17.08.2024
The ninth race of the Prototype Cup Germany season, which was held at the Nürburgring, was a clear victory for Ralf (49/Salzburg) and David Schumacher (22/Salzburg, both US Racing). Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher took the lead at the start and steadily extended his lead on the track, which was still wet in places. “My father has always been strong in the rain,” said David. Ralf, who was already almost five seconds ahead of second place after two laps, also praised his team for this performance. “The car was great and the tires were quickly in the working window, so it wasn't that difficult to pull away from the front.” David completed the job with an equally good second stint and drove the US Racing Ligier to the finish line with a lead of almost 17 seconds over Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport). Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE) and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (16/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport) took third place. Right from the first meter, Ralf Schumacher showed that he is highly motivated on his motorsport comeback after a twelve-year break. He took the lead at the start and pulled away from the field seemingly effortlessly. He saw a potential risk more at the pit stop. “A few mistakes can happen there, which can also hurt. But we also managed the pit stop very well.” For part two of the race, David Schumacher drove the LMP3 car with starting number 27. “The track was already drier for me than it was for my father, so it wasn't a problem. My father was able to give me a good lead, which I had to bring to the finish.” Second place remained for Al Azhari, for which the 16-year-old had to work hard. He was in fifth place after one lap, but then benefited from a penalty against Danny Soufi (21/USA, Konrad Motorsport). The American was identified by race control as the culprit in an accident with Antti Rammo (41/EST, MRS GT-Racing) and was handed a drive-through penalty. Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim, Gebhardt Motorsport) and Apothéloz overtook Al Azhari shortly afterwards to secure second position. While Al Azhari had a lot of work to do, especially in the first half of the race, Cirelli had to give his all in the second half. He got the Mücke-Duqueine from Apothéloz and found himself under constant pressure from Markus Pommer (33/Untereisesheim, Gebhardt Motorsport). But the 16-year-old Italian made no mistakes, so that the reigning champion Pommer could not find a way past and, together with team partner Catalano, ultimately had to settle for fourth place. Klaus Abbelen (63, Barweiler) and Felipe Laser (36, Leipzig, both Frikadelli Racing Team) finished fifth. Laser impressed with a great chase to catch up and thus helped to ensure that Abbelen was named best Trophy driver. Soufi and Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach, Konrad Motorsport) crossed the finish line in sixth place ahead of Stefan Aust (52/Münster, Rinaldi Racing), Maxim Dirickx (20/BEL) / Jacob Erlbacher (23/Böblingen, both Gebhardt Motorsport) and Luca Link (20/Günzberg) / Suellio Almeida (30/BRA, both DataLab Sports with Rinaldi). Soufi and Kratz thus remain leaders of the Prototype Cup Germany standings, with an 18-point lead over Apothéloz and Cirelli. In the Junior classification, Soufi now has a 118-point advantage over Catalano; this means that the Konrad Motorsport protégé can no longer be denied the title of best Junior. In the Trophy classification, leader Rammo was able to maintain a narrow lead over Kratz despite his retirement. Keanu Al Azhari (second): “My start was not good because the track was still very wet in places. I didn't find the best line, but I didn't want to take too many risks either. So I lost a few places. But I stayed calm because I knew that the race was still long and my car was really fast.”Julien Apothéloz (third): “The positive thing is that we were able to score important points and, above all, finish ahead of our main rivals for the title. On the other hand, I wasn't entirely satisfied with my own performance, I was simply too slow.” Riccardo Leone Cirelli (third): “I'm delighted with our third place, which wasn't easy to achieve. I had Markus Pommer in my rear-view mirror the whole time and had to make sure that he didn't overtake me - which fortunately I managed to do. This weekend is my first time at the Nürburgring and I think I've improved over the days. I also think it's cool to be on the podium together with a well-known racing driver like Ralf Schumacher.” Click here for the results list of the Prototype Cup Germany.
