19.04.2026
At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers this weekend, it was an emotional rollercoaster for motorsport fans. After the first race on Saturday had to be abandoned early on due to a tragic accident, Race 2 on Sunday delighted fans with a thrilling contest. After 28 laps, Christopher Haase / Alexander Sims / Ben Green in the Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II #16 were declared the winners. They crossed the finish line with a lead of 28.024 seconds over Luca Engstler / Mirko Bortolotti / Patric Niederhauser in the Abt Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 #84. The 24h Qualifiers weekend also marks the end of the preparatory phase for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, taking place from May 14 to 17, 2026. The season’s highlight on the Nordschleife promises a continuation of the thrilling duels seen in the Prologue and plenty of top-tier motorsport. Even shortly before the entry deadline, it is clear that the cap of 150 potential starters for the world’s largest endurance race will be reached this year. In the top qualifying session, it was Thierry Vermeulen who set the fastest time in the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo26, edging out David Jahn in the #23 BMW M4 GT3 Evo by a mere thousandth of a second. Dennis Marschall took the wheel of the Realize Kondo Racing Ferrari at the start but was only able to defend the lead briefly. Soon, however, the Italian racer was overtaken by the chasing pack and retired in lap three after making contact with the guardrail. Max Verstappen in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #3 and Christopher Haase in the Scherer-Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II #16 then provided the real racing spectacle: Both engaged in a sensational battle featuring slipstream duels and overtaking attempts. The four-time Formula 1 world champion initially held the upper hand and dominated as the leader for the first hour and a half of the race, before a front splitter failure after lap ten forced him into the pits for a half-hour repair break. Thrilling motorsport also in the gripping finishIn the end, it was Team Scherer PHX that prevailed with its Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II #16. “Our weekend was a rollercoaster,” said Christopher Haase, analyzing the Scherer PHX perspective. “We really struggled with the wet conditions today. I also had a minor collision with the tire barriers. We really struggled to get the car working. In the top qualifying session, the whole picture changed again and the Audi went pretty well, almost perfectly. Things went well for us in the race, but the balance isn’t necessarily where I personally would like it to be.” Satisfied faces among the runners-up: “From a sporting perspective, it was a great weekend for us. We had two good race starts—yesterday and today. Things are moving in the right direction as far as preparations for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are concerned,” said Mirko Bortolotti, summarizing the race from the perspective of the #84 Abt-Lamborghini. There was an ultra-thrilling finish in the battle for third place, which was ultimately won by Thomas Preining / Matt Campbell in the Manthey-Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26 #911, who put up a spectacular fight in the final kilometers against Maro Engel / Fabian Schiller / Luca Stolz in the RAVENOL-Mercedes-AMG GT3, #80. Minute of silence for Juha MiettinenThe second race of the weekend began with a minute of silence. The gathered endurance racing community paid tribute to Finnish driver Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), who was killed in a serious accident during the first race on Saturday. “The members of the racing team also came to the starting grid for the moment of silence and felt the support of the other drivers and the fans in the stands,” explains Race Director Walter Hornung. “Our thoughts are with the family and his teammates. At the same time, I am relieved that the other injured drivers were all able to leave the hospital that evening after a thorough examination. This is also thanks to the responders who were on the scene during this serious accident. For the volunteer marshals, paramedics, and emergency counselors who were there, the accident—involving a total of seven vehicles—was an extreme challenge. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for their efforts.”
18.04.2026
Statement from the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring: During the first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (18 April 2026), a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race. Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations. Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had been extracted from the vehicle; the driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful. The other six drivers involved were taken to the Medical Centre and nearby hospitals for precautionary examinations. None of the injured are in a life-threatening condition. The race will not resume on Saturday evening. The thoughts of everyone involved in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring are with the bereaved family of Juha Miettinen. A minute’s silence will be held in memory of the late motorsport competitor during the grid formation for Sunday’s race at 13:00. Saturday, 18 April 2026, 20:00
17.04.2026
The new event guide for the 24h Qualifiers and the 24h Race is now online 🤩 Starting now, you’ll find everything you need to know about the events all in one place: an interactive map to help you find your way around, exciting fan hotspots, the full program, and all the details on parking and getting there. The event guide is making its debut at the 24h Qualifiers—it will be available in its full version for the 24h race. ➡️ Click here to go directly to the event guide.
