NEWS

06 June, Tuesday

"Bitte ein Bit" until 2025: Bitburger extends partnership with Nürburgring

Bitburger will remain a partner at the Nürburgring for the next two years. The private brewery has prematurely exercised the option to extend its existing contract with the legendary racetrack. This now secures the family-owned company various naming rights, further advertising rights, and the delivery and serving rights at the versatile business and event location until 2025.Bitburger has been...
"Bitte ein Bit" until 2025: Bitburger extends partnership with Nürburgring

06.06.2023

Bitburger will remain a partner at the Nürburgring for the next two years. The private brewery has prematurely exercised the option to extend its existing contract with the legendary racetrack. This now secures the family-owned company various naming rights, further advertising rights, and the delivery and serving rights at the versatile business and event location until 2025.Bitburger has been a partner of the Nürburgring almost without interruption since the inaugural race in 1927. The slogan "Bitte ein Bit" ("Bitte ein Bit") is therefore all too familiar to visitors and active participants, as Bitburger products have been providing enjoyment and refreshment around the famous asphalt for decades. "As a family-owned company with regional roots, commitment to our home country plays a major role for us. The partnership with the Nürburgring is very significant for us due to its proximity to Bitburg and its international appeal," explains Michael Stumpf, Sales Manager AHM Southwest at Bitburger. In addition to regional ties, the two traditional companies represent other common values such as innovation or sustainability. "Bitburger is an important partner for us, which also has a great acceptance and credibility among our fans, visitors and a large part of the business events. That's why the extension of the contract is an absolute win for both companies," summarizes Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG, summarizes. Bitburger has secured the right to supply and serve beverages at the Nürburgring until 2025. In addition, the Bitburger Event Center and Bitburger Gasthaus locations will continue to bear the name of the private brewery. Other advertising installations, such as at the info°center, in the ring°kartbahn, and on the stairs to the ring°boulevard, are also included in the contract.

Thousands of fans celebrate at Rock am Ring

05.06.2023

Under bright blue skies and ideal spring temperatures, more than 150,000 fans celebrated Germany's biggest twin festival at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park at the weekend. The Foo Fighters, Die Toten Hosen, Machine Gun Kelly, Evanescence, Apache 207 and many others gave acclaimed concerts, the organisers DreamHaus and eventimpresents drew a positive conclusion, as did the police and rescue services.  This year's edition of Rock am Ring came to an end on Sunday evening with a spectacular headlining performance by the Toten Hosen on the Utopia Stage and acclaimed concerts by metalcore legend Bring Me The Horizon on the Mandora and indie darling Thees Uhlmann & Band on the Orbit Stage. At the same time, fans celebrated the end of the twin festival Rock im Park with Apache 207, Yungblud, Juju and the Foo Fighters.   At the start of the German festival season, 72 acts with over 150,000 visitors celebrated a weekend with numerous unforgettable moments at both festivals. Equally moving and stirring performances by the Foo Fighters, at which Dave Grohl performed with his 17-year-old daughter Violet, among others, but also the exclusive headlining shows by Kings Of Leon as well as the farewell concerts by punk legends NOFX and Sum 41 underline the international status of the "Rocks": Rock am Ring and Rock im Park remains not only the biggest, but also the most versatile German twin festival. The music fans at both festivals were as enthusiastic as they were diverse and - in addition to those already mentioned - enjoyed shows by such diverse artists as the German rappers Badmómzjay, Kontra K and K.I.Z, the metal giants Arch Enemy and Bullet For My Valentine or alternative greats like Evanescence. The comedy rock band Tenacious D with Hollywood star Jack Black, singer-songwriter Lauren Sanderson, indie darlings Blond and Cari Cari as well as Yungblud, Charlotte Sands and Machine Gun Kelly underline a stage programme that has never been so versatile and diverse.  The one factor that no one can influence also played a role in 2023 like it hasn't for a long time: for 30 years there hasn't been such good weather on a Rock am Ring weekend as this year. A circumstance that perfectly underlined the overall impression of a perfect and unforgettable weekend at the Nürburgring race track nestled in the picturesque nature of the Eifel. Just as important as the performing artists at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are the fans, the flair of the grounds and the fantastic atmosphere at the campsites with their considerably extended offers. Throughout the entire weekend, the organisers were in constant real-time exchange with the visitors via several different channels and were pleased to receive all-round positive feedback from the Ring community. "We are happy to have underpinned the pole position of Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in the Central European festival market again this year with the help of our fans," says CEO and festival organiser Matt Schwarz, and Dr. Frithjof Pils, CEO eventimpresents adds: "From the outside, it is hard to see the Herculean task of planning and logistics behind the organisation of festivals like Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Therefore, our sincere thanks go above all to our fantastic teams and all those involved backstage."   The police and emergency services of the Nürburgring would like to thank a respectful, considerate audience and report rescue and ambulance operations in the manageable range as well as an overall smooth course of events for all forces involved.A large part of the programme was again broadcast exclusively by RTL+. Advance booking for Rock am Ring and Rock im Park from 7-9 June 2024 starts on Monday, 5 June 2023 at 12:00.