17.08.2024
It was a rain gala from Kelvin van der Linde (ZA). The Audi driver from Abt Sportsline was in a different league to the rest of the field at the ninth round of the DTM season at the Nürburgring on Saturday. The South African crossed the finish line in first place with a lead of over 15 seconds and regained the top spot in the standings with his second win of the season. “Winning the race and taking the overall lead is just great. Sometimes it rained more, sometimes less. It was a big challenge to always hit the right braking points in these changing conditions. But despite the rain, I felt really comfortable in the car from the very first lap,” said the 28-year-old van der Linde. Second place went to Mirko Bortolotti (I), who had been the overall leader up to that point, in the SSR Performance Lamborghini, who is second in the championship, just one point behind. Maro Engel (Monaco) from Mercedes-AMG Team Winward secured third place on the podium. Key facts, Nürburgring, Nürburg, Race 9 of 16 Track length: 3,629 meters Weather: 19 degrees, rain Pole position: Kelvin van der Linde (Abt Sportsline, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 #3), 1:25.350 minutes Winner: Kelvin van der Linde (Abt Sportsline, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 #3) Fastest race lap: Kelvin van der Linde (Abt Sportsline, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 #3), 1:38.011 minutes The ninth DTM race of the season was started behind the safety car in the rain. Pole-setter Kelvin van der Linde immediately pulled away from the field in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 and continuously increased his lead. Behind him, Lamborghini works driver Bortolotti was able to defend his second place against Engel in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, who was coming on strongly. His brand colleague Lucas Auer (A) followed in fourth place ahead of Nicki Thiim (DK) from SSR Performance. After the mandatory pit stops, during which all the drivers had Pirelli rain tires fitted again due to the persistent rain, the first four cars held their positions. At the front, van der Linde drove a commanding lead, set the fastest lap shortly before the end and was waved off first after 37 laps ahead of Bortolotti, Engel and Auer. Jack Aitken (GB) in the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the Emil Frey Racing team finished the wet race on the Eifel circuit in fifth place. In the field behind them, the DTM drivers thrilled spectators and fans with fierce wheel-to-wheel duels and many battles for position. Marco Wittmann (GER) from Schubert Motorsport once again showed great fighting spirit and in sixth place in the BMW M4 GT3 made up five places compared to the start. The same applied to Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (A) from Manthey EMA. The defending champion improved by eight positions at his team's home race, impressing with spectacular overtaking maneuvers, especially in the second half of the race, to finish seventh. Thiim was unlucky to lose a lot of ground after contact with Ayhancan Güven (TR) and crossed the finish line in eighth place. Ricardo Feller (CH) in the second Abt Sportsline Audi was unable to finish higher than ninth after a strong start, while Arjun Maini (IND) from Mercedes-AMG Team HRT completed the top ten. Mirko Bortolotti: “Difficult race, great result. That sums up Saturday from my point of view. Kelvin van der Linde was on a completely different level and I couldn't keep up with his pace. Before the start, I would have taken second place immediately in these difficult weather conditions, so I'm very satisfied.” Maro Engel: “It always feels great to be on the podium in the DTM. I tried everything to put pressure on Mirko Bortolotti. Hopefully we can take another step forward on Sunday. You can see from Kelvin van der Linde's times that we still have potential.” Result, 9th championship race, Nürburgring1st Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Abt Sportsline)2nd Mirko Bortolotti (I/SSR Performance), +15.232 seconds3rd Maro Engel (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Winward), +16.377 seconds4th Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter), +28.491 seconds5th Jack Aitken (GB/Emil Frey Racing), +30.474 seconds
15.08.2024
The Nürburgring has established itself as one of the top attractions in the whole of Germany. In the latest survey by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), the legendary race track was voted the fourth most popular attraction in the country by international visitors. Following its strong top 5 ranking in the previous year, the Nürburgring was thus able to move up another place. In addition to well-known cities, buildings, excursion destinations and natural beauty spots, the Nürburgring was the only sports and event location to make it into the top 100 ranking. More than 25,000 users from over 20 countries took part in this year's vote, which has been held annually since 2012. “This ranking confirms the appeal of the Nürburgring far beyond the motorsport scene and underlines its importance for an entire region,” says a delighted Alexander Gerhard, Head of Communications at the Nürburgring. “With the combination of major events, offers for day trips, diverse gastronomy and overnight accommodation, surrounded by extensive nature, the world's most famous race track has established itself as a versatile destination for various target groups. These include motorsport fans as well as festival visitors, sports enthusiasts, families and nature lovers.” According to Gerhard, the strong response to the offers during the current vacation season also shows how popular the Nürburgring is outside of the major events. The “Nürburgring Adventure Summer Ticket”, which includes various Nürburgring attractions, celebrated its successful premiere in this context. The Nürburgring, popularly known as the “Green Hell”, attracts visitors from all over the world. In addition to top-class events, the Nürburgring destination offers a wide range of experiences. These include the ring°werk adventure museum, the ring°kart track, the Nürburgring eSports Bar and a wide range of accommodation and catering options, including the Lindner-operated Nürburgring Hotels, the Nürburgring Ferienpark, the Devils Diner, the Bitburger Gasthaus and the Lucia restaurant. The surrounding region also offers numerous leisure activities such as hiking, cycling and cultural events, which underline the diversity of the Eifel region. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has been conducting a vote for the most popular tourist destinations in Germany since 2012. Only participants from international markets are evaluated. The Top 100 ranking is compiled from the entries.
