11.04.2024
The Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit has a new bend. As the centerpiece of an extensive partnership, PAGID Racing now holds the naming rights to the first right-hand bend of the so-called Müllenbachschleife. In addition, the brand, which has been successful with its brake pads in the motorsport and high-performance segment for 30 years, will become a partner of the Nürburgring Driving Academy and will be involved in the ring°kart track and the Nürburgring Business Club. The partnership will initially run for three years until 2026. As part of the collaboration with the Nürburgring Driving Academy, PAGID Racing will also equip the Nürburgring's formula cars with high-quality, asbestos-free racing brake pads, helping the ring's customers to find the perfect braking point in future. At the Driving Academy's formula training sessions, anyone can climb into the cockpit on various courses. At the ring°kart track, PAGID Racing ensures that guests also feel comfortable off the track and sets up a "chill and brake zone" for visitors. In addition, the performance brand uses the offers of the race track's networking platform with a membership in the Nürburgring Business Club. Over 50 companies involved in the Nürburgring are already connected here. "We are delighted to be intensifying our collaboration with the Nürburgring. Due to the enormously high demands on drivers and vehicles, the Nürburgring has been a very important location for the PAGID Racing brand for decades, not only serving as a test track for our high-quality friction materials, but also as the central link to our partners who successfully compete there year after year," explains Carolin Leo, Global Brand Marketing Manager at PAGID Racing. "PAGID Racing's commitment across several modules of our Nürburgring destination shows how versatile and at the same time targeted partners can present themselves at our race track. We are proud to be able to offer PAGID Racing such a wide range of activities, from advertising at the track to the sensible use of the company's high-quality products as part of the Nürburgring offers. In this way, a partnership is also lived in terms of content and, above all, can be experienced by our customers," says Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. About PAGID Racing and TMD FrictionPAGID Racing is a performance brand of TMD Friction, a leading global supplier of high-quality brake pad solutions for the automotive and brake industry. TMD Friction employs more than 4,200 people worldwide at locations in Europe, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan. The company develops and produces disc and drum brake linings for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The product portfolio is rounded off by the PAGID Racing brand in the motorsport and high performance segment and has been successful in this area worldwide for more than 30 years.
10.04.2024
After the brilliant season opener last weekend, the ADAC Nürburgring endurance series continues without a break. With the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, the next double-header is scheduled for April 13 and 14. Two 4-hour races - on Saturday even into the twilight - once again promise thrilling motorsport in the Green Hell. Tickets are available from 25 euros at 24h-rennen.de and at the box offices. As usual, those staying at home can followthe action around the Nürburgring via livestream at vln.de. After not all GT3 teams were on the grid at the two opening races of the NLS due to overlapping dates, the qualifiers will feature a full load of GT3 power. Of course, the two victorious Porsche teams Falken Motorsports and Manthey EMA will also be competing this weekend. This time, DTM champion Thomas Preining and his DTM teammate this year, Ayhancan Güven, will take turns at the wheel of 'Grello'. After almost achieving the historic first victory for the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO II in NLS2, RED BULL TEAM ABT is now looking for revenge. In the qualifiers, Frikadelli Racing, last year's 24-hour winner, will once again attack with the Ferrari 296 GT3 and Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed is also aiming for success. The racing team from the business park at the Nürburgring took a race win in last year's qualifiers. Herberth Motorsport (Porsche 911 GT3 R), Schnitzelalm Racing (Mercedes-AMG GT3), Lionspeed GP - PK Motorsport (Porsche 911 GT3 R), Dinamic GT (Porsche 911 GT3 R) and the two BMW teams BMS M Team RMG and ROWE RACING will also contest the first race in the Green Hell 2024. A total of 28 GT3 cars will be on the grid, promising spectators first-class racing action. Following the brand switch from BMW to Aston Martin, Walkenhorst Motorsport will contest the first Nordschleife event with the British super sports car. Christian Krognes, Jakub Giermaziak, David Pittard and Nicki Thiim will take turns at the wheel in the #34 car, with Chandler Hull, Benjamin Mazatis and Patrick Assenheimer in the #35 and Stefan Aust, Christian Bollrath, Anders Buchard and team founder Henry Walkenhorst in the #36. Last season, the racing team from Melle took five victories in the NLS - albeit all in BMWs. Double lead in the championshipAfter two of eight races in the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, two teams are level on points at the top of the standings. Daniel Mertens and Joshua Hislop won the VT2-FWD class twice in the Hyundai i30N from Mertens Motorsport. Sven Markert, Ranko Mijatovic and Toby Goodman from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels achieved the same feat in the BMW M240i Racing Cup. Both classes had a strong field in the opening races, guaranteeing a full points haul. In second place are three teams that claimed a win and a second place in NLS 1+2. AVIA W&S Motorsport was successful with Joshua Bedarski, Lucas Daugaard and Moritz Oberheim in their Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS in the Cup 3 