teams. Schubert Motorsport enters with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, while Haupt Racing Team fields the Ford Mustang GT3. KCMG brings a Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi. Additional front-running entries include Falken Motorsports and Dinamic GT with Porsche machinery, Walkenhorst and PROsport with Aston Martin, and Renazzo Motorsport with Lamborghini. Adding further excitement, Max Kruse Racing will compete not only with a VW Golf GTI driven by the former German international footballer himself, but also with three Audi R8 LMS GT3 entries in the AT 1 category. Double Points Opportunity Intensifies Title BattleWith two races taking place on consecutive days, the championship contenders face a crucial weekend. As all rounds count toward the final standings this season and there are no dropped scores, every point is valuable. Leading the overall standings are Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich and Sven Markert with 79 points. Driving for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels in the BMW M240i Racing Cup, the trio has enjoyed a flawless season so far, winning every race in their class. Their closest challengers are Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg, who occupy second place on 64 points in the Smyrlis Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. A costly retirement earlier this season has left them trailing, but they remain within striking distance. In third place are PROsport racing drivers Anton Abée, Yannik Himmels and Jörg Viebahn in the Mercedes-AMG GT4, with 56 points. In the prestigious NLS Speed Trophy, Schubert Motorsport sets the benchmark, leading with an impressive 121 points in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Team 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON follows with 75 points in the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, while Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol currently occupies third place with 60 points. The battle for the Junior Trophy is equally intense. Raphael Rennhofer (Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) leads with 55 points, holding a ten-point advantage over Tim Lukas Müller, who has already concluded his season early. Behind them, Ryan Harrison, Leon Wassertheurer and Santiago Baztarrica are tied on 40 points each. However, Harrison and Wassertheurer share Rennhofer’s Porsche cockpit and are therefore unable to gain points directly against him. This leaves Santiago Baztarrica (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, BMW M2 Racing) with the strongest opportunity to close the gap during the double-header, as he is the only active challenger competing independently this weekend. Tickets cost €25 per day, with free admission for children up to and including the age of 14. They are available via VLN.de/tickets and at the circuit's ticket offices. Admission includes unrestricted access to all open grandstands on the Grand Prix circuit, the popular spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane and starting grid. The timetable offers a full day of Nordschleife action on both Saturday and Sunday. Qualifying sessions take place from 08:30 to 10:00 each morning. Fans can then enjoy the Pit Walk from 10:20 in the pit lane, followed by the Grid Walk from 11:10, providing an excellent opportunity to get up close to the cars and drivers. Both four-hour races will start punctually at 12:00. Those unable to attend can tune into the official livestream on VLN.de from 08:15 or follow the action via “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and in the RPR1 app.

Zwanenburg and Luyckx are crowned 2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup champions