13.08.2024
The DTM is coming out of the summer break at full throttle: the Nürburgring opens the second half of the season next weekend (August 16-18). The title fight enters its fifth round on the traditional circuit in the Eifel. The form curve favors front runner Mirko Bortolotti (I), but he has the competition close behind him and therefore needs more top results. Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde from South Africa, who is only six points behind the Lamborghini works driver, has his sights firmly set on the top of the standings. A look at the statistics also promises an exciting weekend - seven different winners have emerged from the eight races so far. An exciting DTM event also awaits Ralf Schumacher. The former Formula 1 driver is celebrating his one-off motorsport comeback alongside his son David. The father-son duo will compete for US Racing in the Prototype Cup Germany. Key facts, Nürburgring, Nürburg, season races 9 and 10 of 16 Track length: 3,629 meters Layout: Eleven corners (seven right-handers, four left-handers), driven in a clockwise direction Winner 2023, Race 1: Mirko Bortolotti (SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2) Winner 2023, Race 2: Maximilian Paul (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2) Bortolotti and Rast aim to build on strong formBortolotti is currently the man of the moment in the DTM: the SSR Performance driver has scored 52 of his 104 points from the past three qualifying sessions and races. However, Bortolotti is still waiting for his first win of the season - the Nürburgring could come at the perfect time for him. The 34-year-old shone there in the 2023 season with a start-finish victory. Kelvin van der Linde in particular is pushing to reclaim the top position. The 28-year-old from Abt Sportsline led the DTM for four races and, in second place with 98 points, is within striking distance of Bortolotti. "My anticipation is huge. We are right in the middle of the title fight, which gives the whole team extra motivation. The region around the Nürburgring is full of passionate fans, as a driver you always enjoy coming here," says van der Linde. René Rast (Bregenz) from Schubert Motorsport and Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Winward) complete the chasing trio. BMW driver Rast can call himself a true Nürburgring expert. The three-time DTM champion has already achieved three DTM victories on the circuit south of Bonn - all of them for Audi. In the Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, Rast has scored a strong 65 points in the past four races and jumped from ninth to third place overall. Will the 37-year-old continue his high level of form at the Nürburgring? Defending champion Thomas Preining (A), who drives a Porsche 911 GT3 R with the Grello design that is particularly popular in the Eifel and is seventh overall, is also aiming for a home race. Like Ayhancan Güven (TR), the Porsche works driver will start for Team Manthey EMA, which is based in Meuspath in the immediate vicinity of the Nürburgring. Mercedes-AMG Team HRT also has a short journey. The racing team from Drees will line up with Arjun Maini from India, who lives in Troisdorf near Cologne, and Luca Stolz (Brachbach). Schumacher starts in the Prototype Cup GermanyFans at the Nürburgring can look forward to the appearance of a prominent father-son team. Ralf Schumacher is making his motorsport comeback in the Prototype Cup Germany. The former Formula 1 driver will share a 455 hp Ligier LMP3 prototype from US Racing with his son David Schumacher. "I've wanted to race with David for a long time, so I'm happy to get back into a racing car. The car is a lot of fun and we are looking forward to competing in the Prototype Cup Germany," says Ralf Schumacher. The ADAC GT4 Germany and the all-electric NXT Gen Cup will also be at the Nürburgring. The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany will provide fast-paced one-make cup action. With the DTM Track Safari, fans can look forward to a special kind of racetrack expedition on