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. In the SP10, TOYO TIRES with Ring Racing with Andreas Gülden, Tim Sandtler and Marc Hennerici in the Toyota Supra GT4 and Dörr Motorsport with Oskar Sandberg, Aaron Wenisch and Nick Wüstenhagen in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 took turns in first and second place. Horst Baumann, who together with Stefan Schmickler drove the Porsche from Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol to third and second place in Cup 3, leads the new Gentlemen trophy for drivers born in 1973 or earlier. The two championship leaders Goodman and Hislop are currently also the best-placed drivers in the Junior Trophy. Desiree Müller, who drives a BMW 325i in the V4, is in first place in the Ladies' Trophy. And - after a second place in the first race and a much-acclaimed victory in the second - Grello, the Porsche 911 GT3 from Manthey EMA, leads the Speed Trophy. Thrilling program with plenty of racingThe ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers are part of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie for the first time this year. The dress rehearsal for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 to June 2) is organized by ADAC Nordrhein. The two-day event begins with qualifying for race one on Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon. The first four-hour race starts at 5:30 pm and continues into the evening hours. On Sunday, the 90-minute qualifying session starts at 08:15. The top qualifying session, in which the fastest cars take to the track in an individual time trial, is a highlight from 10:40 am. The second race of the weekend starts at 13:00 and the chequered flag falls at 17:00. Both races will be contested on the 24-hour version, consisting of the Grand Prix circuit (without the AMG Arena) and the Nordschleife. In addition to the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers themselves, the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) will run a performance test on the Nordschleife on Saturday from 13:00 to 16:30. In the paddock, there will be a youth kart slalom on the helipad and automobile slaloms will take place in the AMG Arena on both days.
09.04.2024
The ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers from April 13th to 14th promise an extremely exciting Nordschleife weekend. The two four-hour races of the weekend will be the highlight of the preparation phase for the race of the year, as this is the ideal opportunity for testing before the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 to June 2). In addition, both heats on Saturday (start at 17:30) and Sunday (start at 13:00) will be scored for the NLS (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie). Over 130 cars will be lining up to take advantage of this double opportunity - the entry list is available online (see links). Among them are the winning teams of the first two NLS races, Falken Motorsports and Manthey with their Porsche 911 GT3 R. Whether they can also be considered favorites for the 24h will be decided during the 24h Qualifiers. That's when many top teams who were still involved in other racing series at the NLS season opener will join the field. Good reasons not to miss out on this race weekend - especially as there is also plenty of highly interesting motorsport to experience in the supporting program. Tickets for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers are available here - admission to the Nordschleife (except camping and parking) is free! The 24h Qualifiers are the crowning finale to intensive weeks of full-throttle racing. This also included the "double-header" at the NLS season opener on the first weekend in April. This gave a first impression of this year's balance of power on the Nordschleife. Daniel Juncadella took pole position on both days in the HRT team's Mercedes-AMG GT3. In the first race on Saturday, the Porsche teams in particular made an extremely strong impression: one of the 911 GT3 Rs from Falken Motorsports took victory on Saturday ahead of the legendary "Grello" 911 from Manthey Racing. If the second Falken Porsche had not retired shortly before the end, there would have been a triple podium for the 911s. As it was, the remaining podium place went to the strong performance of Frank Stippler in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Scherer PHX. On Sunday, Manthey then took the lead in a spectacular photo finish when Laurens Vanthoor overtook Jordan Pepper in the Abt-Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo II practically at the finish line. The Lambo had previously put in a magnificent performance and looked like a sure winner until shortly before the end. But final driver Jordan Pepper, who was signaled by the pits that he would not have enough fuel for another lap, reduced the pace a little too much to avoid crossing the finish line again before the four-hour time limit expired. Manthey's final driver Laurens Vanthor took full advantage of this and ultimately won by half a car length. "You can't make something like that up," marveled the winner. His team, which was one of the most successful teams at the 24h, could be highly satisfied. Team colleague Kevin Estre had already been delighted with "a super preparation" the day before after P2 in the first race. "The Grello is a legend on the Nordschleife, many fans celebrate the car. It's great to be part of it." 24h Qualifiers offer the chance for revengeThe brand colleagues from Falken Motorsports were also highly satisfied after the victory on Saturday and P3 on Sunday. "Super cool!" said a jubilant Nico Menzel after the first race. "After many class wins, this was finally my first overall victory in the NLS." Tim Heinemann took over his racing seat on the second day and was also beaming after the race: "It's good to start the season with a podium and even collect leading kilometers. But we didn't see the true balance of power today - we won't have a picture of