09.09.2026

Excitement, thrills and perfect weather conditions – the Nürburgring Drift Cup 2026 offered all of this. Under a brilliant blue sky, the drivers shrouded the famous Müllbachschleife in thick tyre smoke one last time this year. At the end of a thrilling weekend, Roene Zwanenburg (PRO) and Janis Spohner (OPEN) triumphed in the day’s class standings, whilst Zwanenburg and Cedric Luyckx claimed the coveted championship titles. In the PRO class in particular, the composition of the championship podium remained in the balance right up to the very last second. Dylan Mougenot and Niels Visser finished the season level on points, with Visser being awarded second place in the overall standings as he had won one race during the season. However, it was Roene Zwanenburg who stood at the very top of the podium, having undergone a remarkable development. “We had a few difficulties in the competition last year, but still managed to secure third place overall,” explained the newly crowned champion. “This year, we’ve been continuously improving the car. Yesterday, we were still tinkering with the gearbox until four in the morning to get it ready for the event. The team gave it their all during night shifts to find even more grip. Today, the car was set up absolutely perfectly.” The road to the PRO title: Zwanenburg dominates in the BMWZwanenburg capped off his championship with a magnificent victory at the season finale. In his striking, 650 PS BMW E46, he already demonstrated nerves of steel during qualifying. In the round of the top 32, he comfortably beat Steve Rinsoz before facing Janis Spohner in the round of 16, who had bravely competed in both classes that weekend. Spohner, who was leading the duel, made a mistake in the hairpin and knocked over a cone. In the following run, he made slight contact with Zwanenburg due to an unfavourable angle, which paved the way for the Dutchman to reach the top 8. There, Zwanenburg benefited from his opponent Gregoire Du Pasquier spinning out, before facing Kenneth Konz and his brutal 1,400 PS Mazda MX5 LSX Turbo in the semi-finals. Whilst Zwanenburg hit his line flawlessly, Konz ended up in the gravel trap on the approach to the roundabout. In the subsequent battle for third place, Konz was ultimately beaten by Hendrickx Kain. Awaiting him in the grand final was Jan-Eric Seeber, who lined up in his eye-catching ‘sabre-toothed tiger’ wrap. Seeber literally had a tough time against Zwanenburg. After Seeber briefly left the track at the Goodyear bend, clutch failure ultimately forced him to retire early. However, Zwanenburg was not about to send the fans at the Nürburgring into the winter break with a final race lacking in competition. He delivered a spectacular, smoke-filled solo lap with maximum drift angle, which left the crowd in awe. Seeber, who finished the race despite the technical failure, remained positive nonetheless: “For me, it was the first race this year with the new car,” he summed up contentedly. “It was a great first outing. The fact that we lost the clutch in the final just shows that we still need to do a bit of fine-tuning. However, being named the most exciting driver is a bit of a balm for my soul.” OPEN class: Spohner’s test run ends in victoryIn the OPEN class, Spohner caused a sensation. He hadn’t actually planned to compete in both categories again after the second race of the season, but he decided to take part in the Nürburgring Drift Cup. “It was the last race of the season and we’d made a lot of changes to the car,” the German explained his decision. “I simply wanted to test the car under competitive conditions one last time before the next season. All in all, it was absolutely the right decision and it was a massive amount of fun.” On his way to the final, Spohner benefited from his consistency. In the semi-final, Kevin Paefgen engaged in a fierce duel with him. Paefgen produced the best chase run of the weekend in the CLUB category. Nevertheless, Spohner progressed to the final, whilst Paefgen successfully prevailed against Jan Gerrit Toonen in the third-place play-off to secure a place on the podium. The final between Spohner and his opponent Randy Congedo really put the judges through their paces. Judge Jo Lammens could hardly stay in his seat. In the end, Spohner was declared the winner on the basis of his better lead run, as Tiziano Colpaert explained. Although the German won the final weekend, the applause for the entire season went to Luyckx in his spectacular BMW 130 “Diesellok”. Although he was forced to retire in the top 16 of the final due to massive technical problems, his points lead was enough to secure the championship title. “We had too much back pressure in the cylinder head and, to top it all, the gearbox failed as well,” said Luyckx, offering a level-headed analysis of his misfortune on the final day. However, his delight at the overall victory far outweighed this: “I’m over the moon. Ten years ago I dreamed of this; now I’ve been competing in the championship for two years and have clinched the title straight away. It’s a fantastic feeling.” A positive assessment from the organiserOrganiser Andy Jaenen also gave an extremely positive assessment of the 2026 season: “I’m incredibly satisfied with the standard of driving. We’ve seen some fantastic head-to-head battles. We slightly modified the track layout for the last two rounds, which worked wonderfully and made the show even better. I’m particularly pleased that more and more spectators are finding their way to our events. That shows us we’re on the right track.” The 2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup is now in the books, but the promoter, Skylimit Events, will not be taking a break. This autumn and winter, Jaenen and his team will be preparing for the 2027 season, in which the legendary Nürburgring will once again be transformed into one of Europe’s most spectacular drift arenas.

