14.07.2025
The ADAC Mittelrhein has opened another bike service station in a very special location: the Eifeldorf at the Nürburgring, a popular meeting place not only for motorsport fans but also for cyclists. Rudi Speich (Chairman of ADAC Mittelrhein e. V.), Prof. Dr. Peter König (Member of the Board of ADAC Mittelrhein e. V., responsible for traffic and technology) and Ingo Böder (Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG) handed over the station to the public. “With the new station at the Nürburgring, we are sending a clear signal for sustainable mobility, even in regions with high tourist traffic. Whether for day trippers, e-bike tourists, or sports enthusiasts, we are creating real added value here,” explains Prof. Dr. Peter König, Director of Traffic & Technology at ADAC Mittelrhein. “Our goal is to make cycling safer, more attractive, and more suitable for everyday use as an important part of modern mobility.” The new station is part of a comprehensive infrastructure project by the ADAC in Rhineland-Palatinate. The association is putting 24 bike service stations into operation this year. The stations enable minor repairs to bikes, strollers, e-scooters, and even wheelchairs around the clock and free of charge for everyone. Each station is equipped with a wide range of tools, including a foot pump with pressure gauge, tire levers, and various wrenches. This means they offer quick assistance on the go, both in urban and tourist areas. "Cycling has long been an experience for many visitors to the legendary race track. This applies not only to our regular cycling and running events. With the bike service station at Eifeldorf, ADAC Mittelrhein is providing practical support for cycling tourism in the region: fast, easy, and free of charge," says Ingo Böder, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG, welcoming the initiative.ADAC Mittelrhein also offers additional services for cyclists. In Koblenz, an e-bike charging station with lockers has been installed in front of the office at Viktoriastraße 15. There, cyclists can charge their e-bikes around the clock using their own charging cables and store their bike accessories safely. All information on the nationwide ADAC bike service stations is available at www.radservice-station.de. If the repair cannot be carried out on site, cyclists can also contact the ADAC bike breakdown service on 089 20 20 4000. Picture: ADAC Presse
13.07.2025
134,000 spectators can't be wrong: the 38th International ADAC Truck Grand Prix once again proved its uniqueness at the Nürburgring over the weekend. In summer weather, truckers and once again many families enjoyed the special mix of thrilling motorsport, an informative trade fair, and a lively festival atmosphere. "The response is simply overwhelming. My special thanks go to the many motorsport fans from Germany and abroad who created a great atmosphere at the Nürburgring. I would also like to thank our partners and sponsors and, above all, the numerous volunteers. Without their dedicated commitment, an event of this magnitude would not have been possible," said Rudi Speich, Chairman of ADAC Mittelrhein e.V.The exciting races of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship took place on the shortened Grand Prix circuit, which was also the sporting highlight of the event. Drivers from Germany, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain once again demonstrated how precisely they can control their 1,000 hp race trucks. Kiss dominates the European Championship races once againHungarian Norbert Kiss was once again the dominant force in the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship races at the Nürburgring. He ultimately won two of the four races and came third twice. Kiss had already successfully announced his ambitions in the first race, winning ahead of Jochen Hahn and his son Lukas. Behind them, several drivers engaged in thrilling battles for position: Local hero Sascha Lenz finished sixth. In the second race on Saturday, Spain's Antonio Albacete celebrated his first victory of the season. He had previously been involved in a thrilling duel with René Reinert, whom he ultimately managed to outpace. Norbert Kiss finished third. In the third race, Kiss once again secured an unchallenged start-to-finish victory. The battle for the remaining places was more exciting: Jahn secured second place ahead of Albacete. Lenz missed the podium by just one and a half seconds and finished fourth. The four races of the Dutch Truck Racing ADAC Mittelrhein Cup were won by Erwin Kleinnagelvoort (NED), Jock Borthwick (GBR) and Simon Reid (GBR) twice. For several years now, the Truck Grand Prix has also featured the ADAC GT Masters drivers, who