Emotional opening at Rock am Ring

03.06.2023

Over 70,000 fans celebrate in perfect weather   Foo Fighters present new album exclusively at the Nürburgring!   Apache 207 closes first festival day with spectacular late-night party at the petrol station   In perfect weather, over 70,000 fans celebrated the opening of Germany's biggest festival with a sensational line-up that once again leads the national festival scene with an unprecedented breadth and exclusivity of top-class artists*. The first day at Rock am Ring ended with a rousing show by exclusive headliner Foo Fighters on the Utopia Stage and a late night special by Apache 207.   To kick off Germany's biggest music festival, Rock am Ring 2023, more than 70,000 fans enthusiastically celebrated the start of the festival season at the Nürburgring. In perfect spring weather, many of them arrived by city shuttle and enjoyed the 360-degree event experience of the newly renovated festival grounds with a varied gastronomic offer and extended camping options.   This year's edition of Rock am Ring was opened early on Friday afternoon under blue skies by folk punkers Flogging Molly. The British Gen-Z icon Yungblud as well as the nu-metal giants Limp Bizkit also caused a stir amidst the cheers of the fans. Just like the Utopia Stage co-headliners Rise Against, the latter will play their only European festival appearances this year at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, out of an old attachment. German rap whiz Badmómzjay as well as Giant Rooks, Juju, and many others also contributed to an all-round successful festival start. Also this year, numerous shows were broadcast by RTL+.   The already unforgettable start of the Ring weekend was crowned on Friday evening by the Foo Fighters with an exclusive European festival performance, during which the band introduced their new drummer Josh Freese to their German fans for the first time. Before that, some lucky Rock-am-Ring fans already had the special opportunity to hear the new Foo Fighters album "But Here We Are" in a picturesque Eifel backdrop at sunrise on Thursday morning as part of a Sunrise Album Pre-Listening. At the end of the first day of the festival, there was another spectacular highlight with a late night special by the currently most successful German hip-hop artist Apache 207. The rapper celebrated with the fans on a stage modelled on a petrol station, surfed through the crowd on a boat and released the audience into the night on a second stage with a laser show.   Also for Matt Schwarz, CEO Dreamhaus, and Dr. Frithjof Pils, CEO eventimpresents a furious start: "Rock Am Ring combines unique moments and outstanding performances already on the first day. Foo Fighters and Apache 207 were absolute highlights of the first day, carried by the euphoria of the fans embedded in the backdrop of the Nürburgring in the best weather", summed up the festival organisers.   Last but not least, the organisers had set themselves further sustainability goals this year. DB Cargo, the freight transport subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, transported 164,000 kg of material over a large part of the route by climate-friendly rail to Germany's biggest festival. This saved more than 80 per cent CO2 compared to road transport, as one goods train replaced 52 trucks.  The decision to use reusable cups on the entire festival grounds also made a contribution to sustainability, which is emphasised not least by the German Environmental Aid: "Large festivals in particular have a special responsibility in view of the large numbers of visitors. Therefore, other festivals should follow Rock am Ring's example and exclusively use reusable tableware", says Elena Schägg from the Kreislaufwirtschaft Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (German Environmental Aid).   On Saturday, Kings Of Leon, K.I.Z., Incubus, Halestorm, Arch Enemy, Evanescence and others are expected at Rock am Ring, before the Foo Fighters complete their exclusive European festival double at Rock im Park on Sunday and Die Toten Hosen set further highlights at the Ring alongside Bullet For My Valentine, Machine Gun Kelly and many others. 