17.04.2026
With an impressive lap time of 6:40.835 minutes, the FORD Mustang GTD Competition conquered the legendary “Green Hell.” The car was driven by Dirk Müller. All record drives and further information Onboard through the Green HellThe record lap of the FORD Mustang GTD Competition is now available on the Nürburgring YouTube channel. The onboard footage from the cockpit of the vehicle offers the opportunity to relive this fantastic lap. Information about the official “Nürburgring record laps”The following principle applies to all drives: one track, one complete lap, one time – according to uniform standards. In addition to timekeeping with calibrated measuring technology, official record attempts and attempts to achieve a lap time are always accompanied by a notary. In addition to monitoring the timekeeping, the vehicle is also inspected. TÜV Rheinland checks for standard conformity and documents this. The exact length of the track and the start and finish lines are precisely defined. A full lap of the Nordschleife is driven and measured with a flying start (20.8 kilometers). The vehicle categories for record drives and official lap times at the Nürburgring are divided into different segments by the Federal Motor Transport Authority and specially defined special classes.
15.04.2026
The ADAC 24h Qualifiers offer fans a truly intense preview of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring on Ascension Day weekend from April 17–19. The provisional entry list features 132 cars, with 37 GT3 cars alone competing in the top SP9 class. The most prominent driver of the weekend is once again four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, who will be driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 and aims to use the weekend’s two four-hour races to intensively prepare for the season’s highlight on the Nordschleife—the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from May 14–17. The Dutchman will face extremely strong competition, as the elite of the world’s best GT3 teams are expected at the Ring. After all, the 24h Prologue offers the final opportunity to gather data and put the race cars through their paces. The weekend will also bring the first decisive moments. That’s because, as part of the 24h Qualifiers, some starting positions for the 24h Top Qualifying will be awarded—another reason why teams must not only “test” here but also deliver. Anyone who doesn’t want to miss this motorsport spectacle can secure a ticket starting at 10 euros (Friday trial ticket, weekend ticket: 45 euros). After the first NLS race of 2026 was canceled due to weather, the second race was all about Formula 1 star Max Verstappen. With intense battles and top lap times, the Dutchman demonstrated just how seriously he takes the Nordschleife challenge and how diligently he is preparing for his debut at the 24h Nürburgring. Together with Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, he was even waved off as the winner, but the team had to be removed from the standings because more tire sets were used than the regulations allow. At NLS3, one week before the 24h Qualifiers, three experienced 24h teams dominated the action. Schubert BMW took the win ahead of the traditional Porsche team Manthey and a Ford Mustang from HRT. Winning driver Philipp Eng raved afterward about the “very high quality” of the field. “That was my first race on the Nordschleife in two years. The fact that we were able to win right away was pretty cool,” the Austrian said happily. In the 24h Qualifiers, Belgians Charles Weerts and Ugo de Wilde will be in the Schubert cockpit and will once again face off against the Manthey Porsche. Reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven, in the cockpit of the bright yellow 911, confirmed the winner’s impression: “I think the competition is particularly strong this year. It wasn’t easy to pass some of the drivers and cars.” He knows exactly what he’s talking about: After bad luck in qualifying, he had to fight his way through the field from 16th place in the race. “Sometimes you have to wait 20 km before you can fight your way past the next competitor,” he explained after the race, which, however, wasn’t primarily about the result: “The top priority was to collect data and run a good test without taking too many risks,” said Güven. GT3 Summit in SP9: Nine Brands and Prominent NamesIn the highly competitive starting field, a glance at the top SP9 class is almost enough to understand why the 24h Qualifiers have such strong appeal: The entry list features GT3s from Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini, and Porsche—making the leading group as diverse as possible. Verstappen isn’t the only star name in the mix: With Thomas Preining (2023 DTM Champion) and Mirko Bortolotti (2024 DTM Champion), two influential DTM title holders from the recent past are represented in the field. The SP-X class also makes its mark: Four cars are entered, including two HWA Evo R—visually a cult-classic nod to the legendary DTM Mercedes 190 Evo and thus one of the fans’ favorite photo opportunities. Speaking of cult status: The BMW M3 Touring 24h will also be on the starting grid—the station wagon with GT3 technology under the hood and an excellent driver lineup has also won the hearts of many fans. Strong Lineup: GT4, Cup Classes, and Production-Based