FIA once again recognises the Nürburgring’s environmental strategy

08.09.2026

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has once again recognised the environmental strategy of the Nürburgring’s operating company and extended its two-star environmental accreditation until July 2028. This means the Nürburgring remains part of an exclusive group of racetracks worldwide that have been recognised by the FIA for their verified environmental and energy management. Numerous concrete projects demonstrate the forward-thinking approach taken at the world’s longest permanent race track: from large-scale photovoltaic systems, sustainable merchandise and efficient water use to forestry and comprehensive noise protection measures around the circuit. As early as the mid-1990s, the Nürburgring took on a pioneering role worldwide in addressing environmental concerns within motorsport. At that time, an advanced environmental management system was established and certified in accordance with the EC Eco-Audit Regulation. This was followed in the late 1990s by the international ‘Environment Award’. This approach has been consistently pursued to this day: since 2022, the Nürburgring has been environmentally certified by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and regularly undergoes rigorous audits by independent auditors. The FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework is regarded globally as one of the strictest environmental standards in the sports and events sector. It covers, amongst other things, factors such as CO₂ emissions, noise protection, biodiversity, waste and water management, as well as contracts, procurement and logistics. “Receiving this award from the FIA once again is a testament to the path the Nürburgring has been consistently following for decades,” says Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG. “We regularly demonstrate that it is possible to operate a versatile race track and event venue in a future-proof manner whilst simultaneously championing environmental causes.” For visitors, local residents and the flora and fauna, the results of this environmental management are evident in numerous concrete projects, both large and small. Solar power and smart energy management:The Nürburgring is committed to clean energy and systematic energy management. This is certified by TÜV in accordance with ISO 50001:2018 – an internationally recognised standard for the continuous improvement of energy efficiency. The aim is to record energy consumption transparently, identify potential savings and thereby reduce CO₂ emissions in a sustainable manner. One key element is the increasing digitalisation of consumption monitoring. In various high-traffic buildings, meter readings for water, heating and cooling can already be digitally recorded and analysed. This allows for better analysis of consumption trends and peak loads, as well as comparisons between, for example, different events, seasons or the same periods in previous years. The data obtained thus forms an important basis for further optimising energy and resource consumption in a targeted manner. Meanwhile, the Nürburgring has also become a major producer of green electricity in its own right. Most recently, a total of 510 photovoltaic modules were installed across the entire T13 grandstand. With this new installation, the Nürburgring now has around 20,000 square metres of its own photovoltaic capacity. Large systems had already been successfully connected to the grid on the roofs around the start-finish straight – on the ring°werk and the BMW M POWER grandstand. In total, the Nürburgring thus generates around 1.4 million kWh of sustainable electricity per year. Depending on demand, the electricity generated is used entirely to power the Nürburgring’s operations. Any additional electricity required is sourced 100 per cent from renewable energy sources. Along the Nordschleife, self-sufficient solar containers also supply power to the camera equipment and LED panels used for the AI-supported track safety system. Together with the expansion of high-performance electric fast-charging points, these various measures are helping to further reduce the Nürburgring’s carbon footprint. In-house forestry and consistent noise monitoring:Since 2001, a comprehensive noise abatement plan with tailored measures has ensured that noise emissions at the Nürburgring are reduced. A key component of this is permanent digital noise monitoring. The noise levels of vehicles on the race track are continuously monitored in real time. All data from the noise monitoring and emissions measurements are also analysed by an independent expert consultancy. Clear guidelines apply to driving on the track: anyone exceeding the prescribed noise limits must leave the track immediately.The operating company also takes responsibility off the track: the Nürburgring manages 154 hectares of woodland in accordance with the strict PEFC standard. This involves climate-adapted, sustainable forest management without clear-cutting and with a clear focus on biodiversity. Circular economy, water efficiency and sustainable fan merchandise:The conservation of natural resources also plays an important role in event operations. An established cup deposit scheme ensures that drink cups can be reused time and again. This saves around two million single-use cups per season. In collaboration with the waste management company REMONDIS, waste generated is also returned to the economic cycle through recycling, reuse or energy recovery. The Nürburgring also relies on efficient solutions when it comes to water consumption. Water-saving sanitary facilities are used, amongst other places, in heavily frequented buildings and in the Grand Prix paddock. Some of the rainwater collected is used to flush toilets in the area around the Main Stand and the ring°boulevard.At major events, modern sanitary camps featuring vacuum technology are also deployed. This technology can reduce water consumption by up to 90 per cent. In addition, greywater from showers and washbasins can be reused to flush the vacuum toilets. Sustainability also plays an important role in fan merchandise: around half of the entire range of merchandise in the official Nürburgring shop – from T-shirts to hoodies – is already produced in accordance with recognised sustainability standards such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®. Graphic: FIA