Friday, when coaches will travel to the Nürburgring together with the DTM's powerful racing cars. A premiere is also on the program in the Eifel: The "DTM Trucks Go and Stop" competition will take place for the first time on Saturday evening from 6.30 pm. The aim is to drive as fast as possible on the start-finish straight with the trucks from the DTM paddock and then brake with pinpoint accuracy. In addition, the Sunshine Live After Race Party on Saturday evening from 6.15 pm in the DTM Fan Zone invites you to extend the race day in the Eifel into the evening. Tickets for the DTM race weekend at the Nürburgring are available from 39 euros here. Children and young people under the age of 16 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
12.08.2024
Seven different winners in eight races: The DTM has had an exciting and varied first half of the season. The second half of the season kicks off at the Nürburgring (August 16 to 18), and one driver in particular is looking forward to the trip to the Eifel: Kelvin van der Linde. "I'm finally back in the race car. I have almost always performed well at the Nürburgring in the past and have already celebrated many successes. I'm looking forward to the weekend," says the South African. So far this year, van der Linde has impressed with one win and a total of three podium finishes. Will the Audi driver from Abt Sportsline storm to the top of the standings at the Nürburgring? Van der Linde goes into the second half of the season as the closest pursuer of championship leader Mirko Bortolotti (Italy). The Lamborghini works driver from SSR Performance recently took over the overall lead from van der Linde at the Norisring and leads by a narrow margin of six points. The sprint version of the Nürburgring is one of the shortest tracks on the DTM calendar. Nevertheless, the 3.629-kilometer asphalt track offers a varied course with winding sections and long corners. "The passion of the fans is very special at the Nürburgring. I won the DTM race there three years ago, plus two victories in the 24-hour race and a joint DTM podium with my brother Sheldon," says van der Linde. The latter experience was a first for him in 2022. Back then, the duo celebrated the first and to date only one-two victory for a brother and sister in the DTM - BMW driver Sheldon won ahead of Kelvin. "Our strength this season lies in the fact that we are consistently scoring points and have not had a single retirement so far," is van der Linde's interim assessment. He has finished in the top six in five of the eight championship races and has always placed his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 in the points. "We only managed one pole position in qualifying, but we put in a strong performance in the races," says van der Linde. The 28-year-old enjoyed his most successful weekend in the first half of the DTM season at the Dekra Lausitzring, where he celebrated his only win of the season so far and scored 48 of his 98 points. At the Nürburgring, the man from Kempten by choice, who has also held German citizenship since the beginning of July, wants to follow up with the next gala performance. Despite all his ambitions for the overall lead, van der Linde must also take a look in the rear-view mirror, because the chasing trio behind Bortolotti are very close together. Only five points separate van der Linde and BMW driver René Rast (Bregenz/Schubert Motorsport) in third place. His lead over Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward) is ten points. Thanks to this exciting starting position in the DTM title fight, it is clear that fans can expect exciting race weekends after the summer break. After the fifth tour stop at the Nürburgring, the DTM stars will head to the Sachsenring (September 6 to 8). The second foreign event of the year at the Red Bull Ring (September 27 to 29) in Austria kicks off the hot final phase of the season, before the showdown traditionally takes place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (October 18 to 20). Tickets for the DTM are available here.