that until next weekend at the qualifiers. But it was a great start and our team had a super weekend." There was no sign of similar euphoria among the runners-up in Sunday's NLS race. "A huge mistake," said Jordan Pepper, bemoaning the narrow loss of victory. His colleague Kelvin van der Linde was at least able to celebrate the "mega performance of the team", but also summed up: "This is absolutely bitter, we can't be satisfied. The good news for him and all those for whom this season opener did not go smoothly: There is already a chance of revenge for the beefy Lamborghini, which proved to be new additions to the crowd favorites, at next weekend's qualifiers. The imposing Italo-GT3 proved to be just as competitive at the NLS opener as the celebrated returnees from Glickenhaus Racing: the SCG 004c of the Le Mans participants will also be a visual highlight at the 24h Qualifiers with its sports car look. A first look at the 24h favoritesThe GT3 class, in which the majority of the teams capable of winning compete, was not yet fully occupied at the NLS opener because a number of top teams were tied up with other series. This will change radically in the qualifiers: 30 GT3 and SP-X cars are registered, which should already provide a fairly complete overview of the teams and makes that will be fighting for victory in the 24h. The fastest drivers from the NLS season opener will therefore meet their most important 24-hour rivals on the legendary asphalt for the first time. Among them are last year's 24h winners from Frikadelli Racing with their Ferrari 296 GT3. The Mercedes-AMG teams will be joined by GetSpeed and Schnitzelalm, while RMG and Rowe Racing will be there with their BMW M4 GT3s. The Aston Martin squad will be reinforced by three Vantage AMR GT3 Evo cars in the colors of Trinity Solutions / Walkenhorst. Dinamic GT, Lionspeed and Herberth Motorsport will be joining the action for Porsche. Glock wants to go to the 24hIf the entry list for the 24h Qualifiers is anything to go by, then the 24h Nürburgring on the last weekend in May will be a full assembly of GT racing: teams and drivers from at least the most important European series will meet. There could even be a few more names. Ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Timo Glock, for example, climbed into a Cup BMW in the NLS to qualify for the DMSB Permit - an additional racing license for the major vehicle classes on the Nordschleife. "I've always wanted to compete in the 24h," reveals the Odenwald native. "Now it's finally possible, and my big goal is to start in a car with Timo Scheider at the 24h. My permit is a prerequisite - but we still have a few more hurdles to overcome. Then a small lifelong dream of the 42-year-old would come true: "The stage is even more open here than elsewhere, and you are very close to the fans. Everything is very open and the atmosphere is cool. It's a lot of fun. One of the highlights of the NLS is the start lap, when the fans line the track. At the 24h, all of that is magnified once again - I would like to finally experience that for myself." Lots of motorsport to experienceIt's not just the two main races of the qualifiers that will offer great sport. In the breaks between the practice sessions and races, it's worth taking a stroll through the paddock, where the youngest motorsport drivers can be admired in the youth kart slalom on the heliport. Car slaloms will take place in the Mercedes Arena on both days. The season opener of the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) on Saturday afternoon also promises a very well-staffed field of amateur sports cars on the Nordschleife. The motorsport fun is available in advance for 25 euros (day tickets Saturday / Sunday), the weekend ticket costs 39 euros. Those who cannot experience the 24h Qualifiers on site can watch the most important highlights in the livestream on the 24h homepage (www.24h-rennen.de) on Saturday from 16:45 and on Sunday from 10:30.
07.04.2024
Season opener in the Green Hell - and it wasn't just the weather that showed its best side for the first race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie: Race one of the double-header provided the spectators - and the winners Joel Eriksson and Nico Menzel - with thrilling racing in bright spring sunshine. In the Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, the duo relegated the legendary 'Grello' from Manthey EMA to second place. Laurens Vanthor and Kévin Estre were 3.644 seconds off the pace at the finish. The podium was completed by Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Scherer Sport PHX. "It's hard to believe that this is my first race win here, after all, I've been competing in the NLS for a few years now," said Menzel. "I've been on the podium many times, I've taken class wins, but I've been denied first place so far. I think Joel is our lucky charm, because when he's on the car, it works. He already has four wins." Eriksson added: "It's fantastic to start the season like this," and praised the performance of the Falken 911. "Our car was simply perfect today." The Manthey boys were also delighted. "It's always very special to stand on the podium here at the NLS," said Estre. "And it's always great to be part of Manthey's Grello project." His teammate Vanthoor added: "Yesterday we were still in Spa to drive the LMDh, now on the Nordschleife. Those were two wonderful days. The great encouragement from the fans who cheered us on lap after lap was also fantastic." Markus Winkelhock in third place was also happy with the result: "That was a lot of fun today. Driving on the Nordschleife in such great weather, I can't imagine anything better." However, the team from Meuspath was unable to achieve more than third place today and was unable to match the performance of the Porsche at the front. "They were just too fast, I couldn't keep up," said Stippler after the podium ceremony. The Scherer Audi will not be on the grid for the second race on Sunday. "But I'll