SBK: Schrötter beats Tulo – Smits is out

06.09.2026

Just over three weeks ago, Twan Smits hadn’t even managed a pole position. Now he has secured his fourth consecutive victory at the Öhlins EURO MOTO event at the Nürburgring. The 22-year-old Dutchman once again simply left seasoned World Championship veterans such as Marcel Schrötter, Lukas Tulovic and Markus Reiterberger in his wake in the second Superbike race. Twan Smits (Team Apreco-Yamaha) once again capitalised on his pole position in the day’s second race to take the lead after the first lap. Lukas Tulovic (Triple M Ducati Racing Frankfurt) and Marcel Schrötter (GERT56 by RS Speedbikes) remained hot on the heels of the ‘flying Dutchman’, within half a second of him. And just as in the first race, Markus Reiterberger (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW) was back in the mix after overtaking Kevin Orgis (ORM Racing). Everyone had their own agenda: Smits wanted to win the race, Tulovic to defend his title, Schrötter to keep his title hopes alive until Hockenheim, and the rest to boost their points tally in the overall standings. Highs and lowsJan-Ole Jähnig (GERT56 by RS Speedbikes) was just as fast as the front-runners, but the gap from fifth to fourth place was simply too big to close. Smits had already pulled away. Former Superbike rider Marc Moser stood at the side of the track and marvelled right from the start of the weekend: “It’s mad, the pace at which they’re riding here.” In the EURO MOTO Superbike class, an elite group of riders are taking turns at the front. Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) made up one place with his overtaking manoeuvre on Kevin Orgis. His eighth place on the grid was a blow to the whole HRP team. “We’ve got next to no grip on the track and are struggling this weekend,” said Alt, accepting the reality – as he does every year at the Nürburgring – with dignity. The title is no longer on the cards for the only Honda rider in the field anyway. Now the 2023 champion simply had to get through the weekend decently in order to perhaps pull off a coup at the finale in Hockenheim. Tulovic doesn’t give anything awayIn the second half of the 18-lap race, Tulovic and Schrötter battled fiercely. For Schrötter, it was a massive achievement when he finally overcame the Ducati powerhouse. Given his lead in the championship, Tulovic didn’t need to take on Schrötter, but his racing spirit got the better of him and he wasn’t about to let anything slip by. “We saw it all today. The front wheel on the bike bucked and buckled. I overdid it a bit in a corner and had to go too far out. That’s when Marcel slipped past,” reported the 26-year-old Ducati Panigale V4R rider after the battle. Following the Eifel weekend, 34.5 points separate Tulovic and Schrötter in the overall standings. The decision as to who will be crowned 2026 champion will be made from 25 to 27 September at the Hockenheimring. Twan Smits trails Schrötter by 22 points. It’s set to be a nail-biter. EURO MOTO Superbike, Race 21. Twan SMITS (NLD/Yamaha)2. Marcel SCHRÖTTER (GER/BMW)3. Lukas TULOVIC (GER/Ducati)4. Markus REITERBERGER (GER/BMW)5. Jan-Ole JÄHNIG (GER/BMW)6. Florian ALT (GER/Honda)7. Kevin ORGIS (GER/BMW)8. Leon ORGIS (GER/BMW)9. Toni FINSTERBUSCH (GER/BMW)10. Jan MOHR (AUT/BMW)11. Martin VUGRINEC (CRO/BMW)12. Hannes SOOMER (EST/BMW)13. Milan MERCKELBAGH (NLD/BMW)14. Lorenzo ZANETTI (ITA/Ducati)15. Marco FETZ (GER/BMW)16. Christoph BEINLICH (GER/BMW)