race around the Grand Prix circuit in their 550 hp Lamborghinis, Mercedes AMG, BMWs, and Porsches. The first race on Saturday was won by Alexander Schwarzer and Alexander Fach in a Porsche ahead of Finn Wiebelhaus and Salman Owega in a Ford and Finn Zulauf/Simon Connor Primm (Lamborghini). Great party atmosphere in the MüllenbachschleifeThe high-caliber music festival in the Müllenbachschleife has, of course, always been part of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix. Music fans, families, and truckers once again got their money's worth here. Unbelievable but true: on Friday evening, country legend Tom Astor celebrated his 37th consecutive appearance. He was joined by Alina Sebastian, Sascha Salvati, and The Wild Ride. On Saturday evening, party and pop stars Loona, Malle Anja, Markus Becker, and Sabbotage took to the stage. The spectacular fireworks display in the Müllenbachschleife was once again the highlight for many truckers. Premiere: Truck Efficiency Run and RetroCampA premiere on the Nordschleife: as part of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix, “normal” truck drivers from all over Germany drove their 40-ton trucks over the legendary track for the first time, not against the clock, but as fuel-efficiently as possible. Whether diesel, electric, or LNG trucks – the winner of the Truck Efficiency Run was the driver who came closest to or beat the manufacturer's fuel consumption figures. The aim of the competition was to raise awareness of fuel-efficient driving and highlight the influence of driving style on efficiency. Another new feature was the RetroCamp in the historic paddock. Vintage trucks, memorabilia, and cult videos took visitors back to the early years of the Truck Grand Prix. Racing legend Heinz-Werner Lenz was there, as was the “Rentnerband” from Ochtendung, who provided music and charm to keep the mood lively. There is hardly any other event where fans can get as close to their idols as at the ADAC Truck Grand Prix: in the paddock, they were once again able to chat with the truck stars, ask for autographs, and watch the mechanics working on the race trucks. In addition to the paddock, there was also a large event area and an impressive exhibition park this year. In the event area and children's land, families with children enjoyed many attractions and competitions, bouncy castles, and duck rodeo. Top decision-makers in the industry at commercial vehicle trade fair & truck symposiumFor almost four decades, the ADAC Truck Grand Prix has also been a meeting place for top decision-makers from the commercial vehicle and logistics industry. Everyone who is anyone is here. On all days of the event, renowned companies such as Daimler Truck, Iveco, MAN, Renault Trucks, Scania, Ford Trucks, Krone, and Schmitz Cargobull presented innovative and sustainable mobility solutions and state-of-the-art drive technologies on an exhibition area covering 10,000 square meters. TruckSymposium: Demands for climate-friendly road freight transportOn Friday, around 120 representatives from politics, business, administration, and associations discussed the future of climate-friendly road freight transport at the 18th TruckSymposium organized by ADAC Mittelrhein and TÜV Rheinland. The focus was on alternative drive systems such as HVO100, electric trucks, and bio-LNG, the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), and the ongoing shortage of parking spaces for trucks. The experts agreed that the transformation can only succeed with reliable political framework conditions, less bureaucracy, and targeted investments in charging infrastructure, secure parking spaces, and alternative fuels. In order to achieve the climate targets by 2030, politicians must invest more and be open to new technologies. Companies are ready; now it is up to the politicians. Truck Grand Prix Job Expo for career startersThe Truck Grand Prix Job Expo in the ring°boulevard was once again a meeting place for career starters, aspiring professional drivers, people interested in logistics, and companies from the region. The stands of freight forwarders and logistics service providers provided opportunities for many personal discussions and interesting insights into training opportunities and career prospects.“The triad of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix, consisting of motorsport, trade fair, and festival, is unique in Europe. We are very grateful for the enormous response and are already looking forward to the next edition in 2026,” said Georg Fuchs, Managing Director of ETRA Promotion GmbH, summing up the event on a positive note. The 39th International ADAC Truck Grand Prix will take place at the Nürburgring from July 10 to 12, 2026.
