10.10.2024
The Nürburgring invites you to the big family day on Sunday, October 20. The weather-independent ring°boulevard will open its doors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission. A huge program with numerous hands-on activities, shows and performances as well as a whole herd of animal mascots awaits you. During the middle of the fall vacation, the motto for the whole family is: play, be amazed, and have fun at the most legendary race track in the world. After the great success last year, the family day is also on the program as a vacation highlight in 2024. RPR1 presenter Ralf Schwoll will host the program on the event stage, which offers a whole day of excitement and entertainment. Among others, the social media stars Jannik Freestyle and Lena will be performing. While Jannik will inspire with his spectacular ball skills, Lena from the internet format “Kinderfragen” will be presenting a hands-on quiz for the whole family. Of course, the Nürburgring mascot Legend should not be missing from the celebrities either. The lovable racing fox is supported by his fluffy friends, who are also available for souvenir photos: the bee “Summi” from the Rhein-Zeitung, the cool RPR1 bear, “Sharky” from the Cologne Sharks, the duck “Mini Monti” from monte mare, as well as the flamingo “Ingo” and lemur “Katta” from SchauinsLand Reisen. The colorful adventure mile at ring°boulevard also offers plenty of action. In addition to exciting shows by cheerleaders and motorcycle trial riders, there are numerous hands-on activities: for example, the “ring°kids Grand Prix” with Bobby Car and Co for the little ones, virtual racing in the simulator of the Nürburgring eSports Bar, test driving in a real formula car and first driving attempts at the “Polo Kids Drift Academy”. Skill is required for both the Monte Mare surf simulator and the balance bike course from the “Mini-Hero World” of SchauinsLand Reisen. Additional fun is provided by Katta's games mobile with table tennis, cornhole and ladder golf. At the Cologne Sharks' stand, accuracy is required at the ice hockey goal. And in addition to other attractions such as bouncy castles, face painting, a wheel of fortune and competitions, the emergency vehicles of the fire brigade, the DRK rescue service and the police will also make children's eyes light up. Those who want to take a look at the start and finish straight and the pit lane of the Grand Prix circuit during the family day will also enjoy themselves: the BMW M Power Grandstand is open free of charge. In addition to the hustle and bustle of the ring°boulevard, the ring°werk motorsport adventure museum, right next door, invites the next generation to explore. Children also have free admission here to mark Family Day. Information on the varied program of the Family Day and the free parking is available here.
09.10.2024
This coming weekend (October 11-13) is the final of the ADAC Racing Weekend 2024. At the Nürburgring, the GTC Race, Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy (STT) and ADAC Touring Car Junior Cup series will go into their final title decision, and the Belcar Historic Cup, which is part of an ADAC Racing Weekend for the first time this season, will also be contested in the Eifel. Two regularity series, the Touring Car & GT Revival and the VFV GLPpro, will also be taking part, thrilling fans with their classic vehicles. As usual, a free livestream will be available again from the Nürburgring on Saturday and Sunday at youtube.com/adacmotorsports. Coverage begins at 9:05 am on Saturday with qualifying for the GT60 powered by Pirelli and at 8:35 am on Sunday when the second GT Sprint qualifying session starts. Can Luca Arnold stop the GTC protégés?In the GTC Race, the two sponsored drivers Julian Hanses and Jay Mo Härtling (both Mercedes-AMG GT3) are the favorites for the title. In the GT60 powered by Pirelli, the one-hour race within the GTC Race, they are tied for the lead in the GT3 overall standings, followed by Ivan Peklin and Konstantin Gutsul (both R8 LMS GT3 evo II). The Audi duo are currently 17 points behind the Mercedes pairing. In the GT3 classification of the GT Sprint, the sprint format of the GTC Race, it is much closer, with Härtling leading by just one point ahead of Luca Arnold (Mercedes-AMG GT3). Arnold shares his race car at the Nürburgring again with experienced Marvin Dienst. Jürgen Bender wants to displace Tudor Tudurachi from first placeTudor Tudurachi (BMW M4 GT4 G82) comes to the Nürburgring as the leader of the STT standings. The Romanian took the top spot at Spa-Francorchamps and defended it at Assen. But he can't afford to relax just yet. For one thing, Jürgen Bender (Chevrolet Corvette C7 GT3 R) is lurking in second place, just three points behind