Grand Final of the 2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup

03.09.2026

The ultimate showdown of the Nürburgring Drift Cup 2026 is here: Europe’s drifting elite return to Germany’s legendary ‘Green Hell’ from 4 to 6 September. After two rounds of relentless wheel-to-wheel action, the championship reaches its climax in the iconic Müllenbachschleife. With the fiercely contested 2026 titles at stake and a daring track layout designed specifically for this final battle, the stage is set for an electrifying weekend of screeching tyres, deafening horsepower and unforgettable motorsport entertainment. A championship on a knife-edge: the title contendersIn the leading PRO class, Dutch champion Roene Zwanenburg leads the overall standings with 160 points at the wheel of his lightning-fast, 650 PS BMW E46. But the title is far from decided. Hot on his heels is his compatriot Niels Visser in his roaring 700 PS BMW E46 with 138 points, closely followed by Germany’s Manuel Schrimpf (133 points) in his formidable 600 PS Nissan Skyline R33. Former runner-up Denise Ritzmann (128 points, 600 PS BMW E30), French challenger Dylan Mougenot (126 points, 530-PS BMW E36) and the German drift icon Uwe Sener (125 points, 550-PS supercharged BMW E36) are all still mathematically in contention. With three qualifying heats and a fully packed knockout bracket ahead of them, every millimetre of tarmac will count. An awe-inspiring fleet of custom-built cars brings added excitement to the PRO starting line-up. Germany’s Kenneth Konz is ready to make the grandstands tremble with his fearsome 1,400 PS turbo V8 Mazda MX-5 LSX, whilst the leading Swiss drivers Steve Rinsoz (BMW M2, 750 PS) and Gregoire Du Pasquier (Nissan S15, 750 PS) deliver pure heavyweight aggression. Add to that Christian Schirmer’s crowd-pleasing 500-PS Subaru Impreza, Arunas Atkociunas in his 510-PS BMW E82 M1 and Serbia’s Sacha Aleksic (700-PS BMW M2), and the PRO battles will push the limits of tyre grip like never before. The title race in the CLUB class is just as fierce. The exceptional Belgian driver Cedric Luyckx dominates the championship with 191 points following consecutive victories in his high-torque, 400 PS BMW 130d. But the battle behind him is heating up: Top qualifier Marco Sammler (Nissan 200SX, 680 PS) holds second place with 155 points, but is under heavy pressure from Frenchman Quentin Savouret (BMW E46, 400 PS) and German Janis Spohner (BMW E36, 286 PS), who are tied on 145 points each. Bianca Lankes-Mack (Mercedes CLK, 500 PS, 131 points) is on the rise, whilst an explosive line-up of wildcards – including Johan Derenette’s 800 PS 2JZ BMW E46, Job Van Putten’s 700 PS LS7 E46 and the Turkish aces Kemal Soylu (600 PS) and Ahmet Tunc (400 PS) – is guaranteed to cause chaos in the tournament bracket. A completely new battlefield: the Müllenbachschleife redesignedTo crown the 2026 champions in the most dramatic way possible, the organisers have scrapped the previous layout and replaced it with a radical, challenging circuit designed to push nerves and car set-ups to the absolute limit. The drivers accelerate down the straight towards the Goodyear hairpin before cutting across well before the bend at breakneck speed and with an extreme, wide drift angle. From there, the drivers must carve an uncompromising outside line through the entire radius of the sweeping bowl, shrouding the grandstands in thick clouds of smoke, before cutting sharply into a tight, technical series of hairpin bends. This tight circuit demands pinpoint throttle control and lightning-fast changes of direction before the cars are catapulted back through the entire bend as if on a slingshot – initially close to the inner apex, before drifting outwards as closely as possible and shooting across the finish line right past the judges’ tower. It is a configuration designed to deliver breathtaking wheel-to-wheel battles and extreme excitement for spectators. A race weekend not to be missedThe drama begins on Friday with a full day of free practice sessions, during which the teams will retune their cars to master the circuit layout, which will be used for the first time in the 2026 season. On Saturday, the pressure mounts: following the morning practice session, the decisive qualifying session begins at 1.30 pm, with each driver given three full runs to secure one of the coveted places in Sunday’s knockout grid.Sunday serves as the season’s grand finale. Battle practice starts early at 08:00 and sets the stage for the knockout tandem battles. The CLUB class Top 32 battles begin at 09:55, followed immediately by the PRO Top 32 at 10:55. Following the official rider presentations, the highly prize-money-rich Top 16 tandem heats will start at 1.15 pm, leading into the PRO finals at 2.45 pm, where the 2026 champions will finally be crowned on the podium at 4.00 pm. The detailed timetable: Friday, 4 September 2026•    14:00: Free practice 1 (CLUB)•    15:00: Free practice 1 (PRO)•    16:00: Free practice 2 (CLUB)•    5.00 pm: Free practice 2 (PRO) Saturday, 5 September 2026•    8.00 am: Free practice 3 (CLUB)•    9.00 am: Free practice 3 (PRO)•    10.00 am: Free practice 4 (CLUB)•    11.15: Free Practice 4 (PRO)•    13.30: Qualifying (CLUB – 3 heats per driver)•    After CLUB: Qualifying (PRO – 3 heats per driver) Sunday, 6 September 2026•    08.00: Battle Practice (CLUB)•    08:50: Battle practice (PRO)•    09:55: Top 32 battles (CLUB)•    10:55: Top 32 battles (PRO)•    13:00: Top 16 driver presentation (CLUB)•    13:15: Top 16 battles (CLUB)•    14:30: Top 16 driver presentation (PRO)•    14:45: Top 16 battles (PRO)•    16:00: Podium presentation & championship ceremony•    16:45: Free drifting (all drivers, time permitting) The format: precision meets aggressionFollowing Saturday’s qualifying, the competition moves into head-to-head knockout battles. The ‘Lead’ driver must demonstrate the perfect line, speed and optimal drift angle, whilst the ‘Chase’ driver’s task is to shadow the leader wheel-to-wheel, matching their angle and pace without making contact. An experienced panel of judges assesses line precision, entry speed, drift angle and overall style. Get your tickets now!Full weekend tickets start from just €40, whilst day tickets are available from €25. Entry on Friday is completely free! All tickets grant unrestricted access to the open paddock – offering fans unrivalled proximity to the cars and drivers – as well as free choice of seating in grandstands T6 to T9.•    Children up to 14 years old: Free entry (when accompanied by an adult)•    Young people (aged 15–17) & accompanying adults (A/H): Reduced prices apply YouTube highlightsFans who are unable to attend the season finale in person can watch all the action afterwards on YouTube via the organiser, Skylimit Events. A highlights programme celebrating the 2026 champions will be released in the week following the event.

