The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is regarded by many fans and participants as the "race of the year". The motorsport festival, which is expected to attract over 200,000 spectators again this year, will once again live up to this claim: after the end of the entry deadline, 130 vehicles are on the provisional list of participants. At the top of the field, the stars of the GT3 scene will meet at the upcoming 52nd edition of the endurance classic from May 30 to June 2. Eight car manufacturers with 26 top-class super sports cars will be competing in the top classes (GT3 / SP9 and SP-X), in which the overall victory will be contested. It will also be exciting behind the top-class field, because the battle for victory in the numerous vehicle classes will also be exciting action without end.

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The "title defense" project is likely to be difficult for the crowd favorites from Frikadelli Racing. Because the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the team around Klaus "Frikadelli" Abbelen is not only facing fierce opposition in terms of numbers, the driver line-up is also excellent. Top-class customer racing teams from the major German car manufacturers Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG will be supported by works drivers and equipment in their bid to take the crown on the longest and most beautiful race track in the world. The Porsche teams are the provisional favorites, having won all the races in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the ADAC 24h Qualifiers in April. Most successful: Falken Motorsports - the works team of the Japanese tire manufacturer sent two Porsche 911 GT3Rs with top drivers into the race. The green and blue nine-eleven cars with the starting numbers #33 and #44 are likely to be a benchmark for the entire field - together with the car of their brand colleagues from Manthey Racing. The #911 in the familiar "Grello" design will start the race for them, also driven by four proven top drivers. The Porsche GT3 armada is completed by the Renauer, Dinamic GT and Lionspeed teams, with the latter racing in the Pro-Am classification. A total of six 911 GT3Rs are on the grid.

Top teams at the front of the field
In terms of sheer quantity, the teams that rely on Mercedes-AMG GT3s are right at the front alongside the Porsche teams. Here too, several teams are complemented by drivers from the works squad. The proven and very successful teams from HRT and GetSpeed will be involved as support teams, while a Pro-Am GT3 from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport will also take part in the race. Audi and BMW will each be represented with three cars. The two R8 LMS GT3s from Scherer Sport PHX will spearhead the Ingolstadt outfit, while there will also be a Pro-Am entry from Juta Racing. BMW will rely on the M4 GT3 and the RMG and Rowe Racing teams. Four Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Evo cars from Walkenhorst, Prosport Racing and Four Motors are coming to the Ring in very British style. The two Lamborghini Huracan GT3s from Abt and Konrad Motorsport and the SCG 004C from Glickenhaus Racing will also be in the field to add spice, spectacular visuals and further intensify the competition.

Cup classes and GT4 field with a strong line-up
The battle in the other classes, which offer attractive cars and fiercely contested classifications, will also provide plenty of excitement. More than 20 entrants will be competing in the PETN (Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring), for example, with the Cup3 classification standing out in particular with 14 cars: the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport may not be vying for championship points, but they will be competing for the most coveted individual victory of the season. The GT4 class (SP10) also has a strong field, with 14 entrants from Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Toyota. In the production car classes, the VT2 category with rear-wheel drive is particularly fiercely contested with ten starters - it is firmly in the hands of the BMW 330i models.

VW celebrates Golf anniversary, Mercedes-AMG celebrates 130 years of motorsport
Spread across the field and in different classes, there will once again be a number of factory entries from car manufacturers or companies from the supplier industry at the 24h. These include Subaru and Hyundai. Volkswagen is using the 24h Nürburgring to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf. A Golf GTI entered by Max Kruse Racing will celebrate its race debut at the 24h, bearing the starting number #50 to mark the anniversary. The celebrations will also include a trio of Golf GTIs in the 24h Classic support race and a world premiere: the new Golf GTI Clubsport will be presented for the first time on the ring°boulevard on Friday. Incidentally, this anniversary is not the only one being celebrated on the race weekend: Mercedes-AMG is also celebrating 130 years of motorsport under the banner of the star at the 24h. A Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a strong line-up from GetSpeed will therefore bear the starting number #130, and there will also be a large activity area in the paddock on the theme.