12.08.2024
Positive results for the largest classic car racing festival on the European continent: 42,000 spectators experienced an all-round successful mix at the 51st BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix at the weekend. Against the backdrop of historic racing at the highest level, the Nürburgring became a meeting place for insiders, experts and, of course, motorsport fans. Around 600 historic vehicles were on display on the race track, as well as numerous classic cars exhibited in the paddock and many fantastic treasures brought to the Nürburgring by the participating one-make clubs or the visitors themselves. The range of participating vehicles in the weekend's twelve racing classes and driving events spanned a good 100 years. There were highlights in practically every starting field with rare or unique racing cars, well-known current and former racing drivers or vehicles taking part for the first time. An American La France from 1918 with an impressive 14.5-liter displacement was the oldest model of the entire weekend. The fully booked starting fields with touring cars, GTs and sports cars also captivated the spectators. A remarkable "class reunion" of top drivers took place in the "Touring Car Golden Era" and the DRM Revival, for which over 100 vehicles had already entered. The autographs of ex-DTM drivers such as Roland Asch, Harald Grohs, Olaf Manthey, Kris Nissen, Peter Oberndorfer, Kurt Thiim and Leopold Prinz von Bayern were particularly popular. Ford GT3 works driver and reigning 24-hour Nürburgring winner Christopher Mies climbed into one of the legendary Ford Capri Turbo cars from the former DRM. Former Formula 1 driver Arturo Merzario - who became famous at the Nürburgring for his rescue of Niki Lauda in 1976 - did the honors as a participant in the FCD Racing Series in the youngest starting field of the weekend. Unique racing cars on the trackThe races for the two-seater sports cars and GTs up to 1965 once again lived up to their reputation as a meeting place for rare and beautiful racing cars. There was a strong Italian accent here with models such as the Ferrari 246 SP and 250 GT, O.S.C.A 37, several Maserati 300 S and two impressive Bizzarini 5300 GTs. British sports cars such as the Austin Healey and Elva MK8 and, of course, German models such as the Porsche 356 and 904 as well as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL were also on display. The British HGPCA racing series presented Formula 1 cars from the same era in which the monoposti made the transition from front-engined to rear-engined vehicles. There was plenty of historical flair, information and personal encounters with the cockpit stars over the weekend, for example during the grid walk through the starting grid of the Golden Era touring cars, at talks and autograph sessions or during the demonstrations of the legendary Le Mans start. Organizer: Positive balanceThe unique atmosphere at the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix inspired everyone involved and made for satisfied faces: "As organizers, we draw an all-round positive conclusion," says Wolfgang Schulz, Managing Director of CHRSN Sport GmbH for the OGP organizer association, "The historic races this weekend not only impressed with full starting fields, but also with many outstanding vehicles. We are also delighted that numerous participants and guests have already given us positive feedback during the weekend." Despite all the love for history and the preservation of motorsport and automotive heritage, many of those responsible were also looking to the future. Wolfgang Schulz: "After the big anniversary with the 50th edition last year, we started this year with fresh ideas and innovations for the future. We owe this success to the joint efforts of numerous supporters and volunteers. The organizer consortium of CHRSN GmbH, Histomobil GmbH and HMSC-Wirtschafts-GmbH would like to thank all these people and institutions. We look to the future with great optimism." The next edition of the event is already being planned and is expected to take place on the first weekend in August 2025. Strong partners helped shape the eventOn the road to the future, the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix can rely on new and proven partners, who once again played a major role in making this year's event a success. As a new addition to this circle, BELMOT was particularly influential: "It was a great debut for us this year as the title partner of this traditional event. Together with a number of partners, we were able to present ourselves to a knowledgeable and open-minded audience and take away many positive impressions and good encounters," says Roland Koch, Head of Marketing at Mannheimer Versicherung. "It's great that we were also able to set new accents and show perspectives for the future of classic cars and classic car sports with top-class panel discussions." The trade magazine Motor Klassik proved to be a long-standing and loyal partner. In 1984, the magazine was presented to the public at the classic car Grand Prix and consequently celebrated its 40th birthday at the Nürburgring. Watch manufacturer Junghans was not only involved as the official timekeeping partner, but was also present in the paddock. In addition to the timepieces, vehicles from the Steim car collection and a DTM vehicle from Schnitzer-Classic, which was once driven by Jockel Winkelhock, were also on display. The fuel specialists from Aspen were in high demand in the paddock: at their debut, they presented participants with a fuel specially tailored to the needs of classic cars. In the coming years, there are plans with this partner to use more sustainable fuels in racing, which will lead to CO2-neutral historic motorsport in the future.