Contract until the end of 2028: Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport extend their partnership

03.09.2026

The Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport are continuing their long-standing partnership until at least 2028. The performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach, which has been the Nürburgring’s Official Automotive Partner for ten years, will thus remain at the highest partnership level with the historic race track. A contract to this effect has been signed by both companies. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will continue to feature prominently at key locations around the Nürburgring. Key elements of the partnership will include the advertising space at the famous Caracciola Carousel on the Nordschleife, as well as the naming rights to the AMG Arena and the AMG Grandstand on the Grand Prix circuit. In addition, the AMG VIP Lounge above the pit lane will remain in place. This commitment is complemented by advertising spots on the ring°wall as well as selected joint communication initiatives. “Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and the Nürburgring have enjoyed a close partnership for many years. Both brands stand for emotion, performance and the highest standards. We are therefore delighted to continue on this shared journey in the years to come,” explains Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG. “Whether in motorsport or as a benchmark for our road cars – the Nürburgring has always held special significance for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. It has been the setting for numerous milestones, most recently our victory in the legendary 24-hour race. Furthermore, we have been linked by an official partnership for ten years now, which underlines our emotional connection to this unique race track. We are delighted to continue this successful collaboration in the future,” says Simon Wilbers, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Since 2017, the Nürburgring and the performance and sports car brand have enjoyed a long-standing and successful partnership. The extension of the partnership underlines the close connection between the two brands and continues their collaboration at one of the world’s most famous motorsport venues.