him, and for another, double points will be awarded at the finale. Henk Thuis, who usually drives a Pumaxs RT, will switch to a BMW Z4 GT3 this coming weekend, which he will share with guest starter Hein Koopman. Klaus Abbelen (Ferrari 296 GT3) is another guest entrant for whom the Nürburgring is a genuine home race. He lives less than ten minutes' drive from the Nürburgring paddock. Cedric Fuchs vs. Mike MüllerThe young drivers contesting the ADAC Touring Car Junior Cup, all of whom drive identical VW up! GTI cars, are guaranteed to provide plenty of excitement. The leader of the standings, Cedric Fuchs, and his closest rival, Mike Müller, are separated by just a single point. Fuchs has won three races so far, Müller four. But Storm Gjerdrum is another driver to watch, having won twice so far – despite having to miss the first four races due to his young age. Maxim Felix Dacher, who is currently third overall and still in with a chance of taking the title, is still waiting for his first victory this year. Belcar Historic Cup with cars from five decadesThe Belcar Historic Cup is traditionally a guest at the ADAC Racing Weekend at the Nürburgring, which takes place in the fall. The Belgians bring over 50 vehicles, built between 1958 and 1999. The Triumph TR3A with Filip Mahieu and Wouter Mahieu at the wheel is the only racer from the 50s, while David Potters' 1999 Peugeot 206 GTI is the youngest model in the field. Between these two vehicles, there are some automotive racing icons from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, including the Ford GT40, BMW M1, Porsche 911 and Opel Calibra. Regularity competitions offer attractive program highlights at the NürburgringTwo regularity competitions round off the program in the Eifel. The Touring Car & GT Revival, which was only revived this year, is looking forward to a field of over 20 racing cars, thus confirming the positive development in the comeback season. In the VFV GLPpro, which has existed for much longer, three different timed tests are even necessary due to the large number of participants. In addition to touring cars and GT cars, formula and sports cars are also eligible to compete here. This is the timetableThe weekend at the Nürburgring begins on Friday at 8:05 am with general test and setup driving, which also concludes the Friday at 5:45 pm. This will give all participants another chance to put the finishing touches in place for the finale. On Saturday, the action starts at 8:05 am with the Belcar Historic Cup free practice session, before the end of the GT60 powered by Pirelli race at 5:35 pm brings the race day to a close. On Sunday, the lights will turn green again at 8:05 a.m., this time for the mandatory training of the second group of VFV GLPpro touring cars and GTs. The end of the second race of the Touring Car & GT Revival at 5:20 p.m. marks the end of Sunday and thus also of the 2024 season of the ADAC Racing Weekend.
09.10.2024
The season finale of the GTC race as part of the ADAC Racing Weekend marks the second time this year that the traditional series has come to the Nürburgring. It will be the fifth race weekend of the season for the GT racing series. After the race series already took place on the short version of the Nürburgring in June, the entire 5.148-kilometer Grand Prix circuit in the Eifel will now be used. “We are looking forward to three exciting races at the Nürburgring to round off the season. In both the GT3 and GT4 classes, there are still exciting fights for the title win, which will certainly add extra spice to the races. We want to finish the 2024 season in the best possible way and set the course for a good 2025 season,” said series manager Kilian Weitz. In the GT3 class, there is still a thrilling title fight in the GT60 powered by Pirelli and in the GT Sprint. In the one-hour race classification, Julian Hanses and Jay Mo Härtling have a 17-point lead over the Land Motorsport duo of Ivan Peklin and Konstantin Gutsul. Luca Arnold still has a mathematical chance with a deficit of 25 points. The title race is even closer in the sprint race classification. Here, Härtling leads Arnold by just one point. Peklin and Hanses also still have a chance of winning the title, with a 15- and 16-point gap respectively. Championship leaders Jay Mo Härtling and Julian Hanses will start in the GT60 with Schnitzelalm Racing. The two GTC Race sponsored drivers Hanses and Härtling are well prepared for the legendary Formula 1 circuit. The GT Sprint championship title is still up for grabs, as Härtling has only a minimal lead.Luca Arnold, who celebrated his first overall victory in the GTC Race at Hockenheim in August, will once again be at the start line in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Arnold