11.07.2025
Thrilling motorsport combined with a mix of music, trade fair and festival – the 38th edition has something for the whole family. Everything you need to know about the Int. ADAC Truck-Grand-Prix from July 11 to 13, 2024, at a glance: TICKETS Tickets are available here. A ticket overview is available here. Open box offices: Box office 1 (historic paddock) Box office 11 and box office 11a (Stefan-Bellof-Str.) Box office 12 and 13 (T4) Box office 15 (T5a) Box office 26 (T6, concert access) Box office 38 (T9, concert access) Ticket office 46 (T10b) Ticket office 51 (T12) info°center Box office for the Müllenbachschleife Festival: Ticket office 26 (T6) Ticket office 38 (T9) PROGRAM / SCHEDULE Click here for the complete race schedule (PDF). Supporting program Friday, July 11, 2025 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. JobExpo (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Children's Land (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Exhibition park 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Renault Trucks presentation (event area) 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Goodyear FIA ETRC autograph session (event area) 1:55 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Falken Drifter (event area) 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Stunt show (event area) 3:40 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Falken Drifter (event area) 3:50 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. Daimler Truck presentation (event area) 4:40 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Stunt show (Event Area Paddock) 4:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Knorr Bremse Go & Stop – KL. A (Road Trucks) Saturday, July 12, 2025 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Children's area open (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. JobExpo (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Exhibition park open 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Stunt show (event area) 11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Iveco parade (Grand Prix circuit) 12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. Scania truck parade (Grand Prix circuit) 12:10 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Renault Trucks presentation (Event Area) 12:40 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Daimler Trucks presentation (event area) 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Goodyear FIA ETRC autograph session (event area) 2:55 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Falken Drifter 3:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. Stunt show (event area) 3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Renault Trucks presentation (event area) 4:05 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. Daimler Trucks presentation (event area) 4:35 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Stunt show (event area) 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Daimler Trucks presentation (event area) 6:05 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. Knorr Bremse Go & Stop – KL. A (road trucks) Sunday, July 13, 2025 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Children's area (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. JobExpo (ring°boulevard) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibition Park 10:45 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Iveco parade 11:00 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Stunt show (Event Area) 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Grid Walk 10:45 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. Iveco parade 12:35 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Ford truck parade 12:55 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. Stunt show (event area) 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Autograph session with Goodyear FIA ETRC (event area) 1:25 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. Renault Trucks presentation (event area) 1:55 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. Daimler Trucks presentation (event area) 2:40 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Stunt show (event area) 3:30 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Falken drifter 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Kart / Kart Slalom presentation (event area) Festival in the Müllenbachschleife Friday, July 11, 2025 7:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Alina Sebastian 8:25 p.m. – 9:25 p.m. Sascha Salvati 9:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. Prometeon Supertruck Award ceremony 10:00 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Tom Astor 11:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. The Wild Ride Saturday, July 12, 2025 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. DJ Biddie 8:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Knorr Bremse Go & Stop competition award ceremony 8:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. Markus Becker 9:15 p.m. – 9:40 p.m. Dart Content Stargames 9:40 p.m. – 10:10 p.m. Sabbotage 10:10 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Loona 10:45 p.m. – 11:05 p.m. Fireworks 11:05 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. DJ Biddie 11:15 p.m. – 11:55 p.m. Malle Anja 11:55 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. DJ Biddie CAMPING INFO You can find all the information here.