obviously be following the race on the live stream," said Winkelhock. "I won't miss out on that." The Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO II of RED BULL TEAM ABT and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team HRT finished fourth and fifth respectively. Daniel Juncadella took pole position in qualifying. With a best time of 7:56.507 minutes, the Spaniard relegated the Scherer Audi to second place by 2.455 seconds. In sixth place, Dennis Fetzer, Hubert Haupt and Ralf Aron in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Team ADVAN x HRT took victory in the Pro-Am classification. Behind the best-placed Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of PROsport-Racing, the SCG004c of Glickenhaus Racing LLC finished eighth. In the Am class, debutants Alexey Vermenko and 'SELV' won in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from JUTARACING. Plenty of variety and thrilling racing in the SP10With eleven cars, the GT4 SP10 class had an extremely strong field at the season opener. Andreas Gülden, Tim Sandtler and Marc Hennerici took victory in the opening race in the Toyota Supra GT4 from TOYO TIRES with Ring Racing. The trio finished 32.198 seconds ahead of Oskar Sandberg, Aaron Wenisch and Nick Wüstenhagen in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 from Dörr Motorsport. Third place was secured by Achim Waver, Claudius Karch, Ivan Jacoma and Kai Riemer, who are driving a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS from Schmickler Performance by Ravenol this year. The champions don't stop winningLast season's title winners picked up where they left off at the 2024 season opener. Champions Daniel Zils and Philipp Leisen won the VT2-R+4WD class together with newcomer Moran Gott in the BMW 330i from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhatten Wheels. The runners-up in the championship, Heiko Eichenberg, Fabio Grosse and Patrik Grütter, won the Cup 3 class in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. Robert Wickens uninjured after accidentOn lap 13, Robert Wickens, who was driving a Hyundai Elantra N TCR together with Mark Wilkins, had an accident in the Hohenrain chicane. After an initial examination at the Nürburgring Medical Center, the Canadian was transferred to the hospital in Neuwied by rescue helicopter. A computer tomography scan revealed no injuries. Wickens will remain in hospital overnight for observation. The ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie continues in quick succession. The second race will take place on Sunday and promises to be another exciting one. The 63rd ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen will run over the usual distance of four hours. Tickets are available at vln.de/tickets and those staying at home can follow the action in the Green Hell via livestream.
07.04.2024
The opening weekend of the ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series will go down in the history of the Nordschleife championship. Laurens Vanthoor won the race in the Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R with a wafer-thin lead of 0.042 seconds over Jordan Pepper in the RED BULL TEAM ABT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo II. This was the closest finish in the 48-year history of the NLS. The number of spectators at the double-header was also record-breaking. "That was a dream start to the NLS season," said a delighted VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger. "Two days of thrilling racing action in glorious weather at the Nürburgring in front of a fantastic backdrop - that makes you want more! Many thanks to the participants and fans who made it an unforgettable weekend." Even the early stages of the race were a demonstration of GT3 perfection in the Green Hell. The protagonists who played a role in the showdown at the end of the race were already involved here. In addition, the two Mercedes-AMG GT3s from HRT and the two Falken Porsches fought for every centimeter. The six-pack chased through the Green Hell at intervals of just a few seconds until the first pit stop. After that, the leading group pulled apart somewhat due to different strategies. Later on, the battle between Joel Eriksson in the Falken Porsche and Grello driver Vanthoor, who flew around the track in pairs in the fight for overall victory, was also worth watching. After the final pit stop, the Abt-Lamborghini took the lead when the team benefited from the resolution of a Code 60 phase, which both the Manthey and Falken Porsche had previously driven through at reduced speed. Pepper went into the final lap with a whopping eight-second lead over second-placed Vanthoor. "We would never have been able to make up that gap on the track," admitted Vanthoor's teammate Kévin Estre, even though Vanthoor set the fastest lap of the race in 7:56.473 minutes on the final lap. Nevertheless, it was a close call in the end, as Pepper did not have enough fuel on board for another lap and literally drove against the running clock to avoid having to complete another lap. The Briton was waved off 1.810 seconds after the end of the four-hour distance - and Vanthoor managed the feat of being 0.042 seconds faster. When accelerating out, the front of the Grello moved forward by a few meters. "I tried everything to keep Laurens behind me until the line, but unfortunately it didn't work out," said Pepper and his teammate Kelvin van der Linde was devastated. "I just don't have the words. This is so bitter!" The previous day's winner, Joel Eriksson, completed the podium in third place together with Tim Heinemann at his side in the Falken Porsche. Daniel Juncadella and Frank Bird finished fourth in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team HRT. Thomas Mutsch, Franck Mailleux and Lance David Arnold finished fifth in the Glickenhaus SCG9004c. Hubert Haupt, Dennis Fetzer and Ralf Aron took victory in the SP9 Pro-Am classification in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Team