The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie enters the second half of the season. This coming Saturday (June 20), the 1st ADAC Eifel Trophy is on the schedule at the legendary Nordschleife. A look at the provisional entry list promises a diverse field ranging from international top drivers and ambitious newcomers to a strong GT3 presence. Tickets are available from €25 at VLN.de/tickets. Children up to the age of 14 receive free admission. 

From Le Mans straight to the Grüne Hölle: Kobayashi and Frijns go on the attack
Just one week after his overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Kamui Kobayashi switches directly from the Sarthe to the Nordschleife. True to the motto “Business first, pleasure second,” the Japanese star driver takes on the challenge in the Eifel. Kobayashi will pilot the No. 47 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for KCMG in the SP9 PRO class.

“Le Mans and the Grüne Hölle are two completely different challenges. After the fantastic victory, I’m now looking forward to returning with KCMG after a great experience at NLS3,” says Kobayashi. “My goal is to continue improving on the Nordschleife in a GT3 car. This is another great opportunity to continue my learning process on this legendary racetrack. With an all-Japanese driver lineup, we are confident that we can enjoy a successful race day.”

In Le Mans, Robin Frijns had to settle for second place behind winner Kobayashi. In the Grüne Hölle, however, a rematch now awaits. The Dutchman will drive the BMW M4 GT3 entered by Schubert Motorsport.

Nordschleife debuts for Scott Speed and Tim Tramnitz
In addition to Kobayashi, several other well-known drivers will enrich the field and make their NLS debuts. Former Formula 1 and NASCAR driver Scott Speed will compete for Mühlner Motorsport in the No. 999 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS in the CUP3 class.

Also making his debut is Tim Tramnitz. The young German driver, who competed successfully in the FIA Formula 3 Championship over the past two years and was a member of the Red Bull Racing junior program, became a BMW works driver this year. He will pilot the No. 651 BMW M240i Racing Cup for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels with the goal of completing the laps required for his Nordschleife permit.

“For me as a German driver, making my NLS debut is simply a huge thing,” says Tramnitz. “Completing the permit process together with BMW and hopefully competing in GT3 soon is an absolute childhood dream. Every German motorsport enthusiast associates racing with the Nordschleife, so I’m really looking forward to it. In the long term, the goal is crystal clear: one day to fight for victory in a GT3 car at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.”

A full GT3 field: New cars and an AT premiere for équipe vitesse
Even after the 24-hour race, the top class remains strongly represented, with around 20 GT3 cars expected to line up on Saturday. Particularly noticeable is the increase in new entries in the AM and alternative-fuel classes.

Among the new entries are the No. 6 Audi R8 driven by Pierre Lemmerz and Alexander Kroker (SP9 AM), as well as the No. 11 Audi R8 LMS GT3 entered by Max Kruse Racing in the AT 1 class. Also new to AT 1 is the second Audi R8 LMS GT3 fielded by équipe vitesse, carrying the No. 18.

The team is expanding its program and will run this GT3 machine on environmentally friendly Racing eFuel 98 E10. Experienced racing driver Carrie Schreiner will share the cockpit with Andreas Ziegler and Roland Froese.

Team principal Jil Herbst emphasizes: “The use of synthetic fuels for the future of motorsport is very important to us. We are delighted to have secured this high-caliber driver lineup, which has emerged from long-standing relationships and our shared commitment to promoting women in motorsport.” The team’s well-known sister car, carrying the No. 50, will compete as usual in the SP9 AM class.

A renewed attempt: Mario Fuchs returns to the challenge
Mario Fuchs is set to make his second attempt in the NLS after his debut last year ended prematurely due to a technical failure. Together with Eugen Weber and Axel Duffner, he will field the No. 333 Mitsubishi Lancer CT9A in the SP3T class, the same car with which he recently won the RCN race held as part of the 24-hour race weekend.

Fuchs is optimistic ahead of the upcoming race weekend:
“The start had actually been planned for quite some time, but scheduling conflicts, preparations for the 24h race, and the special technical supplementary regulations meant that it only worked out now. Our Mitsubishi requires an enormous amount of maintenance, which unfortunately makes a full season financially impossible. But the fantastic spectator atmosphere, the many fan inquiries, and the excellent organization of the NLS really drew us in. In addition, Eugen Weber and Axel Duffner put enormous pressure on us to finally make this project happen. We’re absolutely thrilled and hope for a long and successful race.”

A varied support program around the Ring
The race weekend also offers a diverse program away from the Nordschleife. In the Historic Paddock, the second round of the NLS Youth Kart Championship 2026 will begin at 10:00 a.m., where young drivers will weave through the cones in electric karts.

At the same time, participants in the ADAC Slalom Youngster Cup (ADAC Mittelrhein) will demonstrate their precision driving skills on the helipad in the paddock area.

In the area of the former Südschleife, the ADAC Clubsport Rallyesprint Cup Region Mitte will host rounds three and four of its championship. Young motorsport talents will tackle a spectacular special stage on mixed surfaces while working together in close team cooperation.

But motorsport is not the only attraction: the “STAGE National Championships” in cheerleading will take place simultaneously in the ring°arena.

Tickets for the race weekend cost €25 (children up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge) and are available at VLN.de/tickets as well as at the ticket offices on site. The ticket includes access to the open grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit, the spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, pit lane, and starting grid.

Qualifying to determine the starting positions will take place on Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Afterwards, fans will have the opportunity to experience the cars and drivers up close during the Pitwalk in the pit lane from 10:20 a.m. and the subsequent Gridwalk on the starting grid from 11:10 a.m.

The four-hour endurance race will start promptly at 12:00 noon. Those unable to witness the spectacle in person can tune into the official livestream on VLN.de from 8:15 a.m. or follow the action via “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and in the RPR1 app.