10.07.2025
The Nürburgring is taking the next step in its strategic development: With a newly created partner concept, Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG is organizing its numerous corporate partnerships for the first time in a clearly defined and official category system. The aim is to structure cooperation within the three partner categories, further increase the visibility of the cooperation, and strategically develop partnerships at all levels. At the top of the new structure are two exclusive categories: “Official Automotive Partners” and “Exclusive Partners.” Together, these form the top level, which is limited to a total of nine partners. BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, and XIAOMI are already members of the “Official Automotive Partner” circle. Only one company per industry can be represented among the “Exclusive Partners.” With Goodyear (tires), RAVENOL (lubricants), Bitburger (beverages), and Bilstein (suspension technology), strong brands with a long tradition at the Nürburgring are already represented here. Premium and Business as the second and third partner levelsThis is followed by the Premium Partner level, which currently includes ten companies from various business sectors. The third level is the Business Partner category. Here, too, the Nürburgring offers companies various opportunities to present their brand in the Nürburgring universe and actively leverage the collaboration for their own business. How do you become a partner of the Nürburgring?Companies that would like to become partners of the Nürburgring can structure their cooperation using various modules. These include advertising and naming rights, year-round rental of lounges or shops, and the acquisition of licenses to officially associate products or services with the Nürburgring brand. The Nürburgring develops customized concepts tailored to the goals and needs of its partner companies, opening up a wide range of opportunities for brand presence, customer activation, and networking. To provide better orientation within the partnerships, the Nürburgring has introduced official partner badges. They follow a clear color structure: gold stands for Official Automotive Partners and Exclusive Partners, silver for Premium Partners, and bronze for Business Partners. Member Nürburgring Business Club offers entry into the world of the NürburgringOutside the partner structure, but serving as an entry point to the Nürburgring network, is the Nürburgring Business Club. As a club member, the company gains access to business events, networking opportunities, and an initial visible presence in the Nürburgring world. These partners are listed as “Member Nürburgring Business Club” and also receive a red badge. “At the Nürburgring, partnerships are actively lived – on an equal footing, with passion and in a unique environment. The new presentation of the partner structure gives our partners clear orientation – both in joint communication and in the scope of cooperation and the possibilities for joint activation,” explains Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. “This ranges from low-threshold entry as a member of the Nürburgring Business Club to our largest partners, who rank at the highest and most exclusive level and have access to the most comprehensive and far-reaching components.” The new structure is a further step in the strategic development of the Nürburgring as a multifunctional business and event location. The current partners at a glance: Official Automotive Partner & Exclusive Partner:BMW M, Mercedes-AMG, XIAOMI, Goodyear, RAVENOL, Bilstein, Bitburger Premium Partner:Falken Tyres, Hyundai, Landgraf Motorsport, Porsche, Manthey Racing, TÜV Rheinland, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Audi Sport, Scherer Gruppe, Racetracker Business Partners:Red Bull, Coca-Cola, Langnese, Hazet, Fujitsu, Blåkläder, Wi SOLAR, H&R, CATERHAM Nürburgring, Remagen, MBA-Sport, Black Falcon, Subway, Atomic, GetSpeed, Nankang, Veedol, RentRaceCar, TotalEnergies, Feuerschutz Jockel, Kunos Simulazioni, Gran Turismo, PAGID Racing, SX Group, Maybach Icons of Luxury
08.07.2025
Tradition meets festival. On the weekend of July 11-13, the ADAC GT Masters will kick off at the legendary Nürburgring as part of the Internationalen ADAC Truck-Grand-Prix. Last year, 130,000 spectators traveled to the joint festival of the ADAC GT Masters and the trucks. This season, there was already a joint event at the season opener at the Lausitzring. The ADAC GT Masters field is growing at the Nürburgring: Team Joos is returning to the series with a Porsche. Both races of the weekend will start at 4:10 p.m. and will be streamed live on sport1.de, Joyn, ServusTV ON, and youtube.com/adacmotorsports. In addition, both races will be broadcast on a delayed basis on Sky Sport. Return to endurance formatAnother endurance weekend will be held at the Nürburgring. Both races on the 3.629 km short circuit will last 80 minutes and include two mandatory pit stops with driver changes. Victory in the only two endurance races so far in 2025 went to the current championship leaders Leo Pichler (23/AT)/Simon Birch (18/DNK/both Razoon – more than racing). They are currently just one point ahead of Tim Zimmermann (28/Langenargen)/Leyton Fourie (19/RSA/both FK Performance Motorsport) in their Porsche 911 GT3 R, who were the high flyers of the second weekend of the season at Zandvoort in their BMW M4 GT3 Evo.