ADVAN x HRT. At the debut of the new Renazzo Motorsport team, Kiki Sak Nana, Christoph Breuer and 'Dieter Schmidtmann' took their first class win in the Am category. The decision in the Cup 2 of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring was also exciting right to the end. Just 0.282 seconds separated the top two at the finish line. Here, too, the decision was only made in the final meters. In the Tiergarten depression, Tobias Müller in the BLACK FALCON Team 48 LOSCH Porsche 911 GT3 R overtook Peter Terting in the Mühlner Motorsport 911. The gap in the Cup 3 class was clearer, with AVIA W&S Motorsport winning by 1:58.366 minutes over Schmickler Performance powered by Ravenol. Last year's champions have bad luck for the first timeThe champion BMW from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhatten Wheels has been unbeaten in the VT2-R+4WD class for two years - in all NLS races, the 24h Qualifiers and the Eifel Marathon itself. In race two, Daniel Zils, Philipp Leisen and Moran Gott lost a lot of time after a puncture following contact in the Sabine Schmitz corner. "Philipp was forced to limp back into the pits with the defective tire," explained team boss Matthias Unger. "After that, we wanted to send the car back into the race, but the electronics went on strike. Even clearing the fault memory didn't help." In the end, the trio finished seventh in the class. Malte Tack, Manfred and Matthias Röss thus celebrated the first Toyota victory in the VT2-R+4WD for TOYO TIRES with Ring Racing. Ex-Formula 1 drivers enjoyed the 'Green Hell' challengeFormer Formula 1 driver Timo Glock drove both races in the BMW M240i as part of the Up2Race team with the aim of completing the mandatory laps for the Nordschleife Permit. "I've always had a love of the Nordschleife," recalls Glock. "I used to drive my private car a lot in tourist traffic." Now tackling the Green Hell in a racing car was a special experience for Glock. "I'm used to being close to the fans in the DTM, but people get even closer here. They just come into the pits and look at the cars. The whole atmosphere is a lot of fun. But my personal highlight was the formation lap. The many fans in the Green Hell - it's fantastic." Former Formula 1 driver and Toyota works driver Kamui Kobayashi also had a lot of fun at his race premiere at the Nürburgring. "I enjoyed it," said the Japanese driver. "The Nordschleife is a huge challenge. But it went better from lap to lap. The fact is, I still have a lot to learn." Kobayashi completed both races of the opening weekend together with his compatriot Kazuto Kotoka in the Toyota Supra Evo GT4. His intention was also to obtain the Nordschleife permit, but he kept a low profile when it came to concrete goals: "First of all, I want to keep open the possibility of racing in the Green Hell. Only time will tell when that will be the case." Races three and four of this year's ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series will take place next weekend (April 13-14). The ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers will provide the protagonists with points for the NLS championship for the first time. The dress rehearsal for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 to June 2) will also feature two four-hour races. Tickets for the ADAC Nordrhein event are available here. Both races will be livestreamed on the NLS channels.
05.04.2024
Racing action, obstacle challenges, two-wheeled rendezvous: April at the Nürburgring is packed with a wide variety of events. Spectators can look forward to no fewer than four races on the legendary Nordschleife. Thousands of motorcyclists are expected to attend the traditional two-wheeler season opener at the end of the month. The Nürburgring Drift Cup also kicks off its season. And even without engine power, there is plenty of sporting action on the Ring: in addition to the "Hotfoot Run", a spectacular obstacle course, athletes from all over Germany come together for the German Judo Individual Championships in the ring°arena. The events at a glance: ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (April 6 & 7)ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 13 & 14)Four races, two weekends, one legendary race track: The ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 13 & 14) and the double-header of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (April 6 & 7) will provide thrilling racing in the Green Hell this month. The basics: Around 100 cars will compete in four-hour races. High-speed GT cars from major manufacturers share the track with near-series touring cars from passionate petrolheads. Their arena: the longest permanent race track in the world. More than 20 kilometers long, it winds its way through the Eifel forests. And best of all: spectators can get right up close. Into the pit lane and the starting grid before the race - there is no better place to take souvenir photos. A highlight is the Saturday race of the 24h Qualifiers. This race continues well into the evening. Anticipation for the popular 24h race at the beginning of June is guaranteed. By the way: VIP tickets are also on sale for both events - with lounge access, treats, expert guides and other exclusive program items. Motorcycle season opening "Anlassen" (April 28)The Nürburgring in biker hands: the traditional "Anlassen" will take place on Sunday, April 28. Three items on the program are also a must at the motorcycle season opening at the Nürburgring in 2024: Firstly, the traditional blessing of the two-wheelers and their machines - combined with the request for a safe journey at all times. Secondly, the joint parade on the Nürburgring Nordschleife: thousands of bikers take a leisurely lap of the most beautiful 20.832 kilometers in the world - an extraordinary experience for the motorcycling community every year. And the colorful hustle and bustle in the paddock of the Grand Prix circuit is not to be missed: More than 20 exhibitors have announced