The Nürburgring Highlights in June

30.05.2023

Tens of thousands of visitors at the Festival of the Year, thrilling racing action on the Nordschleife, TV celebrities and unusual vehicles in the paddock: June at the Nürburgring is once again packed with highlights of the most diverse kind. In addition to Rock am Ring (2 - 4 June) and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (17 June), GRIP - Das Motorevent (18 June) is the popular meeting of car lovers and the makers of the RTL II format. > to the event calendar A brief portrait of the highlights: Rock am Ring | Friday, 02 June - Sunday, 04 JuneDie Toten Hosen, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Apache 207: That's just an excerpt from the long list of acts who will be going full throttle on three different stages at Rock am Ring this year. Year after year, the paddock and the asphalt of the Grand Prix circuit are transformed into one of the biggest festival areas in Germany. Tens of thousands of Ring rockers are expected again. They share tents on the campsites around the track or two-bed rooms in the holiday flats and hotels in the region. Remaining tickets for Rock am Ring 2023 are still available, a day ticket is already available for 99 euros. By the way: Parallel to the festival, the adjacent Nordschleife will be regularly open for tourist driving throughout the weekend.  GRIP - The Motor Event | Sunday, 18 June The big meeting of petrolheads on the Grand Prix circuit: The makers of the popular RTL II car magazine GRIP invite you to the Nürburgring again this year. And in addition to the well-known presenters, numerous programme items await the visitors. Countless enthusiast cars will be shining once again this year. In addition, there will be drift shows, acceleration races and a large expo with the latest trends in the scene. Admission costs 24.50 euros, and there are also special offers for families and co. Nürburgring Endurance Series | Saturday, 17 JuneAfter the 24-hour race, the endurance action on the Ring continues: For the fourth race of the season, the Nürburgring Endurance Series returns to the Green Hell. Four hours of racing on the 24 kilometres of the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit, a colourful field of starters and a particularly fan- and family-friendly programme: that's what the Nürburgring Haus- und Hofserie stands for. With one ticket, spectators can enter the paddock, the grandstands, exclusive spectator areas at the Nordschleife, the starting grid before the race and even the motorsport experience museum ring°werk. Tickets cost 20 euros for adults, children up to 14 years are free. Race start is at 12:00 as usual, qualifying starts at 08:30. Cycling & Running Meeting | Monday, 12 June & Saturday, 24 JuneConquer the Nordschleife by bike or jog around the Grand Prix circuit. The regular dates of the cycling and running club are just right for those who enjoy sports. June has a special date in the calendar. In addition to Monday, 12 June, there will also be a cycling and running meeting on 24 June, even on a Saturday. Shortly after the last racing car of the preceding RCN circuit challenge has left the track, the gates will open for runners and cyclists. The race always starts at 7 pm. Tickets are available online from just 5 euros. ADAC / DMC Race Weekend | Saturday, 10 June - Sunday, 11 June A weekend for two-wheeled enthusiasts on the Grand Prix circuit: the ADAC/DMC Race Weekend is the name of a number of two-wheeled series that are bundled together on Saturday and Sunday in the hunt for trophies and championship points. Among them are arrow-quick superbikes and spectacular sidecars. In the latter, the co-driver moves almost acrobatically to get the team around the bends as quickly as possible - well worth seeing! Spectators get access to the paddock and the open grandstands for as little as 20 euros.

