Spring has not only turned the trees green again – it’s also brought new life to the “Green Hell”: The season on the Nürburgring Nordschleife is already in full swing, and after the second race of the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), the first favorites for the legendary ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from June 19 to 22, 2025, are starting to emerge. But before the spectacular highlight of the season on the world’s longest racetrack, there are more opportunities for valuable test and training kilometers within the NLS framework. The grand finale of the preparations will be the ADAC 24h Qualifiers on May 24 and 25. Since these count as a double-header for the NLS, they carry particular significance not only for the year-long Nordschleife series but also for the 24h Nürburgring itself. All the more reason to mark the weekend in your calendar—and grab your tickets early.
Two teams have stood out in particular at the start of the season. On both occasions, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Juta Racing secured pole position, piloted by 24h defending champion Frank Stippler. The driver from Bad Münstereifel once again proved that this GT3 “veteran” may no longer be part of the latest vehicle generation, but in the hands of an experienced racer, it still ranks among the favorites. That said, both race wins went to state-of-the-art machinery. The Porsche 911 GT3 R from Falken Motorsports now boasts two victories and has established itself early on as a strong contender.
The traditional works team of the Japanese tire manufacturer prevailed against very strong competition. That was especially evident in the second NLS race, where the Aston Martin from the Walkenhorst team crossed the finish line first but was classified second due to a time penalty for an insufficient pit stop duration. “The penalty is definitely annoying, but in the end, we still got a podium,” said Walkenhorst driver Mattia Drudi (Melle), pleased with a successful debut. “It was my first time in an Aston Martin on the Nordschleife, and our focus is clearly on preparing for the 24h Nürburgring.” The winning drivers also had their eyes firmly on the bigger picture. Falken driver Alessio Picariello (BEL) called it “perfect preparation for the 24h,” while his teammate Dorian Boccolacci (FRA) commented on only his second GT3 race on the Nordschleife: “I don’t have much experience yet in such a car on this track. So it’s even nicer that the season started with two podiums—second in NLS1, and now a win. And in the end, we didn’t even need to take full risks because we knew the second-place car would get a time penalty.”
A high-profile showcase of super sports cars
The top tier of endurance racing on the Nordschleife is more diverse than ever this year. In the second NLS race, a BMW M4 GT3 from Rowe Racing joined the podium as the third brand represented. No fewer than six different manufacturers filled the top ten: Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche are all part of this thrilling GT3 spectacle. To ensure the 24h race in June lives up to its excitement, the lead-up phase this year is particularly extensive: after the third NLS race, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers (May 24/25) will feature two races that also count toward the NLS championship. That’s when we’ll likely see teams whose race cars haven’t been ready up to now—because by the Qualifiers, things get serious. Extra grid slots for the 24h Top Qualifying are up for grabs, and Nordschleife rookies get an ideal opportunity to fast-track their “Permit,” the mandatory special license for racing on the Nordschleife. Only after the Qualifier weekend will the 24h Nürburgring entry list be finalized: the registration deadline for the 24h is May 28. Unsurprisingly, interest is already high, and the Qualifiers are expected to attract a packed field.
A trip to the Ring is worth it
As if two NLS races in one weekend and intensive 24h preparation weren’t reason enough to attend the 24h Qualifiers, the event also features an exciting support program. For example, there’s plenty of grassroots and youth racing to enjoy. On Saturday midday, the RCN will hold a performance test on the Nordschleife. Throughout the weekend, car slalom competitions will be held in the AMG Arena, and youth eKart slaloms will take place in the paddock. One highlight is the first of the two races, which starts Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and runs four hours into the evening—delivering full endurance racing vibes. Sunday is headlined by the Top Qualifying session, where teams battle for the best grid positions at the front. The second four-hour race then begins at 1:00 p.m.
If you want to experience this motorsport spectacle live, tickets are available here starting at just €25 (Saturday or Sunday day passes). These grant access to the grandstands on the GP circuit, the paddock, and prime spectator areas along the Nordschleife such as Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten. If you can’t make it to the track, you can tune into the livestream at 24h-rennen.de/live, broadcasting Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.