The Highlights in September

31.08.2026

The days are getting shorter, but the race days at the Nürburgring are far from over. In September, the legendary circuit, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, presents a varied programme. Alongside exciting career opportunities away from the track at the Jobmesse powered by Nürburgring (11–12 September), fans can look forward to action-packed motorsport weekends featuring historic endurance racing at the ADAC 1000km-Rennen (18–20 September), thrilling two-wheel action at EURO MOTO (04–06 September), smoking tyres at the Nürburgring Drift Cup (04–06 September) and a NLS double-header (12–13 September) in the Green Hell. Information on all events and tickets is available here on our website. EURO MOTO | 04 to 06 September 2026 Two-wheel action on the Nürburgring Sprintstrecke: EURO MOTO (formerly IDM) is entering a new era and promises spectacular lean angles and high-level motorcycle battles. In the Superbike, Supersport and Sportbike classes, Europe’s motorcycle aces will fight for every inch of asphalt. The event sees itself as a family-friendly motorsport festival: children and young people up to and including the age of 14 can enter free of charge, while day tickets for adults start at just €5.00 (Friday) and €25.00 (Saturday). A weekend ticket costs €45.00. Nürburgring Drift Cup | 04 to 06 September 2026At the same time as the two-wheel spectacle of EURO MOTO, tyres will be smoking once again at the Müllenbachschleife. At the Nürburgring Drift Cup, Europe’s drifting elite will compete in the next championship round. Following free practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, the weekend will culminate in the spectacular “Twin-Battles” on Sunday. Two drift cars producing up to 1,000 hp will fly door-to-door through the lowest section of the Grand-Prix-Strecke, promising thrilling battles decided by mere millimetres at high speed. Day tickets are available for €25.00, while a weekend ticket costs €40.00. Job Fair powered by Nürburgring | 11 to 12 September 2026On 11 and 12 September, everything at the ring°boulevard will revolve around careers, training and professional opportunities from 10:00 to 16:00 on both days. More than 30 exhibitors will present a wide range of career opportunities at the Jobmesse powered by Nürburgring. Participating companies and institutions come from a wide variety of sectors, including Bundespolizei, Bundeswehr, dm, Manthey, Köllemann, Schnorpfeil and Strabag. A large job wall will also showcase current vacancies from the participating employers. On Friday, classes from several partner schools in the region will also visit the fair. Admission to the Jobmesse is free of charge. ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie | 12 to 13 September 2026At the same time, endurance racing action will take place right next door with a double dose of racing. The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is set for a double-header: two four-hour races on two consecutive days – one on Saturday and one on Sunday, featuring more than 100 race cars across a wide variety of classes. Day tickets are available from €25.00 (children up to and including 14 years of age free of charge) and include access to the open grandstands, paddock, as well as the pit walk and grid walk. Those looking to make the weekend extra special can book a RACE&LUNCH ticket from €190.00 or one of the popular VIP packages from €285.00, including a bus tour around the circuit. ADAC 1000km-Race | 18 to 20 September 2026It is the horsepower-packed weekend of a true motorsport icon at the Nürburgring: the ADAC 1000km-Rennen. Several races on the Grand-Prix-Strecke and Nordschleife will make the hearts of motorsport nostalgists beat faster. The field ranges from touring cars and youngtimers from the 1960s to icons of the early 2000s. Alongside the main races, events such as the Deutsche Historische Langstreckenmeisterschaft (DHLM), the Tourenwagen Golden Ära and the Porsche Transaxle Cup will provide spectacular grids. The Grid Walk shortly before the start, as well as free access to all grandstands, the pit roof and paddock, make the event an up-close experience. Advance day tickets start at €20.00 (children up to 15 years of age free of charge), while a weekend combi ticket is available from €35.00. VIP experiences can be booked from €290.00. The Nürburgring highlights in September 2026: 04–06 September: EURO MOTO 04–06 September: Nürburgring Drift Cup 05 September: RCN / GLP 11–12 September: Job Fair powered by Nürburgring 12–13 September: ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (Double Header) 18–20 September: ADAC 1000km-Race 26 September: RCN / GLP