Partnership with suspension manufacturer H&R: prominent advertising space on pit wall

26.05.2023

H&R is involved as an advertising partner at the Nürburgring. The logo of the suspension manufacturer can be seen in a prominent place on the legendary race track: on the pit wall. Thousands of fans already had the best view of the advertising partnership at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring - from the packed main grandstands. Many more motorsport enthusiasts saw the advertising space worldwide via the live streams of the endurance classic. The contract with H&R for the advertising presence initially runs for two years until 2024. The partnership between H&R and the Nürburgring is the consistent continuation of the communication strategy of the successful company from Lennestadt. Motorsport is an integral part of the H&R DNA. Thus, in addition to long-standing partnerships with the Nürburgring Endurance Series (since 2003) and the 24h Race (since 2018), the commitment at the race track itself now follows. "The development of our suspension components is based on the knowledge we gain when using our products on the racetrack - especially the Nürburgring. It is the cradle of motorsport," says Managing Director Heinz Remmen, himself a former overall winner of the NLS in 2001. Yannick C. Remmen, also managing director of the family-owned company adds: "Furthermore, we appreciate the relationship of trust, the short decision-making processes as well as the customer-oriented thinking of the people in charge at the Nürburgring. That's why we are committed here." Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG is also pleased about the new partnership. "The pit wall is one of the most prominent advertising spaces at the Nürburgring. Directly opposite the BMW M Power main grandstand, it is clearly visible to all visitors along the start and finish straight and also to countless viewers at the TV sets. When selecting advertising partners, we focus on industry diversity and I am pleased that H&R has also found its place here at our race track." In addition, the suspension manufacturer is now also a partner in the Nürburgring Business Club. This is where companies of all sizes and from all sectors meet. The club's offer includes various VIP & networking events as well as a general brand presence at the lege

Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG extend partnership until 2026

24.05.2023

The performance and sports car brand of Mercedes-Benz "Mercedes-AMG" will remain a partner of the Nürburgring until 2026. A corresponding contract has been signed by the managing directors of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG and Mercedes-AMG GmbH have signed a contract to this effect. AMG thus secures extensive advertising and naming rights to the legendary race track. In addition, the Affalterbach-based company will make its sports cars available for various driver training courses and offers at the Nürburgring. The contract, which runs until 2026, also concludes a total of 10 years of cooperation between the two brands.  AMG has been an active partner of the Nürburgring since 2017. One of the flagships of the long-standing collaboration is the "Beast of the Green Hell" - the Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO, which was also developed on the Nordschleife and with which the co-pilot rides through the Green Hell are also offered. "Our partner Mercedes-AMG is a perfect fit for the Nürburgring in terms of brand culture and communication. Both brands stand for the highest standards and a strong emotional bond with fans, customers and partners," explains Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG and adds: "The visual presence of the partnership is more than just an advertising space. It is firmly part of the appearance of our race track." Thus, the three famous letters will continue to show themselves to visitors at various points on the race track. At the Grand Prix circuit, the performance brand continues to give its name to the AMG Arena section of the track and the AMG Grandstand. In addition, the AMG VIP Lounge above the pit lane offers the perfect view of the action. The AMG Showroom continues to await all visitors to the ring°boulevard directly adjacent to the start and finish straight. Advertising space on famous Caracciola carousel - Art Car to honor the partnershipThe advertising space on the world's most famous section of the legendary Nordschleife also remains a highly visible part of the cooperation: a 20-meter-long billboard along the Caracciola Carousel. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Art Car also drove through the unique steep curve, which sends the vehicles over rough concrete slabs on the inside, during the weekend of the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring. Designed by Andrew Mytro, the race car in its green livery offered a tribute to the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the starting field and also expressed the "rootedness" with the Nürburgring as a cooperation partner. "The Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG have always been very closely connected. Whether on the Grand Prix circuit or the Nordschleife, the races at the Nürburgring are always the highlights of the season for us as AMG. In addition, the demands on the Nordschleife are also part of the fixed development program for our road cars. As brands, both undoubtedly stand for the extraordinary, for emotionality, for high demands as well as for close motorsport at the highest level. Thus, a close cooperation is only a logical step for us and I am very pleased that we continue this long-standing cooperation with the same partnership understanding," explains Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Performance vehicles for Nürburgring driving training and offersIn addition to advertising space and the use of racing vehicles at the Nürburgring, AMG will also remain the performance partner for the driving offers of the Nürburgring Driving Academy with various vehicles. The "Beast of the Green Hell," which was also developed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, continues to be the official co-pilot vehicle. In the co-driver's seat of the Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO, co-drivers from the age of 18 can be driven around the legendary Nordschleife by a professional driver. In the process, vehicle and driver alike demonstrate how they handle the unique conditions of the Green Hell the most. On a lap of 21 kilometers, there are 73 curves, several uphill and downhill sections and a difference in altitude of 300 meters. The Driving Academy is also supported by four Mercedes-AMG A 45 S instructor vehicles. These are used, for example, in sports driver training courses or as part of courses where participants can obtain racing licenses. In addition to the experiences in the "real world," the partnership can also be found in the virtual world. All advertising space and naming rights can be found in the licensed driving simulations. So the professional eSportsmen and sim racers drive on a virtual lap past the same AMG lettering, advertising spaces and through the AMG Arena as the real pros do in races or the private drivers do in tourist drives. All information about the Nürburgring and AMG can be found on the respective websites www.nuerburgring.de and www.mercedes-amg.com