Duels Provide Exciting ActionThe quality of the starting grid at the 24h Qualifiers extends beyond the top tier. Eleven cars from four manufacturers are entered in SP10 (SRO-GT4). Here, highly attractive vehicles—the BMW M4 GT4, Mercedes-AMG GT4, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, and Toyota GR Supra GT4—will battle it out. And since valuable points for the NLS are also at stake in the weekend’s two races, the Cup classes are well-represented as well. This applies, for example, to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) and 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport from the Porsche Endurance Trophy, which are known for close battles and exciting races. In the production car category, it’s the entrants in the two “smaller” VT2 categories that will be making waves—nine vehicles each with front-wheel or all-wheel drive (VT2 Front) and rear-wheel drive (VT2 Rear) are entered here. For many, these cars embody the true spirit of the 24 Hours and are the heart and soul of the colorful, multi-class field on the Nordschleife. Ten entries have been submitted for the BMW M240i class, making it the strongest of the three single-make racing classes for the Munich-based touring cars. It’s shaping up to be a classic 24 Hours: two races and a historic premiereThe race weekend kicks off as early as Friday afternoon with test and setup runs for the 24h Qualifiers. In the afternoon, qualifying for the DHLM will follow, marking its first appearance on the racetrack: The series succeeds the previous 24h Classic race at the 24h and has evolved over the winter into a true historic championship, with the official title of German Historic Endurance Champion at stake. 108 teams have entered this first race, which will provide three hours of action starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday morning. This is the perfect warm-up for the first of the two four-hour races that form the sporting highlight of the weekend. Counting as NLS Races four and five, the focus is naturally on intensive preparation for the 24-hour race. This includes the opportunity to drive into the twilight in the first heat on Saturday (starting at 5:30 p.m.). Race 2 on Sunday (starting at 1:00 p.m.) will be preceded by a top qualifying session, where the battle for pole position will be decided in individual time trials. In addition, 90-minute qualifying sessions are scheduled each morning (Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m., Sunday starting at 8:15 a.m.). Tickets are available in advance; the trial ticket for Friday is available for 10.00 euros, and the weekend ticket (Friday through Sunday) is 45.00 euros.
15.04.2026
With a print run of 12,000 copies, the first issue of ‘Der Nürburgring’ was published on 15 April 1926. Until June 1927, the magazine mainly covered the construction work, the Eifel region and international motorsport. Later, the issues served as race programmes and, from the 1950s onwards, as a diverse information sheet covering the Nürburgring, motorsport and tourism in the Eifel. Today, you can find everything about the world’s most beautiful race track here on our website! ℹ️ The Nürburgring opened in 1927. As part of #Roadto100, we are looking back at various milestones in our long history in the run-up to our big anniversary year!
15.04.2026
The first day of the development test programme organised by Pirelli at the Nürburgring got under way with a few installation laps on intermediate tyres. Rain had fallen throughout the night, leaving the track wet, despite a shy sun appearing later in the morning. The drivers therefore waited for track conditions to improve before starting the programme originally planned on slick tyres. Oscar Piastri for McLaren and George Russell for Mercedes completed several eight-lap runs in the first part of the programme, testing a number of construction variants on the C3 compound. The solutions considered most promising were then evaluated over longer distances late in the afternoon by the British driver, specifically to validate their behaviour over a more representative mileage. A technical issue, however, kept Piastri’s car in the garage from the lunch break until almost the end of the session. Track temperatures reached 37°C in the areas exposed to sunlight, while ambient temperatures never rose above 15°C. Piastri set his best lap in 1’35’’096, while Russell stopped the clocks at 1’33’’899. The former completed 65 laps (for a total of 335 kilometres), the latter 127 laps (654 kilometres). Tomorrow, for the second and final day of testing, Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli will be at the wheel. Photo: McLaren F1 / Mercedes-AMG F1
15.04.2026