their presence. Two-wheeler shows and demonstrations are also planned again. And best of all: admission to "Anlassen" is free of charge. Hotfoot Run (April 27) On the track, get set, go: at the Hotfoot Run, various obstacles on and off the asphalt are ready to be mastered by the participants. Several thousand runners take part in the obstacle course on the Ring every year. Participants can choose between three routes: 6, 12 or 24 kilometers. Along the way, obstacles with names such as "Spiderman", "Dip Dip Hurra" or "Stairway to heaven" stand in their way. But between the mud, pain and sporting ambition, the Hotfoot Run ultimately focuses on one thing above all: having fun together. Registrations for this year's event on Saturday, April 27, are still being accepted online, with special rates for students and young people. Nürburgring Drift Cup (April 6 & 7)A feast for drifters: the Nürburgring Drift Cup is the first race of the year. In the Müllenbachschleife of the Grand Prix circuit, hot door-to-door duels are once again guaranteed on Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7. The Drift Cup reaches its climax with spectacular battles in which two drivers compete directly against each other. Whoever convinces the judges more is through to the next round. The loser can pack up. Tickets are available online at affordable prices, with discounts for young people up to the age of 17. German Judo Individual Championships (April 13 & 14) The Nürburgring's ring°arena is a true multifunctional talent. Around 3,500 fans have just celebrated the stars of flying darts in the hall at Darts am Ring, and the next event - in the truest sense of the word - is already on the mat. Several hundred judoka from all over Germany will be competing in the German Judo Individual Championships. They are looking for the best athletes in the country in all age groups over 30. If you would like to see the spectacle on Saturday or Sunday, April 13 and 14: just drop by, admission to the ring°arena is free. Events in April 2024: April 06 & 07: ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie 1 & 2 April 06 & 07: Nürburgring Drift Cup 1 April 13 & 14: ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers April 13 & 14: German Judo Individual Championships (over 30s) April 27: Hotfoot Run April 27: RCN & GLP April 28: Motorcycle service "Anlassen"
04.04.2024
Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG has officially launched a request for dates on the Nordschleife for the 2025 season in a letter to race series operators and on its website. This is aimed at operators of race formats that are to be held on the Nordschleife. The background to the request for dates is compliance with the "State Act on the Preservation of the Purpose of the Nürburgring", which obliges the operating company to "ensure the intended use of the Nürburgring by the general public on a permanent basis and to enable non-discriminatory use by the general public in accordance with the dedication". As there were sometimes more applicants than available dates for certain race and event formats on the Nordschleife in recent years, not every applicant could be granted use in accordance with the application. In order to achieve the best possible distribution of dates for the 2025 racing season with regard to the protected types of use, Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG has therefore introduced a binding "registration deadline for expressions of interest" from event organizers. By May 15, 2024, potential applicants must inform Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG whether and how many dates they are seeking for which type of use of the Nürburgring's Nordschleife, including brief information on the planned event format. This applies to race formats that are either exclusively or together with the Grand Prix circuit on the Nordschleife. Event formats that relate exclusively to the Grand Prix circuit are not affected by this.
03.04.2024
Ready, Set, Go! Next weekend, the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie opens the racing season at the Nürburgring - with a double-header. On April 6 and 7, the traditional Nordschleife racing series will kick off races one and two of the season. Former F1 drivers Timo Glock and Kamui Kobayashi will be among those taking part as prominent 'driving students' and the next generation of endurance racing on the Nordschleife. Ex-DTM driver Robert Wickens, who is paraplegic following an IndyCar crash in 2018, will also be making his racing comeback in Germany. Four hours of action on the most beautiful and difficult track in the world are on the program on both days of the event. The race starts at 12 noon. Those staying at home can follow the action in the Green Hell via livestream. > More info & tickets More than a dozen GT3 cars will be on the grid at the Nordschleife opener. There are many favorites for the day's victory, above all the two Porsche teams Manthey EMA and Falken Motorsports. The RED BULL TEAM ABT and Konrad Motorsport are relying on Lamborghini Huracán GT3s. PROsport Racing and Dörr Motorsport will field Aston Martin Vantage GT3s, HRT will enter two Mercedes-AMG GT3s and the Scherer Sport PHX and équipe vitesse teams will field two Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2s. The Renazzo Motorsport Team and JUTARACING will make their debut in the NLS. Two new names, familiar faces: Renazzo's Lamborghini will be shared by Thai drift champion Kiki Sak Nana, Christoph Breuer and 'Dieter Schmidtmann', while Alexey Veremenko and 'SELV' will take turns in Juta's Audi R8 LMS GT3. Both drove PETN Cup cars in 2023. Glickenhaus Racing is celebrating a comeback. The racing team led by automotive enthusiast James Glickenhaus is returning to the Eifel with the spectacular SCG004c. In addition to regular drivers Thomas Mutsch and Franck Mailleux, Lance David Arnold will be taking part for the first time. Renowned 'student drivers' strive for big goalsGT3 on the