Innovations make DTM even more attractive for fans and drivers

23.05.2023

In its 39th year, the DTM will be held under the umbrella of the ADAC for the first time. The change at the top brings with it a number of innovations in the sporting regulations that make the racing even more attractive and transparent for spectators. In addition, the DTM will become more sustainable: from this season onwards, the popular racing series will rely on an innovative fuel, thus underlining its pioneering role in worldwide motorsport. In addition, with the Circuit Zandvoort, the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and the Sachsenring, three race tracks will again be on the tour calendar, which were the venues for the last DTM rounds five, eight and 21 years ago, respectively.  New sustainable fuelFor the first time, all DTM cars will be running on Shell's innovative fuel this season, which consists of about 50 per cent regenerative components and thus makes a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. The fuel complies with the standard for super-plus fuel and can therefore also be used in production cars. Longer racesSpectators and fans can look forward to even more racing action: the duration of the 16 championship races will be extended by five minutes each and will be one hour plus one lap this season. All championship rounds of the 2023 DTM season will start at 13:30. TV partner ProSieben will go on air before both races with comprehensive live coverage from 1 p.m. already. Worldwide, the DTM will be broadcast live on television in more than 70 countries. Bottle Free ZoneSustainability will also be lived in the DTM paddock this season. Thanks to the partnership with the world-renowned water treatment company BWT, the entire DTM will be equipped with water dispensers. These will be provided for the teams both in the pits and in the team hospitality areas. Additional BWT water dispensers will also be placed in the DTM Media Centre, in the Race Control and the ADAC Members' Lounge as well as in the TV compound and at the Pirelli tyre service. In the paddock, four BWT Water Stations will also ensure free access to BWT water products for all visitors. New points systemA new points system will provide additional excitement in the fight for the DTM title, as the top 15 of each championship round will receive points instead of the top ten as before. The winner collects 25 points, second place 20 points. Third place on the podium is rewarded with 16 points, fourth place earns 13 points. From fifth place (11 points) onwards, there is one point less for each position up to 15th place (one point). This means that more than 50 per cent of the 28 starters can finish in the points. Tyre sets from new partner PirelliThis season, the DTM will start with tyres from premium manufacturer and Formula 1 supplier Pirelli. The top five on the grid have to start the respective race with the four tyres with which they achieved their fastest lap time in the corresponding qualifying session. The Balance of Performance is based on Pirelli's tyres and is run this season by SRO Motorsport Group, the ADAC's long-standing partner. "Milder" penalty: Penalty lapIn future, minor offences in the DTM will be punished with a penalty lap. For this purpose, a penalty zone will be set up on each track. The DTM drivers have to drive through this defined area at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and lose almost five seconds due to this somewhat "milder" penalty. In addition, the penalty lap ensures clear conditions on the track instead of adding time penalties to the overall time at the end of the race. Compulsory pit stop within 20 minutesTyre changes are a race-deciding factor in the DTM - the time window for this will be reduced from this season onwards and will provide more clarity for the fans. The performance pit stop must be completed between the 20th and 40th minute, there is no minimum standing time. All four tyres of a vehicle must be changed. The race director can shift the time window if there is a safety car deployment or a full-course yellow phase before or during the pit stop. Family-friendly pricing modelTickets for a DTM weekend are on average ten to 20 Euros cheaper this season than last year and available from as little as 39 Euros on dtm.com. Children and youngsters under 16 years of age are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. In addition, ADAC members receive a discount of ten per cent in online advance sales. All tickets entitle the holder to free admission to the DTM paddock.