will be supported by former DTM driver and ADAC GT Masters race winner Marvin Dienst in the GT60 powered by Pirelli. He will compete in the two sprint races as a soloist. The car is entered by W&S Motorsport. Since the team was founded in 2017, the équipe vitesse has competed in the GTC Race on a regular basis. At the finale at the Nürburgring, the team led by dedicated team manager Jil Herbst will line up in the race series for the first time this year. The team from Waldlaubersheim will field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Martin Zander and GT3 stalwart Kenneth Heyer. “For us, participating is also a test for the coming season, as the GTC Race, with its increased focus on gentleman drivers, is very attractive for us! After the race weekend at the Nürburgring and when more information about the 2025 season is available, we will make a final decision on whether we will return to the GTC Race full-time,” explains Jil Herbst. The fact that the focus is also on the gentleman drivers in the GTC Race is also demonstrated by the other GT3 participants in the field. Konstantin Gutsul shares the Land Motorsport Audi with his Ukrainian compatriot Ivan Peklin. Through intensive collaboration with Peklin, Gutsul has been able to make great progress over the course of the season and develop strongly. The ambitious gentleman driver Klaus Koch will compete in a Car Collection Audi. Koch will share the car with GT3 newcomer Bernhard Wagner, who will compete in the GTC Race for the first time. Wagner enjoyed success in the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) in the 2000s with a sidecar. After a serious accident, he switched to car racing in 2010, where he competes on the Nordschleife, among other tracks. In the GT4 class, the title fight in the GT60 powered by Pirelli has already been decided: Enrico Förderer and Joel Mesch won the title at Spa-Francorchamps. In the GT Sprint classification, Förderer leads by twelve points ahead of Mesch after four wins. Yves Volte is another three points behind in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Razoon – more than racing. Volte will again be supported in the title fight by Tobias Andersen, who was already at his side at the start in Hockenheim. The title fight in the GT4 class Trophy classification will also be exciting. Here, only 2.5 points separate the two W&S Motorsport drivers Moritz Berrenberg and Tim Horrell before the finale in the Eifel. Förderer and Mesch will again compete together in a Schnitzelalm Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. Enrico Förderer would like to continue his successful streak: the talented young driver has won every GT60 powered by Pirelli and every GT Sprint race he has contested this year. With the RS24 Racing Team, the GTC Race can also welcome a new entry in the GT4 class at the finale. The team from Hainburg in the district of Offenburg is entering a BMW M4 GT4 driven by Bastian Hein. The driver has gained experience in various popular sports series in recent years and is now ready for his debut in the GTC Race. In addition, the team is organizing a DKMS typing campaign in the paddock on Saturday in collaboration with the GTC Race to support five-month-old Leonidas in his fight against blood cancer.At Spa-Francorchamps, ME Motorsport narrowly missed out on their first victory in the GTC Race. Markus Eichele's team is now doing everything it can to achieve this at the season finale at the Nürburgring. The team's BMW M4 GT4 will be driven by the two fast youngsters Linus Hahne and Philip Wiskirchen. Meanwhile, Anton Abée is hoping for home advantage in the Mercedes-AMG GT4 from Up2race. His team is based near the Nürburgring in Nerdlen. Abée has also performed well in the GT4 class throughout the season and was in contention for class victory at Spa, but after the car was so badly damaged in an accident during practice at Hockenheim that it was unable to compete for the rest of the race weekend, the driver from northern Germany lost any chance of a good result in the championship. W&S Motorsport will once again be the biggest contender in the GT4 class at the Nürburgring. The team is entering a total of three Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport cars. Trophy driver Tim Horrell will again be competing with Hendrik Still in the GT60 powered by Pirelli, while he will compete in the sprint races alone. New: Moritz Berenberg and Nico Gündel will also share a car for the first time in the GT60 powered by Pirelli, while they will again start in their own cars with starting numbers #31 and #32 in the GT Sprint and compete in both races. The Porsche line-up in the GTC Race will be rounded off by CCS Racing, which will field a Cayman for Nikolas Gebhardt.