In the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, there’s no time to catch your breath. Just one week after the third round, races four and five are on the schedule with the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (April 17–19). The prologue to the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring counts toward the standings of the historic Nordschleife Championship for the third consecutive year. Led by Max Verstappen, no fewer than 37 GT3 cars will take to the track, promising thrilling racing in the Green Hell. Long-time NLS drivers are moving up to the top category, and there are also some new faces in the midfield. The races will be livestreamed on Saturday and Sunday on the NLS YouTube channel. No fewer than 37 GT3 cars will be competing in the Qualifiers. Added to this is the BMW M3 Touring 24h in the SP-X class. One name stands out once again on the entry list, promising international attention: Max Verstappen. The four-time Formula 1 world champion returns to the Nürburgring Nordschleife after a one-race hiatus. In the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, he will be sharing the wheel with Lucas Auer this time. Making their SP9 debuts in Races 4 and 5 are the BMW Z4 GT3 from Saugmotoren Motorsport | 3M, a Mercedes-AMG GT3 from SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm, a McLaren 720S GT3 from Dörr Motorsport, and three Porsche 911 GT3 Rs fielded by PK Motorsport – Lionspeed e.K., High Class Racing, and Mühlner Motorsport powered by H&R. NLS Veterans Celebrate GT3 DebutTwo long-time NLS drivers are making their GT3 debut in the Qualifiers: Maik Rönnefarth and Tobias Wahl. Together with Maxime Dumarey and Marek Böckmann, they will take turns driving the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3. “This is my eleventh year competing in the NLS, and I’ve driven GT4 for ten years, so the move to the GT3 class is now a logical next step,” says Wahl. “Last year I had a lot of bad luck and couldn’t win the title with Nick Wüstenhaben and Ranko Mijatovic because I broke my collarbone. Now I’m looking forward all the more to this adventure with PROsport. The Aston Martin felt great to me right from the start during testing. I was surprised by how good the feedback is that you feel as a driver. You can drive much more precisely and accurately with it, and the aerodynamics are fantastic. I was able to drive an 8:11-minute lap pretty quickly. Still, there’s obviously room for improvement, and I’m really looking forward to my first race.” Christoph Breuer is in for a great honor. The 2006 graduate of the VLN Honda Junior Team and long-time head of Manthey’s Road Cars division has been competing in the NLS for years—since 2024 in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo II from Renazzo Motorsport alongside Thai drift champion Kiki Sak Nana. At the Qualifiers, Breuer will now take the wheel of the legendary Grello—Manthey’s Porsche 911 GT3—for the first time. “Objectively speaking, they were still looking for a driver because Thomas isn’t allowed to race alone,” says Breuer. “Personally, though, this is a huge dream come true for me. If someone had told me this five years ago, I would have just waved it off. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to drive Grello—now I have the chance to experience it for myself. For me, this is a huge honor, and I have great respect for it. The team is putting a lot of heart and soul into this project—from the mechanics to the engineers and all the other staff, right up to the top management. My task is clearly defined: don’t break anything. But I’m at an age where my ego allows for that.” Smudo from the “Fantastischen Vier” is making his racing debut this year. The rapper shares the cockpit of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with his longtime companion Tom von Löwis and Henrik Bollerselv from Denmark. As usual, the car will compete in the AT class, proving that motorsport can also be sustainable. “We’re looking forward to kicking off this season at the 24h Qualifiers. They’re a barometer. Every lap counts, and we’re ready to show what’s possible with our sustainable technologies,” says Smudo.In the midfield, three cars from Asia are making their debut. Subaru Tecnica International will, as usual, field the Subaru WRX in the SP4T class. Two Elantra N1 RPs from Hyundai Motorsport N will compete in the same class. How the Qualifiers differ from the other NLS racesWhile NLS race days follow a familiar rhythm, the ADAC 24h Qualifiers feature a unique format. Perhaps the biggest difference is the track layout. As with the 24-hour race, the AMG Arena is omitted. Instead, the Müllenbachschleife is part of the course. The track length increases to 25.378 kilometers. The longer distance per lap means that strategy may need to be adjusted under certain circumstances. The schedule on Saturday is also unusual for an NLS race. While qualifying takes place as usual between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., the race doesn’t start until 5:30 p.m. and runs into the twilight. During the break between qualifying and the race, the first round of the German Historic Endurance Championship takes place. The race starts at 12 p.m. and covers a distance of three hours. On Sunday, a Top Qualifying session takes place once a year in the NLS. Following the qualifying session (8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.), the Top Qualifying begins at 10:40 a.m. Here, the top cars take to the track in individual time trials to determine their starting positions. The second four-hour race then starts at 1:00 p.m. Tickets for Friday are already available for 10 euros. Race day tickets start at 27 euros, and weekend tickets are available starting at 45 euros. All information can be found at 24h-rennen.de. Spectators who are not on site can follow the race via livestream as usual on the NLS YouTube channel. The stream begins on Saturday at 8:10 a.m. and on Sunday at 8 a.m.
