The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is just around the corner! This weekend marks the start of the 54th edition of the endurance classic. All eyes are naturally on four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, who makes his long-awaited debut in the notorious 24-hour race. In his Mercedes-AMG GT3, painted in the well-known Red Bull colors, he also has a serious chance of victory. But who are actually his biggest competitors? We list the most formidable teams.
Max Verstappen’s team is of course among the favorites for the overall win in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. With GT3 veterans Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer, the Dutchman’s team has a very strong lineup full of experience. The team competes in the SP 9 class, the absolute top category of the field. Although 160 other teams will start this year – the largest entry in over ten years – not all those participants are competing for the overall victory. Which competitors should Verstappen especially watch out for this weekend?
The Dutchman faces a number of strong BMW teams, traditionally among the favorites. The German brand holds the record on the Nordschleife with 21 wins. Rowe Racing fields two M4 GT3s with, among others, Augusto Farfus, Jordan Pepper, Dan Harper, Max Hesse, and Dries Vanthoor. Schubert Motorsport starts with Philipp Eng, Charles Weerts, Marco Wittmann, and our own Robin Frijns. Porsche also remains a mainstay in the GT3 top and appears with several strong lineups. The iconic ‘Grello’ of Manthey Racing, with Kevin Estre, Ayhancan Güven, and Thomas Preining, is again participating, while Falken, Dinamic GT, and Lionspeed GP also field multiple 911s.
Other brands
Audi is also competing for podium places. Scherer Sport PHX, for example, starts with Alexander Sims, Ben Green, and Christopher Haase, whom we know from battles with Verstappen in the NLS. Incidentally, Mercedes – besides the F1 driver and his teammates – obviously has more irons in the fire. Team Ravenol, with Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin, forms a formidable competitor.
Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ford, and McLaren are also represented in the fight for top positions. For example, watch the Ferrari 296 GT3 of Kondo Racing, driven by, among others, Verstappen Racing driver Thierry Vermeulen. The Lamborghinis of ABT are also serious challengers, with former winner Nicky Catsburg behind the wheel. Former F1 driver Timo Glock drives together with Timo Scheider, Ben Dörr, and Marvin Kirchhöfer in the only McLaren in the SP 9 class. The British car is for the occasion painted in a classic Benetton livery. See below the spotter’s guide for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
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