08.10.2024
Nürburgring employee Heiner Tack is one of the best apprentices in the area of the Koblenz Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This means that another of the Ring's junior employees is among the most successful apprentices in the region, who received their awards at the IHK best-of ceremony. After successfully completing his training, Heiner Tack is now putting his acquired knowledge into practice at the Nürburgring: he is now part of the “Events” team, helping to organize events at the legendary race track. Heiner Tack started at the Nürburgring at a time when it was not at all easy to find an apprenticeship in the event sector – in 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. “The fact that I was actually hired at the Nürburgring still motivates me to this day to give my best here at the Ring,” explains the 21-year-old. He moved from Bonn to the Eifel region for the job and began his career as an event manager. In addition to the ‘Events & Operations’ department, he passed through several stations at the race track operator. He gained extensive expertise in the finance department. At the info°center, he gained experience in direct customer contact with Nürburgring visitors. In marketing, he gained insights into the communicative work surrounding the Nürburgring brand. The wide-ranging knowledge and the different perspectives on his employer help him today in the diverse tasks and contact with the organizers in his job as a “Junior Project Manager”. When he looks back on his training, one experience in particular still impresses him to this day: “I was able to work at the Nürburgring stand during the Essen Motor Show,” reports the former apprentice. “It was incredible how many passionate Nürburgring enthusiasts I met there. It made a lasting impression on me how important my employer is to a very large community. I still think back to it often today.” Around 50 young people are currently learning a new profession at the Destination Nürburgring. In addition to Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG as the race track operator, the Nürburgring hotels and the holiday park - managed by Lindner are among the major training providers at the Ring. The application portals for the 2025 training year are already open. In the coming year, training will be provided for event managers, office management assistants, automotive mechatronics technicians, IT specialists and retail sales representatives, among others. Those interested in a dual study program in business administration – trade fair, congress and event management – can also submit their application. You can go directly to our job openings here.
02.10.2024
The DTM has released the race dates for the 2025 season and is sticking with proven locations. Drivers, teams and fans can look forward to 16 championship races at eight events. The first two DTM victories will be contested at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben from April 25 to 27 next year. The season finale will traditionally take place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (October 3rd-5th). In addition to six race weekends in Germany, the DTM will also travel to the Netherlands and Austria. Tickets for the 2025 DTM will be available from October 20th, 2024 here. After the season opener at Oschersleben, the DTM stars will head to the Dekra Lausitzring (May 23rd-25th). The first foreign race of the year will be at the Circuit Zandvoort on the Dutch North Sea coast from June 6th to 8th. After that, the DTM will be transformed into the fastest city traffic in Germany: the Norisring (July 4th to 6th) in Nuremberg, the only street circuit in the country, is one of the highlights on the calendar. The Nürburgring (August 8th to 10th) marks the start of the second half of the season, in which all remaining events will be held at two or three-week intervals. The Sachsenring (August 22nd to 24th) will be another stop at a traditional German circuit, before the mountains of Austria provide the backdrop for the DTM at the Red Bull Ring (September 12th to 14th). The season showdown will be held at Hockenheim (October 3rd to 5th), with the finale taking place 14 days earlier than in the past two years. “The fans' enthusiasm for the DTM is high, which shows that we are on the right track with the calendar. In recent months, we have intensively examined exciting venues for the DTM. However, since we have seen a significant increase in visitor numbers at all events in Germany this year, we will stick to the proven venues for the 2025 season,” says ADAC Head of Motorsport Thomas Voss. The 2024 season finale and title decision is still to be held at Hockenheim. From October 18th to 20th, 2024, Mirko Bortolotti (Lamborghini), Kelvin van der Linde (Audi) and Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG) will fight for the title in a three-way battle in the DTM's anniversary season. Tickets for the finale are available from 39 euros here. Race calendar DTM 202525.04.-27.04.2025 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben23.05.-25.05.2025 Dekra Lausitzring06.06.-08.06.2025 Circuit Zandvoort (NL)04.07.-06.07.2025 Norisring08.08.-10.08.2025 Nürburgring22.08.-24.08.2025 Sachsenring12.09.-14.09.2025 Red Bull Ring (A) presented by VKB BankOctober 3-5, 2025 Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg
02.10.2024
The Mercedes-AMG ONE has held the lap record for production vehicles at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife since October 2022. Now Mercedes-AMG brand ambassador and DTM driver Maro Engel has beaten this record time again. With an officially confirmed time of 6:29.090 minutes for the 20.832-kilometer track, the AMG ONE improved its own record by more than five seconds. This makes the hypercar the first production car to break the 6:30-minute barrier and the only production-based hybrid hypercar to take on this racetrack. “We have held the record for road vehicles for almost two years, but at AMG we always want to go further. That's why we have once again demonstrated what the AMG ONE is capable of. The whole team has done a great job and has been rewarded with this new best time. An impressive testament to the innovative spirit and skill of AMG.” Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “Two years ago, the conditions were not ideal. Today, we had optimal conditions to demonstrate the full potential of the AMG ONE. A big thank you to the team for the trust they placed in me. It was a special honor to set this record.” Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG brand ambassador. The record was set on September 23, 2020 under ideal conditions. Engel used the hybrid drive's special Energy Flow Control to optimally distribute the electrical resources over the demanding, 20-kilometer route. To confirm the lap time, the vehicle was checked by TÜV Rheinland for its series production and the record drive was certified by a notary.The AMG ONE used for the record attempt was equipped with standard MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tires and the AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system. In addition, the “Race Plus” driving program was activated to ensure maximum aerodynamics and suspension stability. The car is also equipped with a Drag Reduction System (DRS) that reduces drag on fast sections of the track and increases downforce on twisty sections. You can find more information here.
01.10.2024
A second large photovoltaic system has been successfully installed at the Nürburgring. The new system is located on the roof of the BMW M POWER Grandstand and now produces sustainable electricity from solar energy right next to the start and finish straight. Together with the existing system on the roof of the ring°werk motorsport experience museum, the legendary race track now generates its own energy, amounting to 1.1 million kWh per year. With this latest addition, the total area of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the Nürburgring now covers more than 11,000 square meters. The new system on the BMW M POWER Grandstand generates around 634,800 kWh of electricity per year, while the existing system on the roof of the ring°werk contributes an additional 500,000 kWh per year. Together, these systems cover almost a quarter of the Nürburgring's energy needs. The self-generated solar energy supports the sustainable energy policy of the Nürburgring, which also covers its further needs with 100% green electricity from sustainable sources. The second photovoltaic system was installed – as was the first – in cooperation with the regional company Wi SOLAR, with which the Nürburgring has had an ongoing partnership since 2022. The ring°kart track, where visitors experience driving fun exclusively with electric karts, therefore bears the addition “powered by Wi SOLAR” in its name. About sustainability at the NürburgringThe Nürburgring is fully committed to sustainability in the key areas of electricity and heating, mobility and innovation, nature and landscape conservation, waste disposal and recycling, water and wastewater, and noise and sound protection. In the area of electricity and heating, the Nürburgring relies on green energy with photovoltaic systems and 100% green electricity. A climate-friendly biomass heating plant and efficient digital measuring systems support the sustainable energy supply. Mobility is promoted by expanding the charging infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles. Electric karts and CO2 compensation projects complement the commitment. In nature and landscape conservation, the Nürburgring manages 150 hectares of its own forest area in accordance with PEFC requirements and protects valuable habitats. Waste disposal and recycling are supported by responsible waste management and campaigns such as “clean campsites”. Water and wastewater management includes the use of rainwater and vacuum technology. A comprehensive noise protection concept and continuous noise monitoring ensure reduced noise emissions.The Nürburgring shows that events, environmental protection and innovation can go hand in hand – which is why this versatile location recently received the two-star environmental accreditation from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) once again.