Nordschleife - that is certainly the goal of Timo Glock and Kamui Kobayashi. However, to be allowed to drive the thoroughbred racing cars in the NLS and the 24-hour race, even the celebrities have to go back to driving school. Races must be completed with relatively low-performance vehicles in order to obtain the so-called DMSB Permit Nordschleife (DPN). This is done for safety reasons, as the Nordschleife is not only unique as a race track. In combination with the multiclass field of participants - from production-based touring cars to GT3 racers - it is anything but ordinary. Even for the professionals, it is an impressive experience to see how you are lapped by the big cars. Glock starts in the BMW M240i from Up2Race, Kobayashi in the Toyota Supra Evo GT4 from Toyota Gazoo Racing. Other notable 'student drivers' are the two DTM drivers Jack Aitken, who will start the race in a Hyundai i30N from Walkenhorst Motorsport, Thierry Vermeulen, who will drive a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS from Lionspeed GP, and David Schumacher, who will compete for Teichmann Racing. World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson (Sharky Racing, Audi RS3 TCR) and three-time World Rally Championship runner-up Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Yaris) will be represented from the off-road segment. Inspiration and role model: Robert Wickens returns to GermanyRobert Wickens has proven in recent years that he is a real fighter. Known to German fans primarily through his time as a Mercedes-AMG works driver in the DTM, the likeable Canadian has a very special battle behind him. A racing accident in the US Indycar changed his life abruptly in 2018. The diagnosis: a fractured thoracic spine, a spinal cord injury, a broken neck, tibia and fibula fractures in both legs, fractures in both hands, a broken right forearm, a broken elbow, a concussion, four broken ribs and a bruised lung. The fans were shocked. But anyone who followed Wickens on Instagram quickly realized that he was not willing to accept his situation. His passion for motorsport was too great. Wickens documented his way back in detail. And despite being paraplegic, the first successes soon followed. Wickens fought his way back onto the track. 1,258 days after his accident, he drove his first car race in the American IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in a Hyundai Elantra N TCR in 2022. A year later, he won the TCR championship. Now it's time for the next step: Wickens returns to Germany for the NLS season opener. To race, that goes without saying. Together with Mark Wilkins, he will contest the two 4-hour races for the Target Competition team. The Hyundai Elantra N TCR is equipped with hand throttle control. The daughters and sons of the successful Nordschleife drivers move up the ranksThe names Schall, Fritzsche and Jodexnis are well known to connoisseurs of the scene. The fathers have 199 class victories to their credit. Now the daughters and sons are at the starting line. Daughter Janina is now following in the footsteps of her father Ralf Schall, who took 105 class victories in the NLS alone. Just 19 years old, she is contesting her first NLS race on the Nordschleife with the GITI TIRE MOTORSPORT BY WS RACING team in a BMW 330i in the VT2-R+4WD class. Last year, Janina already gained experience in the performance tests of the Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring. At 36, Pascal Fritzsche, son of five-time NLS champion Heinz-Otto Fritzsche, is also still at the beginning of his racing career on the Nordschleife. He contested his first five Nordschleife races in 2023. At the 2024 season opener, he will compete in the Hyundai i30N Performance from Keeevin Sports and Racing. At 27 years of age, Richard Jodexnis is in the middle of the pack. The son of long-time NLS driver Kersten Jodexnis also made his debut in 2023. This year, he is competing with SRS Team Sorg Rennsport in the GT4 SP10 class in a Porsche Cayman GT4. While Ralf Schall and Heinz-Otto Fritzsche will only be at the Nürburgring as spectators, Kersten Jodexnis is still active himself. Together with Robin Chrzanowski, he will be driving the ClickversicherungsTEAM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Strong newcomer on the #1Last season's championship-winning team has a strong new addition. In addition to champions Daniel Zils and Philipp Leisen, fast driver Moran Gott will also be competing in the BMW 330i of Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhatten Wheels in 2024. The London-based Israeli has been one of the Adrenalin team's strongest opponents in recent years. Oskar Sandberg, who won the 2023 title together with Zils and Leisen, will compete in Dörr Motorsport's Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the up-and-coming GT4 class, which is very well filled with 15 cars at the season opener. Two days of full-throttle actionThe 64th ADAC ACAS Cup on Saturday and the 63rd ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen on Sunday will each run over a distance of four hours. Tickets for the opening race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie are available for 22 euros (children up to 14 years free of charge) online and at the box offices. These tickets will take you to the open grandstands on the Grand Prix Track, the exclusive spectator areas Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten as well as the paddock, the pit lane, the starting grid and the ring°werk motorsport experience museum. The positions on the grid will be determined on both days during qualifying between 08:30 and 10 am. Fans can then experience motorsport with all their senses during the pit walk from 10:20 and the visit to the starting grid from 11:10. The Nürburgring mascot 'Legend' and the impressive Racebot will also be there on Saturday. On Sunday, Skye & Chase from Paw Patrol, who have become big fans of the NLS in recent years, will be dropping by. The race starts at 12 noon.
