29.04.2026
The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is more than living up to its reputation as a motorsport festival of superlatives this year: With 161 entered vehicles, it will feature the largest starting field in over a decade—the last time more teams competed in this endurance classic at the Green Hell was in 2014, with 165 vehicles. Because the rush of teams is so great, even the entry regulations—which originally limited the field to 150 participants—are being adjusted. This is also made possible because many racing teams are limiting their space requirements, thereby making room for competitors and colleagues. A first glance at the starting list promises an extremely competitive field with nine GT3 manufacturers and over 40 vehicles in the top class. At the same time, the 2026 race thrives on what has always defined the 24 Hours of Nürburgring: true multi-class racing, featuring world stars, factory drivers, and Nordschleife specialists alongside ambitious privateers.
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Max Verstappen, a prominent debutant, is a particular focus of attention. The Formula 1 world champion will be competing with his Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, sharing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella—three teammates who rank among the absolute best, both in terms of their track record and their Nordschleife expertise. Together, they form a lineup that is likely to set the benchmark for many competitors. The season so far on the Nordschleife also underscores this potential: At the NLS opener, the team initially secured a victory before a disqualification cost them the win; at the Qualifiers in mid-April, they continued their preparations with more laps in the lead before a technical issue forced a retirement.
World-class drivers in the leading groupEven beyond the Verstappen car, the 2026 field is exceptionally strong. In the top classes—SP9, SP-Pro, SP-X, and AT1—there are a total of 49 cars competing for the coveted spots in the three-tiered top qualifying. The battle for the best starting positions will therefore be particularly intense this year, and the pressure is already enormous in qualifying. After all, in the “24-hour sprint”—which the endurance classic has evolved into—a good starting position is more important than ever if you want to compete for the overall victory. The defending champions from Rowe-BMW are sending two of their BMW M4 GT3s in pursuit of victory this year—each with a lineup of top factory drivers in the cockpit. Equally strong is the lineup from their brand colleagues at Schubert, who round out the BMW contingent. At Porsche, Manthey is once again leading the charge and sending the “Grello” #911 into the race with Kévin Estre, Thomas Preining, and Ayhancan Güven—meaning there are two DTM champions in the car. Preining secured the title in 2023, while Güven was crowned champion in 2025. Estre, in turn, won the 2021 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the Manthey Porsche. The winners of the 24h Qualifiers, Scherer PHX (Audi), are also represented, while Abt (Lamborghini), Walkenhorst (Aston Martin), Dinamic and Lionspeed (Porsche), HRT (Ford), and other top teams are bringing driver lineups to the Ring that leave little to be desired.
Nine manufacturers in the top class, excitement across the entire fieldThe immense quality at the top is also reflected in the diversity of brands. With Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche, nine manufacturers are represented in the top class. In addition, there are a total of 22 other classes where teams are also competing for victories, podium finishes, and prestige. Outside the top group, things are particularly exciting in the GT4s in SP10 (13 starters) as well as in the two Porsche Cup classes (Cup 2 with 11 starters and Cup 3 with 17 starters). And so it becomes clear that the icing on the cake of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is its diversity: while the battle for overall victory rages at the front, countless other stories unfold across the field, making the race so unique.
Huge Starting Grid – Made Possible by Team SpiritThe fact that 161 vehicles will be able to line up at the start in 2026 is by no means a given. This is because the entry regulations previously allowed for a maximum of 150 vehicles—primarily because the space available in the paddock and the pits barely meets the teams’ requirements anymore: where a workshop tent used to suffice for full service for many teams, trucks are now lined up. To still give all the participants mentioned a chance to start, intensive coordination was necessary in recent days. Staff from ADAC North Rhine-Westphalia sought solutions in discussions with numerous teams, reorganized the layout, and scrutinized every square meter that had been requested. Through a great deal of meticulous work, the way was cleared to accommodate the massive starting grid. “We are very pleased with the extraordinary response to the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring 2026,” says Race Director Walter Hornung. “The fact that we can bring this large and high-caliber field to the starting line is only possible because many teams have cooperated. I would like to express my sincere thanks for that. This demonstrates the special spirit of the endurance racing community at the Nordschleife: from world-class stars to private drivers, everyone is pulling together because everyone wants to be a part of this special race.”