26.09.2024
The Nürburgring Family Day will be the colorful highlight of the fall holidays: On Sunday, October 20, fans of all ages can look forward to a varied hands-on program with free admission! But that's not all that's coming up in the next four weeks - on and off the famous Eifel track. The Green Hell Driving Days from October 3rd to 6th, the race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (October 19th) and the season finale of many tuning fans around the European TimeAttack Masters race (October 27th) are on the calendar. Detailed information about all events can be found here. A brief overview of the highlights: Nürburgring Family Day (October 20) On Sunday, October 20, the focus is once again squarely on families. From 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the Nürburgring invites you to a family day with free admission and a huge program. In the ring°boulevard, which is protected from the weather, football artist Jannik Freestyle will be there with his tricks, as will a whole host of animal mascots: Legend from the Nürburgring, Summi from the Rhein-Zeitung newspaper, the RPR1 bear, as well as flamingo “Ingo” and lemur “Katta” will be available for souvenir photos. In addition to various demonstrations, there are numerous hands-on activities: the “ring°kids Grand Prix”, the children's motorcycle riding school “Polo Kids Drift Academy” or the balance bike course from the “Mini-Hero World” of SchauinsLand Reisen, as well as Katta's games mobile with hands-on and skill games. In addition, there will be the opportunity to experience police, fire and ambulance vehicles up close. The open BMW M Power grandstand offers a view of the race track. And if you would like to visit the ring°werk adventure museum, children also have free admission here. Green Hell Driving Days (October 3-6)XXL tourist rides from the Day of German Unity: From the holiday itself (October 3rd) up to and including Sunday (October 6th), the barriers to the Nordschleife will open for four consecutive days. From 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day, everyone will have the opportunity to experience the Green Hell for themselves. Book credits online or on site, memorize the driving order and you're ready to go for the Nordschleife experience. Along the most beautiful 20.832 kilometers in the world, many visitors, hikers and cyclists will also line the route during the Green Hell Driving Days. By the way: In the event of a short-term track closure, there are special waiting time specials – such as discounts on food and drinks or reduced admission to the ring°werk adventure museum. Further information can be found on the Nürburgring website. ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (19. Oktober)NLS fans have had to wait almost two months: on Saturday, October 19, the popular ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will finally be back with more racing. The concept is easy to explain: more than 100 race cars – divided into various classes – compete in a four-hour race on the combination of the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife. Qualifying starts at 8:30 a.m., with the race starting at 12:00 noon. In between, spectators can get up close to the cars and drivers. Tickets are available for 22 euros and include access to the open grandstands, the paddock and even the starting grid. Children up to 14 years of age are free. There are numerous corners and angles to discover around the almost 24-kilometre race track during the race. European TimeAttack Masters (27 October) A final get-together of the tuning scene before many enthusiasts traditionally send their vehicles into hibernation at the end of October. For several years now, the paddock of the Grand Prix circuit has been the setting for a family get-together of many vehicle enthusiasts during the European TimeAttack Masters race. While visitors to the Tuning Masters Season End indulge in car talk, drift shows and the show-and-shine contest, there is also plenty of action on the track. At the European TimeAttack Masters finale, drivers from all over Europe go up against the clock in fascinating, high-horsepower cars. Tickets cost 20 euros, children up to 14 years of age are free. More racing action in OctoberThe motorsport calendar is also very full in October: several events promise motorsport that always attracts interested spectators. With the ADAC RGB season finale (October 4th to 6th) and the ADAC Westfalen Trophy (October 12th to 13th) on the Grand Prix circuit, the Nürburgring Drift Cup (October 19th to 20th) October) at the Müllenbachschleife, as well as a regularity test (GLP) on October 25 and the 3-hour race of the RCN circuit challenge on the Nordschleife (October 26). Further information on the individual events and on the ticket offers is available here. Events in October 2024:October 03-06: Green Hell Driving Days October 04-06: ADAC RGB season finale October 12-13: ADAC Westfalen TrophyOctober 19: ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-SerieOctober 20: Nürburgring Family DayOctober 19-20: Nürburgring Drift CupOctober 25: Regularity Test (GLP)October 26: 3-hour race (RCN)October 27: European TimeAttack Masters & Tuning Masters Season End