03.04.2024
The motorsport season on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is finally picking up speed and celebrating its first highlight at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 13 - 14, 2024). The prologue weekend, which has been a must for many teams in recent years as they prepare for the 24h Nürburgring, is set to become a motorsport highlight this year. This is made possible by the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) classification, which attracts numerous other teams and drivers: over 130 vehicles are on the entry list - 30 of them in the victorious SP9 and SP-X classes alone. There will also be a thrilling battle for victories and placings in the rest of the starting field with a total of almost 20 classes. Numerous top drivers, fully occupied classes and spectacular cars will thrill spectators. > Tickets for the ADAC 24h Qualifiers are available from 25 euros (per day ticket Sat./Sun.) in the ticket store The 24h Qualifiers weekend will provide a good preview of what fans can look forward to at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 - June 2, 2024). The who's who of the top Nordschleife teams will be among the 30 cars in the classes that are capable of winning. No fewer than seven brands are represented with GT3 models - including the Ferrari of the 2023 24h winners, Frikadelli Racing. With a number of GT3 teams unable to compete at the Nürburgring in the NLS opener a week before the qualifiers due to a parallel round of the GT World Challenge Europe, the list of entry teams is also a parade of the best Nordschleife teams. Get-together of the top teamsAll other signs point to a real motorsport spectacle. Scherer Sport PHX (Audi), ROWE Racing and BMW M-Team for BMW, Konrad and Abt in the Lamborghini camp: this is a rendezvous of those who have set the tone on the Nordschleife in recent years. This also applies to the GT3 brands with the most participants: The six Porsche 911 GT3 Rs will be entered by Falken and Manthey, among others. The beefy Mercedes-AMG GT3s are represented eight times in the field, fielded by Bilstein and GetSpeed, among others. NLS points and 24h preparations - the weekend counts double!The fact that the tenth edition of the 24h Qualifiers will be the one with the most participants to date is of course due to its double appeal. For the top teams in particular, the focus will be on careful preparation for the 24h Nürburgring. Every lap on the track counts and every top speed kilometer provides valuable insights into what can still be improved. Of course, the fact that the first race on Saturday will not start until late afternoon will contribute to the maximum training effect. Starting at 17:30, the race will run for four hours into the darker evening hours - ideal preparation for the 24-hour race at the end of May. The second race on Sunday afternoon (start at 13:00) also lasts four hours. Both heats are classified as NLS races and are therefore doubly exciting. Exciting cars, exciting driversFans can look forward to an exciting starting field at the 24h Qualifiers. One of the eye-catchers is the popular Dacia Logan from Ollis Garage (#318), which was rebuilt with the support of a crowdfunding campaign after a racing accident at the 24h and now competes as a 280 hp turbo in the SP3T class. The newly built VW New Beetle RSR, which the White Angel team is sending into the race, also stands for crowdfunding of a special kind: Bernd Albrecht and his team are raising money during the race, which will be used to build schools in developing countries. There are also some exciting newcomers to the Nordschleife circus among the drivers. These include ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Timo Glock, who will share a BMW M4 GT4 (#145) with two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider (24h winner in 2003) and DTM Trophy driver Theo Oeverhaus. For Glock, it is also about qualifying for the "big" DMSB Nordschleife permit, which would then also allow him to compete in higher classes in the future. The same applies to former Formula 1 driver Felipe Nasr, who is completing his permit qualification in a Porsche 718 Cayman from Four Motors. The team is also continuing its long series of sustainable motorsport projects and is refueling its Porsche with a bio-fuel, which is why it is competing in the "AT" class for vehicles with alternative fuels. Huge supporting program with lots of motorsport and - judo!If the two races on Saturday and Sunday aren't enough motorsport for you, the Qualifiers weekend offers plenty of other exciting competitions free of charge. After the first qualifying session on Saturday morning, the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) will start its first performance test of the season at 13:00. Once again this year, the popular mass-sport series is reporting a large number of participants, which will provide great entertainment while waiting for the first qualifying race. Since both the RCN and the 24h Qualifiers will be using the special 24h track variant of the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit this weekend, the Mercedes Arena will traditionally not be used. The organizing ADAC Nordrhein will take advantage of this to offer the best motorsport here as well: There will be a car slalom event there on both Saturday and Sunday, for which three-digit numbers of starters are also expected. There will also be a full house for the weekend's competition for the youngest motor sports enthusiasts: From 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 200 junior drivers will compete in youth kart slaloms on the "helipad" in the Grand Prix paddock. The special feature here is that there will be a competition with combustion engines as well as an e-kart slalom. If that's not enough sporting entertainment for you, you should make your way to the ring°arena: The German Men's Individual Judo Championship in the over-30 age category will be held there this weekend. The competitions are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and admission to the ring°arena is free!