24h ring°guide for Sunday, 21 May - everything at a glance

21.05.2023

Everything you need to know about the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring from 18 to 21 May 2023. SUNDAY, 21. MAI: RACE PROGRAMME & LIVESTREAMS: SUNDAY16:00                checkered flag - ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring (LIVE - directly to the stream)     FAN-ACTIVITIES SUNDAY09:00 – 18:00    Fan-Mile ring°boulevard 09:30 – 16:00    Ravenol Giant Wheel Ride Time11:00 – 11:30   Meet our mascot "Legend" (ring°boulevard)15:00 – 15:30   Meet our mascot "Legend" (ring°boulevard)   > All further information about the 24h Nürburgring can be found here.   OPEN HOURS LOCATIONS: ring°fanshop:                   09:00 - 17:00 h info°center:                      08:00 - 17:00 h ring°kartbahn:                 10:00 - 20:00 h ring°werk Museum:         10:00 - 17:00 h Nürburgring eSports bar: 10:00 - 20:00 h OPEN HOURS GASTRONOMY: Bitburger Gasthaus:        11:00 - 18:00 h LUCIA:                               11:00 - 22:00 h Restaurant Nuvolari:       18:00 - 22:30 h TICKETS: at all open box offices: Event ticket Thurs. - Sun. (adult): € 75.00 | (reduced): € 45.00 Weekend ticket Fri. - Sun. (adult): € 70.00 | Weekend ticket (reduced): € 42.00 Day ticket Saturday (adult): € 50,00 | Day ticket Saturday (reduced): € 30,00 Day ticket Sunday (adult): € 39,00 | Day ticket Sunday (reduced): € 23,40   BUS SHUTTLE TIMES WEEKEND:Times: Thursday   08:00 – 24:00Friday        08:00 – 01:00Saturday    08:00 – 24:00Sunday    00:00 – 18:00 Route 1:-    Dorint Hotel-    Scharfer Kopf (FSZ II, nur Freitag zur Falken Drift Show)-    ring°carré-    Hatzenbach / BMW Test-Center-    Schwalbenschwanz-    Pflanzgarten-    Brünnchen-    und zurück Route 2:-    Dorint Hotel-    Scharfer Kopf (FSZ II, only Friday to the Falken Drift Show)-    Quiddelbacher Höhe / Hatzenbach-    Hatzenbach / BMW Test-Center-    Breidscheid-    Adenau Schule (Adenauer Forst)-    Adenau Hauptstraße (Zweirad Schmitz) -    and back