“We've seen that we can compete at the front. Now that we're in first place in the championship, we obviously want to stay there,” said Pichler. “We feel very well prepared for the upcoming endurance races. We've got that under control and I think we could achieve some very good results again.” Home race for many drivers and teamsFor many drivers and teams, the weekend in the Eifel will be a home race. Leading the way is Nico Hantke (21). The Hürth native lives less than 80 kilometers from the Nürburgring. He drives the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 from Scherer Sport PHX, which is based in Meuspath, in the industrial park of the Nürburgring. “I'm really looking forward to the weekend. I really like the track itself and I also think it should suit our Audi,” explained Hantke. “Of course, the weather is always a decisive factor in the Eifel, but I'm convinced that my Scherer team is prepared for all eventualities simply because of its proximity.” The twins Sandro and Juliano Holzem (21) have probably the shortest journey. The two Schubert Motorsport drivers live in Polch, 30 kilometers away as the crow flies. Sandro Holzem achieved his best result in the ADAC GT Masters to date at the Nürburgring in 2023 with a second place. “For us, this weekend is a combination of pressure and motivation. Of course, we want to do our best, especially because so many friends and sponsors are there. At the same time, it motivates us even more to achieve a top result at home,” said Sandro Holzem. His brother Juliano added: “Of course we want to win, otherwise we wouldn't be here!” The Haupt Racing Team can also count on its home advantage with the three Ford Mustang GT3s. The team is based in Drees, right next to the Nürburgring, and won both races in the Eifel last year – albeit in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the time. Moritz Wiskirchen will be trying to impress the home crowd in 2025 with this brand. The 22-year-old from Euskirchen has been visiting the Nürburgring with his father since he was a child. “Just because I live right around the corner, I haven't been there more often than the others, unfortunately,” said Wiskirchen. “Nevertheless, I'm optimistic. The track should suit our Mercedes-AMG, and I hope that with my extra motivation at home, we'll be right up there at the front.” Runner-up returns to ADAC GT MastersTeam Joos Sportwagentechnik will make a guest appearance in the ADAC's GT3 junior league at the Nürburgring. Team boss Michael Joos (34/Vöhringen) and newcomer Felix Neuhofer (28/AT) will be driving the Porsche 911 GT3 R. The team from Vöhringen in Baden-Württemberg is no stranger to the ADAC GT Masters. The team competed in the entire 2021 season and finished runner-up in the drivers' championship with current DTM driver Ayhancan Güven and Christian Engelhart. Michael Joos has competed in a total of ten races so far and won the second race at the Red Bull Ring in 2023. Team mate Neuhofer already has a wealth of experience in Porsche and has competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, among other series. "For me, the ADAC GT Masters debut is a real milestone – but I'm not here just to take part. I want to show what I can do, fight, push, and assert myself. The series is tough, but that's exactly what motivates me,“ said the Austrian. Teammate and team boss Joos added: ”The start at the Nürburgring is a one-off for now, but we hope that two good races will attract sponsors and partners who can enable us to compete in further races in this year's ADAC GT Masters season."
08.07.2025
In addition to thrilling motorsports, a trade fair, and a symposium, the 2025 ADAC Truck-Grand-Prix 2025 (July 11–13) offers a top-class festival program that transforms the Müllenbachschleife into a huge open-air party zone. Whether you're a music fan, a family, or a trucker – the supporting program has something for everyone. Country & Party Music on the StarGames Festival StageFestival Friday (July 11) is all about country music: The legendary Country Night features a true evergreen – Tom Astor returns for his 37th consecutive performance. Also performing are Alina Sebastian, Salvati, and The Wild Ride. Saturday night (July 12) brings the big party highlight: With Loona, Malle Anja, Markus Becker, and Sabbotage, high energy and top vibes are guaranteed. A spectacular fireworks display over the Müllenbachschleife will provide a stunning grand finale. Debut: Retro Camp in the Historic PaddockNew this year is the Retro Camp in the historic paddock, offering a unique look into the rich history of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix. Surrounded by lovingly preserved vintage trucks, memorabilia from the early years, and nostalgic video footage, visitors can immerse themselves in the early days of the event. Adding to the atmosphere, country icon Tom Astor will give