24.09.2024
In the event of a tie, the lower number of penalty points in the first confirmation round, in the second confirmation round, etc. will decide.” This is how it is written in the regulations of the RCN GLP regularity tests. At the AC Oberhausen's GLP ‘Rhein-Ruhr’ on September 22, 2024, this not particularly popular passage came into effect seven times. In one case (positions 23, 24 and 25), three teams even had the same number of points at the end. This accumulation of equal points is certainly due to the fact that in four rounds, the chance of having the same number of points is greater than in six rounds. A comment by chief judge Jürgen Seidel at the drivers' briefing gave the participants hope for the future: “Today we are again driving ten laps, but I am optimistic that next year it will be different.” Otherwise, it was a normal regularity test. At the start, the weather was ideal for the Nordschleife. An almost cloudless sky and a correspondingly dry track thrilled the 93 driver teams who had traveled to the race. This is what makes popular sports at the Nürburgring Nordschleife fun! At the finish line, there was a surprise in 12th and 11th place. Both positions were occupied by a black and yellow BMW 325i. Both teams had 4.9 points each. The participants of both vehicles came from Titz and each of the two BMWs had a driver named “Esser”. Despite a “zero round”, however, Joachim Esser and Hans-Josef Pistel had to surrender to the second AT Esser BMW with Manuel Esser and Nils Coenen in P11 due to a higher number of penalty points in the first scoring round (3.3/0.8/0.0/0.8) (1.0/1.8/0.2/1.9). Sebastian Gödderz and Jessica Suitter came in tenth. The two Winkelhaiders, who were still racing as rookies last season, finished in their Renault Twingo with a total of 4.2 penalty points penalty points (0.4/0.2/1.7/1.9). Points equality also on P8 and P9. Here Steven and Jennifer Ostrowski (Essen, Mercedes AMG) finished with 3.2 points (2.2/0.3/0.6/0.1) in ninth place behind the rookies Stefan and Simon Zimmer from Blieskastel in a BMW 318 ti with 3.2 points (0.4/1.1/1.0/0.7) in P8. Due to a tie in points, the results of the first evaluation round had to be used again for the next two places as a criterion. Lukas Schwenk (Volxheim) and Noah Servos (Kerpen) were therefore Mitsubishi Colt and 3.1 points (1.3/0.8/0.7/0.3) were listed in 7th place. With the same number of points (1.2/0.6/0.3/1.0), Falk and Monika Mellentin (Mönchengladbach), who were competing for DAMC 05 in the ADAC in a BMW 318. Andreas Lux and Emilian Slaby(both from Langenberg) came in fifth in the day's standings as the best rookie team. With their Mini Cooper, they collected 2.8 penalty points (0.9/0.2/0.5/1.2). Michael Dedekind and Sandra Meier (both from Landshut), who have already won a leg this year with their beautiful BMW E46 M3, did extremely well again. A total of 2.5 points (1.2/0.5/0.4/0.4) was enough for 4th place. It was close at the top this time. The first three finishers were only 0.1 points apart. Ralph Petzhold (Wallerfangen) and Manuel Ahrens (Hasborn-Dautweiler) achieved third place with 1.9 points. A great success for the driver pairing from Saarland. Winfried and Karin Schlüter are back! After a rather mixed season, the couple from Horstmar showed that they had not forgotten how to drive GLP. With their red Mini JCW, they drove safely to 2nd place with 1.8 points (0.5/0.5/0.2/0.6). But this time the victory went to the clear favorites, the father-son team Harald and Harald Ezaru from Bad Wildbad. As the overall leaders, they went into the sixth GLP race of the season, which they successfully completed as the winners of the day and overall. With 1.7 points (0.5/0.2/0.3/0.7) in the 6th, Ezaru/Ezaru secured their third GLP victory this season. Add to that three second places – that should be enough for this year's championship. After 2021, it is already the second title win for father and son Ezaru. Congratulations. But even though the champion team has already been determined, for one or the still have a chance in the last race of the season on October 25, 2024. In some cases, the teams are only a few tenths of a point apart in the standings. With a good result in the final race, it should be possible to move up a few places. As already indicated above, Andreas Lux and Emilian Slaby won the rookie classification, Lux and Emilian Slaby ahead of Stefan and Simon Zimmer, with Marc Buderath (Linnich) and Nina Nacken (Herzogenrath) in third place. They were driving a Renault Megan for MSC Muehlheim in the ADAC. The team “Nullrunde” (Ezaru/Ezaru, Schlüter/Schlüter, Dedekind/Meier and Mellentin/Mellentin) secured a commanding victory in the team standings with 29.24 points, team ranking ahead of the AT-Esser Motorsport team (Esser/Coenen, Esser/Pistel, Buderath/Nacken and Pistel/Hirsch with 25.06 points) and the MSC Wahlscheid im ADAC team (Göbbels/Göbbels, Derscheid/Derscheid and Vosen/Vosen) with 20.21 points in third place.