11.08.2024
The dismay over the tragic accident in the run-up to the ROWE 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal race, in which a compressed air cylinder exploded behind a pit lane, continues. Even though the results of the police investigation are not yet available, the containers used in motorsport can obviously pose a danger. The VLN is therefore seeking the expertise of specialists in order to contain the risks. To this end, talks are plannedwith the expert organization DEKRA, which has been a partner of the NLS since 2024, and the ILN (Interessengemeinschaft Langstrecke Nürburgring). "We don't want to get carried away now, but the incident before NLS4 has shown that there is a need for action," says Christian Vormann, Head of Sport at the VLN. "From our point of view, however, it makes no sense to simply impose rules on the teams. On the one hand, we need real experts in the field of compressed air tanks - we have them at our partner DEKRA. On the other hand, measures for teams must also be feasible and practicable. This is where we rely on ILN's knowledge." Mobile compressed air tanks are present in almost all pits in motorsport. Among other things, they are used to operate the lifting systems in the racing cars. "Even after the first few minutes in a preliminary discussion with the DEKRA experts, we realized that the topic is far more complex than you might think at first," says Vormann. "We also had contact with many team bosses who are now somewhat unsure about the compressed air tanks they use. Ultimately, we not only want to increase safety with targeted measures, but also raise awareness among everyone involved. We cannot undo the accident, but we can actively work to minimize the risk in the future."
07.08.2024
At the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix next weekend (August 9 to 11), the Nürburgring will become a mobile racing museum. Over 600 racing and sports cars will populate the legendary Eifel circuit. In a dozen races and driving events, as exhibits and collectors' vehicles, they will showcase just about everything that has made fans addicted to horsepower over the past 100 years: from the sports cars of the early years of motorsport to the beginnings of Formula 1 and the endurance races of the 1950s and 1960s, the historical arc extends to the legendary touring cars from the DTM and DRM or the fascinating sports car monsters from the CanAm, for example. In the paddock and the adjacent areas, there are super sports cars, collectors' vehicles from the brand clubs and many additional offers to discover. If you don't want to miss out on the fascination of this unique meeting of motorsport legends, you can buy your ticket at the open ticket offices directly at the race track. Timetables, starter lists and lots of information about the event can be found here. In its 51st edition this year, the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix has long since become a classic in its own right and is regarded as the biggest historic race weekend on the European continent. There will be plenty to see at the Nürburgring from Friday (August 9) when, in addition to the qualifying sessions on the Grand Prix circuit, the traditional track day takes place on the Nordschleife, where old and new sports car classics will romp around the world's most beautiful racetrack without any competitive pressure. For the curious, access to the open spectator stands around the Nordschleife will be free of charge; on the Grand Prix circuit, tickets will be available at the box offices as on all days. In addition to access to the open grandstands, they also include admission to the paddock. If you can't make it to the Nürburgring but still want to see a bit of the classic event, you can watch selected races on Saturday (09:45 - 19:25) and Sunday (08:15 - 17:15) in the livestream here. If you want to read results, starter lists and news directly on your mobile device at the weekend, you should install the onGRID app, which is available free of charge for Apple and Android devices. The BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix can now be found there - with all the important information about the event. Numerous sporting highlightsThe main attraction this year is of course once again the program on the track, which offers a unique collection of legendary racing cars from practically all motorsport eras. As part of the "Vintage Sports Car Trophy", the oldest racing cars of the weekend will take part in a pure driving event without any sporting classification, in which the racing cars, some of which are over 100 years old, will be allowed to drive in their very own territory - on the race track. The 50s and 60s form an impressive thematic focus, as the historic Grand Prix cars of the British HGPCA series, in which over 40 monoposti from the early days of the Formula 1 World Championship can be seen, come from this period. The two-seater racing cars and GTs up to 1965 are an absolute racing jewel: these sports cars from the 50s and 60s competed in classics such as Le Mans, the Targa Florio and other legendary endurance races a good 70 years ago. Now the Maserati and Ferrari, the Lotus and Elva, the Mercedes and Porsche of those years will meet again in the international field at the Nürburgring. The race on Saturday evening, which concludes with fireworks, is regarded as the highlight of the event weekend. The sports cars of the "Historic Championship CanAm & Sportscars" with their supercars with displacements of up to nine liters offer further spectacular races. When these vehicles start, there is guaranteed to be no spectator in their seats. The somewhat more recent formula history can also be seen - in the Graf Berghe von Trips Cup races and the historic Formula Vau. Packed touring car and GT fieldsThe touring car and GT races are also crowd-pullers at the weekend. In the "Golden Era" touring car field, the focus will be on former DTM stars such as Kris Nissen, Roland Asch, Harald Grohs, Kurt Thiim and others, who will revive a great era in the unforgotten DTM and STW cars. Even more legendary are the vehicles in the DRM Revival, where Group 5 cars à la Ford Capri, BMW 2002, Porsche 934/5 or even a whole horde of BMW M1s set the tone. Moreover, the more than 50 starting places for the "Golden Era" and the Revival are fully booked! And there are hardly any places left in the two races in which points are at stake for the German Historic Automobile Championship: The two races of the HC '65 and the one-hour run of the HC '81 also promise the very best racing entertainment.