an exclusive performance on Saturday. Also attending is Heinz-Werner Lenz, one of the event’s pioneering drivers, who will be available for a stage interview and autograph session. The Catalan Country Nation Europe line dance group invites everyone to watch and join in on their choreographed routines. Another highlight: The legendary “Rentnerband” from Ochtendung will bring good humor, music, and local spirit to the Retro Camp – a cult-classic performance not to miss. An additional stage makes the Retro Camp a lively meeting place for anyone wanting to experience truck history up close. If you're in the mood for a nostalgic journey, this is a must-see. Charity Campaign & Family AttractionsThe weekend also offers plenty of highlights for families: the trucker convoy, a fan village, and a kids’ area with bouncy castles, a duck rodeo, and much more make the Truck Grand Prix a fun experience for all ages. Children aged 12 and under get free admission. Social responsibility is part of the event too: Organizers are calling for stem cell donor registrations. On Saturday, the nonprofit “Blut transportiert” (“Blood Delivers”), together with the Bone Marrow Donor Center (KMSZ) of Düsseldorf University Hospital, will promote awareness of the most vital supply chain in the world – human blood supply. Under the motto “Every second counts – United against blood cancer”, visitors can register as potential stem cell donors with a quick and easy cheek swab using the heart-shaped Life Lolli – simple, non-invasive, and potentially lifesaving. Tickets from €10 – Get Yours Now!Friday Festival Day Ticket (Country Night): from €10 Saturday Festival Day Ticket (Party Night): from €12.50
05.07.2025
Nico Otto and Timo Hochwind make history: In the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 24h fielded by Max Kruse Racing, the duo claimed the first overall victory for a vehicle powered by alternative fuel at the NLS-Light premiere – and the first ever for Volkswagen in the 49-year history of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Second place went to the father-son team of Philipp and Richard Gresek in the BMW M4 GT4 from Plusline Motorsport. The podium was completed by Kazuto Kotaka and Miki Koyama, who brought the Toyota Supra GT4 from Toyo Tires with Ring Racing home in third. “Congratulations to Max Kruse Racing and Volkswagen on the first win by a vehicle with alternative fuel,” praised NLS Sporting Director Christian Vormann. The team from Duisburg runs the four-cylinder turbo engine on an E20 gasoline blend from Shell. “This is an important signal – not just for the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, but for grassroots motorsport as a whole. As a platform for sustainable development, we will continue to drive this topic forward.” Final-minute showdownThe final phase of the four-hour race was not for the faint of heart. For much of the race, pole-sitters Benjamin Leuchter and Heiko Hammel looked like the sure winners. But just 15 minutes before the finish, onboard voltage issues struck, and the gearbox could no longer be shifted. Victory instead went to their teammates at Max Kruse Racing, who had been saving fuel throughout and managed the race with one fewer stop. “I still can’t quite believe it,” said Hochwind, who drove the final stint. “A big thanks to Volkswagen and the entire team. The car was perfect today, everything worked flawlessly. It’s a shame about the sister car’s retirement.” Otto added, “We focused on fuel-saving and staying clean. Still, we always remained within striking distance of the lead. In the end, that strategy really paid off. It’s an incredible feeling to stand on top of the podium with a Golf.” The Plusline BMW was able to match Leuchter’s pace during the opening stint. Before the final pit stop, Philipp Gresek even briefly took the lead. Over the race distance, however, the duo had little to counter the fast Golf but held a firm grip on the podium. “A real shame for Max Kruse Racing that their lead car retired,” said the younger Gresek, showing true sportsmanship. “We had a race full of ups and downs. But to win our class and finish second overall is just fantastic.” His father Richard added: “An indescribable feeling. A perfect day with perfect vibes – it doesn’t get better.” He echoed the mood of many NLS-Light participants, as the paddock saw plenty of happy faces under the bright summer sun. The battle for third was also decided in the final minutes. Carrie Schreiner and Janina Schall in the BMW M4 GT4 of GITI Tire Motorsport by WS Racing were penalized 35+11 seconds for falling short of the minimum pit stop time during their final stop. The penalty handed third place to the Japanese duo. “We had strong pace, avoided penalties, and the car ran perfectly,” said Kotaka. “Thanks to the entire Ring Racing crew. I’m overjoyed.” Despite narrowly missing the podium, the all-female ‘Girls Only – Ready to rock the Green Hell’ team still celebrated their best result of the season with fourth place. Another reason for WS Racing to celebrate came courtesy of Fabian Pirrone, Jan Ullrich, and Ulf Steffens, who claimed their first class win ever in the BMW M240i Racing Cup class. The trio benefited from the misfortune of the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels crew – Timis Ionuc, Will Hunt, and Michelangelo Coazzi – whose final-stint driver first took the lead on the Döttinger Höhe, only to miss his braking point in the last chicane and hit the barriers. Strong showing for Schmickler PerformanceVictory in the Cup 3 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring went to Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol. Stefan Schmickler and Horst Baumann edged out the asBest Racing duo Kim Berwanger and Christian Kohlhaas. Baumann, who celebrated his 61st birthday on Friday, impressed race control and track announcers alike with some great moves – earning him the ‘Driver of the Race’ title, awarded by the ILN (Interessengemeinschaft Langstrecke Nürburgring). Schmickler Performance also took two more class wins: Achim and Volker Waver, together with Maik Rönnefarth, won the SP7 class in a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS. In V6, Christian and Thomas Heuchmer were the top dogs in their Porsche 911. Positive feedback following NLS-Light debutVLN Managing Director Mike Jäger gave a positive summary of the event: “We saw many happy and satisfied faces at the NLS-Light premiere – at the team barbecue on Friday evening and on race day. That’s a great foundation to continue developing this format. Of course, we’d have liked to see a few more cars on the grid, but the teams that did participate got their money’s worth – as did the spectators, who enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the pit lane and around the Nordschleife. I was personally thrilled to see so many families with children at the track again.” Youth participation was also a theme in the paddock, where two rounds of the ADAC Mittelrhein Slalom Championship took place. Slalom juniors Tommie Lycklama à Nijeholt and Timon-Etienne Quint claimed victory in Class 1, while Noah Servos and Finn Grube won in Class 2. Who knows? Perhaps one of these names will appear in future NLS results. From Light to Maxi: 6-hour race on August 16Following the successful NLS-Light premiere, the series returns on August 16 with its marathon event. The KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen is the season highlight of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. With 50% more race time, more points are up for grabs in the championship. The challengers of reigning champions Sven Markert and Kevin Wambach in the BMW M240i Racing from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels will be looking to score big.
03.07.2025
The new BMW M2 CS set a new benchmark on the Nordschleife on April 11, 2025. With BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger at the wheel, it completed the 20.823-kilometer-long version of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:25.5 minutes, beating the previous best time for compact cars by eight seconds. All record drives and further information Onboard through the Green HellThe record lap of the BMW M2 CS 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.
02.07.2025
“Small ones make it big,” was the motto of the Mini Playback Show back in the 1990s. The same could be said of the premiere of NLS-Light. For the first time in the history of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), a race will take place without the presence of large and powerful vehicles. This time, others take the spotlight. New faces and familiar names are writing their own stories. A big barbecue party for all teams will take place in the paddock on Friday evening to celebrate grassroots motorsport on the most beautiful racetrack in the world. Tickets for the race start at 25 euros, and youths up to 14 years of age enjoy free admission. Those who can’t attend in person can follow the entire race day via livestream. This coming Saturday, NLS-Light will celebrate its debut on the Nordschleife. Although it’s not an official championship points race, nearly 60 cars have registered for the 4-hour event. While the grid is smaller than that of a typical NLS race, it shows the strong interest from teams in the new format. “NLS-Light is a welcome event to give interested teams a low-barrier entry point to experience the NLS,” says VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger. “From the start, we knew that a date just two weeks after the 24h race at the Nürburgring and with seven federal states already on school holidays wouldn’t work for a regular points round. So we turned necessity into a virtue. Our core values—customer friendliness, professionalism, and strong media coverage—remain unchanged. I’m convinced this will be a successful event for everyone.” This time, a different group of contenders will fight for overall victory. In the absence of vehicles from classes SP9, SP-X, SP-Pro, and Cup 2, GT4s, TCRs, and other race cars move to center stage—including entries from Max Kruse Racing. The team from Duisburg is entering three cars in the AT class, including two of the brand-new VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h. Drivers Benjamin Leuchter and Heiko Hammel (#19), Christoph Lenz and Jasmin Preisig (#333, Audi RS3), and Nico Otto and Timo Hochwind (#76) will share the cockpits. “We’re incredibly excited,” says Leuchter, who also serves as team principal. “Our