Emotional premiere victory for Frikadelli and Ferrari

21.05.2023

Emotional double premiere at the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring: The Frikadelli team won the "Eifel Marathon" for the first time and thus also gave Ferrari its first success at the endurance classic. After 24 hours through the "Green Hell", the Briton David Pittard steered the new Ferrari 296 GT3 of the local heroes across the finish line in first place. Together with Earl Bamber, Nick Catsburg and Felipe Fernandez Laser, he also set a distance record: Never before had a winning team completed 162 laps since the race's premiere in 1970. After 4,085.858 kilometres, the Frikadelli-Ferrari had a 26.911-second lead over the Rowe-BMW #98. The previous record was 159 laps of 4,035.102 kilometres from 2014 and 2022. The weekend was overshadowed by the death of a sporting director who collapsed during his stint on Sunday morning and passed away despite immediate medical attention and transport to the hospital in Mayen. "The blood pressure is maybe a bit high at the moment, but of course I'm feeling very good now. We'll have a Kölsch tonight," said Frikadelli team owner Klaus Abbelen in the initial exuberance immediately after the success. "I don't know what to say. I'm just incredibly proud of everyone. This is my first really big success. Sabine Schmitz has helped us from heaven. I'm also very happy for dear Klaus," Fernandez Laser said. "Unbelievable, what a victory," Nick Catsburg declared. For the Dutchman, it was already the second victory after 2020, back then still in the Rowe BMW. A premiere is the jump on the top step of the podium for his teammates Felipe Fernadez Laser, the Briton David Pittard and Earl Bamber from New Zealand, who has already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and the 24 Hours of Spa once. In the Rowe BMW #98, Marco Wittmann and Sheldon van der Linde took second place in the "Eifel Marathon", as they had done in 2021. This time they were supported by Maxime Martin and Dries Vanthoor, who had triumphed in an Audi in 2022. The podium was completed by Raffaele Marciello, Luca Stolz and Philip Ellis in the #4 from Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein. A total of 235,000 spectators watched the endurance classic over the weekend. The 52nd edition of the 24h Nürburgring will take place from 9 to 12 May 2024. Duel since sunrise Since sunrise, the Frikadelli-Ferrari and the Rowe-BMW #98 had taken turns at the top due to the pit stop difference of two laps. Adjusted, however, there was a clear advantage for the Ferrari crew, which had only lost a little time in the early stages due to a puncture a few kilometres before the pits. The #98, on the other hand, had only started the race from 31st place after a run-out in the top qualifying 1, but then worked its way into the leading group after only a few hours with a faultless performance. The Frikadelli-Ferrari made its last pit stop 61 minutes before the end of the 24 hours. With 44 minutes to go, Dries Vanthoor took to the track just under a minute behind, but was unable to make a decisive move. "In the end, we can be totally satisfied. We started from 31st place and therefore in the last row of our starting group. To be honest, we never thought we would get so far ahead," said Wittmann. "But when you are so close to victory in the last third of the race, you want to win. But the Ferrari is too fast for that. We didn't make any mistakes in the race and therefore have nothing to reproach ourselves for." The best Porsche in the final classification was the #96 from Rutronik in fifth place, the best-placed model from Ingolstadt was the #39 Land Audi in sixth. The revival of the three former DTM champions Mike Rockenfeller, Timo Scheider and Martin Tomczyk in the #40 Scherer-PHX Audi ended in twelfth place. It was also the last 24-hour race of outgoing team boss Ernst Moser, who celebrated six overall victories with Phoenix at the "Eifel Marathon". Mapelli in the Abt Lamborghini the man of the first laps After Marciello had initially maintained the pole position he had fought for on Friday evening and led the field onto the Nordschleife in first place, Marco Mapelli was the man of the first laps. The Italian in the Abt Lamborghini #27 initially moved up from third to second at the start and also overtook Marciello on the third lap. In doing so, he immediately gave Abbots the first lead laps on their 24h return with the new manufacturer. An early puncture, however, set the team back significantly soon afterwards, and in the end it was enough for ninth place. Turbulent night with the premature end for several candidates for victory Up to the halfway point of the race, there were some interesting duels, but even as darkness fell, there were hardly any major incidents. The numerous fans around the Nordschleife created a great atmosphere with the smell of barbecue, music and the usual bizarre set-ups at the popular hotspots such as Hatzenbach, Brünnchen or Schwalbenschwanz. In the early morning, events came to a head when several of the winners left the race early within a short period of time. For example, the two Scherer-PHX-Audi with the #1 and the #5 spun off the track almost synchronously on an oil track, the sister car with the #16 threw a time penalty of 4:36 minutes for a total of three flag violations far behind. The Rowe-BMW #99 retired after a collision while lapping, later the Junior-BMW #72 was also withdrawn due to suspension damage. The "Grello" also retired early - the #911 Manthey Porsche kept having problems after an early puncture. Mercedes-AMG lost the #3 around Maro Engel, who started from the front row, early on.