GT World brings 28,000 spectators to the Nürburgring

30.08.2026

The Nürburgring delivered a GT World event to remember this weekend (28–30 August). Headlined by the GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup, the long-running meeting in the Eifel mountains drew 28,000 spectators to experience a full schedule of entertainment on the circuit and activities in the open paddock.  The fans saw champions crowned on Sunday afternoon as Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter completed its mission to clinch the Endurance Cup on home turf. Fourth place was enough to put the drivers' title beyond doubt for Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Luca Stolz, cementing their status among the elite of global GT racing. The star of the three-hour race was the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, which was in full control from start to finish. The Belgian squad came to the Nürburgring knowing that victory was essential to keep its title hopes alive and its trio of Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen and Mattia Drudi executed perfectly from pole.It was not quite enough to take the fight to the finale at Portimão, but the win was a fitting reward for a peerless performance. Team WRT claimed the runner-up spot with its #32 BMW, followed by Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing which claimed its first-ever Endurance Cup podium just a few weeks after earning a maiden Sprint Cup triumph.  Tresor Attempto Racing took Gold Cup victory after Dylan Pereira seized the class lead during the final hour. The #99 Audi was a factor from the very beginning, first with Alex Aka and then Alex Frassineti at the wheel. The battle for the Gold Cup crown will go to Portimão with several crews still firmly in the hunt. The Silver Cup has been settled. Team WRT wrapped up the title with its #30 BMW crew of Matisse Lismont, Ignacio Montenegro and Amaury Cordeel, who led much of the race but finished second after a late charge from HRT Ford Racing. This marked the first GT World Challenge class victory for the Mustang GT3 thanks to the crew of Eduardo Coseteng, Nicolas Baert and Niklas Kalus – the latter making a big impression on his series debut by completing the winning overtake.  The #222 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG won the Bronze Cup class from pole, though the car lost the lead at the start and did not regain it until the final hour. The same squad won this race last year with Charles Dawson at the wheel for both; on this occasion, his victorious teammates were Kiern Jewiss and Reece Barr. The Bronze Cup teams' title has been decided in favour of Kessel Racing, which came home third in class with its #74 Ferrari despite being involved in a Turn 1 incident. The drivers' fight will be resolved at Portimão.  In addition to the action on the track, there were plenty of activities for spectators to experience at the Nürburgring. They were brought closer to the competitors with pit walks organised on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a pre-race autograph session featuring the full field of drivers.  The BMW M3 Touring 24H that won so many fans during this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring was on display in the paddock, though it wasn't just a showpiece. The car ran taxi laps on Saturday and two lucky competition winners were among those to enjoy the ride of a lifetime, sitting in the passenger seat alongside BMW factory driver Max Hesse.  Support race action was provided by Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the GT3 Revival Series and Mazda MX-5 Cup Benelux. The notable storylines included a title success for former GT World Challenge racer Jean-Luc Beaubelique. The Frenchman clinched the GT3 Revival Seres Pro-Am crown in his Ferrari 458, the very same car with which he claimed CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa class victory in 2013.

Job Fair at the Nürburgring: More than 30 employers present career opportunities

27.08.2026

Two days, more than 30 exhibitors and numerous career opportunities: On Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, the fifth edition of the "Job Fair powered by Nürburgring” will take place. From 10:00 am to 04:00 pm on both days, companies and institutions will present their career and training opportunities at the ring°boulevard. The exhibitors range from regional companies to national employers and institutions. Among those taking part are the Bundespolizei and Bundeswehr, dm, as well as companies such as Manthey, Köllemann, Schnorpfeil and STRABAG. With Nürburgring Hotels & Ferienpark and the Nürburgring operating company, the wide range of career opportunities at the legendary racetrack and event venue will also be represented. This brings together a wide variety of professional fields on the second weekend of September – from retail, construction and technology to public-sector employers and motorsport. In addition to personal conversations at the exhibition stands, a large job wall provides a direct overview of current vacancies at the participating companies. School classes use job fair for career orientationFriday will also focus on career orientation for school students. Partner schools from the region will visit the job fair with their classes. These include Berufsbildende Schule Ahrweiler, Erich-Klausener-Gymnasium Adenau, Grund- und Realschule plus St. Martin Kelberg and Hocheifel Realschule Plus & Fachoberschule Adenau. This gives students the opportunity to talk directly to potential training companies and employers. Parking is free on Friday. Visitors attending the job fair on Saturday will receive a €5 voucher for the ring°fanshop upon presentation of their parking ticket. Motorsport action alongside the job fairVisitors can also enjoy motorsport right next door on both days of the job fair. On Friday, the teams of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will be out on track for practice. On Saturday, things get serious: while the job fair is taking place at the ring°boulevard, the race of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will start in parallel. The race livestream will also be shown on the ring°wall, which already provides the highly visible LED backdrop for the fair. This means visitors can combine their visit to the job fair with motorsport action at the Nürburgring on both days.