14.04.2026
It is one of Europe’s largest motorcycle gatherings – and it culminates in an emotional parade around the Nordschleife: “Anlassen” at the Nürburgring. On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Eifel region will once again become the epicenter of the motorcycle scene as thousands of riders come together to welcome the new season. The event combines talk of gasoline and horsepower in the paddock with moments of reflection, while traditionally showing great support for social projects – and all with free admission for all visitors. Whereas team trucks usually dominate the scene at motorsport events or visitors celebrate at Rock am Ring, the Nürburgring’s Grand Prix paddock looks completely different during “Anlassen.” Thousands of motorcyclists from Germany and abroad gather here on that Sunday. Last year, 42,000 attended and transformed the paddock and large sections of the Grand Prix circuit into an impressive sea of motorcycles. It is this unique blend of the smell of gasoline, the anticipation of the first corners of the year, and the deep sense of camaraderie within the community that immerses the Nürburgring in a world of its own on this day. Action in the paddock: From trial acrobatics to safety demosThe gates to the paddock open as early as 8:00 a.m., before the official supporting program kicks off at 10:00 a.m. This year, fans can look forward to a premiere: AAC Bad Neuenahr is presenting a spectacular trial show for the first time, in which the riders seem to defy the laws of gravity. POLO Motorrad is once again a strong partner supporting the riders. In addition to the popular performance test bench and a helmet cleaning campaign, the company, together with the motorcycle squad of the Koblenz Police Headquarters, is providing important insights on the topic of safety. Safety demonstrations will provide practical insights into what matters most at the start of the season. Those who want to hone their own sense of the ideal line can stop by the Doc Scholl rider training and the ADAC booths or sign up directly for the “ADAC Road Racing Academy” (participation fee: 50 euros; for children ages 6 to 14). For younger fans—or those young at heart—the POLO Pit Bike Course awaits on the helipad. Renowned exhibitors such as Öhlins will be on site to present their latest products and are available for technical discussions. Your Own Driving Fun: Guided Tours of the Grand Prix Circuit For everyone who doesn’t just want to watch but also wants to drive themselves, the Dortmund Motorsport Club (DMC) offers guided tours on the sprint circuit. A diverse street food court will provide refreshments on the day, accompanied by music from the band “der nächste bitte.” Away from the action, the Nürburgring Medical Center opens its doors for a behind-the-scenes look at emergency medicine at a racetrack. At the same time, the DRK blood donation mobile and the Stefan Morsch Foundation’s tissue typing mobile invite visitors to become lifesavers. The emotional highlights mark the end of the day: At 2:30 p.m., the ecumenical service with Pastor Klaus Kohnz and Andrea Thon-Stein takes place—a moment of reflection to pray for an accident-free season. At 3:30 p.m. sharp, the program item that never fails to give you goosebumps follows: The parade along the 20.832-kilometer Nordschleife. At a leisurely pace, visitors to “Anlassen” take a lap through the Green Hell—creating an impressive spectacle. Outlook: More Two-Wheel Highlights at the Nürburgring Those who’ve gotten a taste for it after “Anlassen” can look forward to a summer of two-wheeled action at the Ring. As early as May 9, 2026, Bike Force promises plenty of action as part of the Low Scty PS Arena, Europe’s largest stunt bike competition. Shortly thereafter, from May 21 to 24, the ADAC / DMC Reinoldus Race Weekend will be all about grassroots racing on the track. A special highlight for nostalgia fans awaits at the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix (August 7–9): Nordschleife record holder Helmut Dähne is expected as a guest, and he will also present his victorious BMW R90S from the legendary 1976 TT season. The Cologne circuit will also pick up the historical thread on August 22 and 23, before the EURO MOTO—previously known as the IDM—rounds out the motorcycle season at the Nürburgring with a major race weekend from September 4 to 6.