stated goal is to fight for the overall win. We’ll be up against more powerful cars, but with our front-wheel-drive cars we have an edge especially in the corners—from Hohe Acht to Galgenkopf, we’ll try to maximize our performance. We’re going all in.” A victory would mark not only the team’s first overall win, but also the first for a car running on alternative fuels. Their rivals in the AT class include Carrie Schreiner and Janina Schall in the BMW M4 GT4 from ‘Girls Only – Ready to rock the Green Hell’. In the GT4 SP10 class, Black Falcon is fielding a BMW M4 GT4 for American drivers Judson Holt, David Ogburn, and Denny Stripling. In SP8T, the Plusline and Schmickler Performance teams are also competing with BMW M4 GT4s. Schmickler also has a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS in SP7, while Extreme Racing enters a nearly identical Cayman. Not to be underestimated are the Cup 3 cars from the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. One of the top dark horses for the overall win is the Porsche 911 Cup (997) of Aimpoint Racing by Gabionen24.de in the H4 class, driven by Axel and Max Friedhoff, who last competed in the NLS in 2023. A colorful standout in the field is the pink and gray Mitsubishi Lancer CT9A from the Fuchs-Turbo team. This speedy estate car has already earned victories in the Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring. Owner Mario Fuchs and Eugen Weber share the cockpit. “I think NLS-Light is a really cool idea, and we spontaneously decided to take part—even though I wouldn’t have minded racing in a regular event with the big cars,” says Fuchs. “Of course, we looked at how our lap times stack up. And if nothing breaks, we should be in good shape for this race.” The local hero from Grafschaft has prepared meticulously. How did he come up with the idea of racing a wagon? “Back when we built it, the estate version was actually cheaper. Everyone supported the idea: ‘Go for it, people will love it,’ they said. And they were right—the color certainly helps too. We’re really happy with the Lancer. In corners, we lose a bit to the TCR cars, but thanks to the aerodynamics without a wing, we make up ground on the straights.” It’s a return to roots for David Pittard, who normally competes in the NLS in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. This time, he joins Graham Wilson and Andreas Ecker in a Toyota Supra entered by Jacos Paddock from Barweiler. “I’m excited for NLS-Light! I’ll be racing with my long-time teammate Graham Wilson. It’ll be his first race this year, so a format without the faster classes is a great way to ease back in. We’re running with Jacos Paddock in the new Toyota Supra. Back in 2018, I did my DPN with them and we’ve since become good friends. I rent cars from Jaco when I need them, and I also coach his clients. We have a great relationship.” Bringing new talent into endurance racing is a mission for rent2Drive-racing from Döttingen, right by the Nordschleife. For the NLS-Light premiere, local roots play a major role. Marcel Weber and Richard Schäfer from Adenau want to use this stage to prove themselves with strong lap times. Interest in supporting the two young drivers was high even before the race, with their entry backed by a team-initiated fundraising campaign. A group of Renault Clios will also make a comeback—one of them entered by none other than Reinhard Sesterheim, a five-time class winner during his active racing career. For NLS-Light, he’s entering the “Screwdriver Clio” of Holger Goedicke and Lukas Krämer. “The two drivers were eager to race NLS-Light,” he says. “I couldn’t say no to that. The Nürburgring is home for me—I live just 15 kilometers away.” Sesterheim fondly remembers the golden Clio era, when up to 30 of the cars would compete: “In 2011, we won the Cup class with Dominik Brinkmann and Stephan Epp and became vice champions in the VLN.” Epp will also be part of NLS-Light, sharing a Renault Clio III Cup from aufkleben.de – Motorsport with Michael Uelwer and Timo Kaatz. NLS-Light is also the first opportunity for drivers to compete with a national-level A license. One of them is Paul Winter, who shares a BMW 325i from EiFelkind Racing with Markus Fischer and Henning Hausmeier. “I’ve had all the results needed for the international C license for a while now, and I’ve even filled out the application,” says Winter, who has been racing in the RCN since 2022. “But the social media post that a national A license is sufficient for NLS-Light came just in time last week and gave me the push I needed to finally make the jump into the NLS. The performance tests in the RCN are great, but racing on the Nordschleife for real and fighting for positions has been a lifelong dream that’s now coming true. I’m thrilled.” The NLS-Light premiere follows the usual schedule of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Qualifying runs from 08:30 to 10:00. The pitwalk starts at 10:20, followed by the grid walk at 11:10, offering fans a full sensory experience of motorsport. Also on-site on Saturday: Racebot and Nürburgring mascot “Legend.” The race begins at 12:00. The new VLN fan collection will be available in the paddock. The livestream kicks off at 08:15 and runs through the entire race day.