05.08.2024
The winners of the ROWE 6h ADAC Ruhr Cup race are Salman Owega, David Schumacher and Hubert Haupt. The trio celebrated the first Mercedes victory since 2020 in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Team ADVAN x HRT. For GT drivers Schumacher and Owega, it is the first NLS victory of their still young careers. At 19, Owega is also the second-youngest winner in the 47-year history of the traditional Nordschleife championship. Only Jörg van Ommen was younger: The former DTM driver took his first victory in 1981 and was just a few days younger than Owega. Behind the winners, the two Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars of BLACK FALCON Team 48 LOSCH and AVIA W&S Motorsport from the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (Cup2) surprisingly finished second and third. Steve Jans, Tobias Müller and Gabriele Piana were delighted with second place, while Daniel Blickle, Tim Scheerbarth and David Jahn finished third. "We are super happy that we were able to win this race. We had a lot of competition, but they didn't compete in the second part of the race," said Haupt. A few minutes after the start of the 6-hour race, two pile-ups occurred as the rain set in, literally leaving the top 7 cars on the track. As a result, the race was red-flagged for around 1:45 hours. "To have won my first race in the Green Hell is a great result. The Green Hell showed its best side today and we had a lot of fun," said Schumacher. Owega added: "I'm really happy. Thanks to the team for the top performance. It was very hot in the car at the end, but I'm happy." When asked about his age and the fact that he is the second-youngest winner of the NLS, he joked: "I can't catch up with van Ommen, I'm not getting any younger." "P2 with a Cup 2 car is huge, even though we all know that we benefited from the accidents," said Müller. "We really pulled through. The race wasn't easy. I was sitting in the car when the downpour came. It felt like swimming free." Piana called for the final phase: "I'm exhausted. A great result. Tobias and Steve did well, I just had to bring the result to the finish." Victory in the Am classification of the GT3 SP9 class went to Michael Heimrich, Lorenzo Rocco and Arno Klasen in the équpe vitesse Audi R8 LMS GT3. The fastest Pro-Am GT3 was the Porsche 911 GT3 R from Huber Motorsport with drivers Hans Wehrmann, Joachim Thyssen and Thomas Kiefer. Successful Nordschleife race premiere for football star Max KruseThe 17-time national football player Max Kruse successfully completed his racing debut in the NLS. In the VW Golf GTI TCR, the Reinbeck native drove ten laps in the shortened race in the Green Hell alongside Nico Otto and Marcus Menden. "That was an exhausting stint," said Kruse afterwards. "Benny Leuchter had already told me that the heat would make my feet burn. He was right. It started from lap seven. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun today and I'm also happy with my times for the first race. What I'm taking with me is a lot of adrenaline and the realisation that I can keep up. I've been preparing for this for six years." Victory in the AT class was snatched by another prominent driver: Smudo (Die Fantastischen Vier) won in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup together with Michelle Halder, Henrik Bollerslev and Matthias Beckwermert. Championship lead defended and Cup class won: AVIA W&S RacingJoshua Bednarski, Lucas Daugaard and Moritz Oberheim have not only successfully defended their lead in the ADAC Nürburgring Endurance Series standings with their fifth victory in the sixth race. The AVIA W&S Racing trio also clinched the early title in the Cup 3 class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring. With two races to go, they have an unassailable lead. "We've actually clinched the championship early," said a delighted Oberheim. "I don't even know what to say. The season is going perfectly. Big praise to my team-mates, the team and our partners. Now we're attacking in the NLS overall standings. We can think about that now." The ROWE 6h ADAC Ruhr Cup race counts towards the overall standings because the winners covered more than four hours of racing distance when the two partial results are added together. The battle for the championship in the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will be decided in the remaining races on 19th October and 16th November. NLS4 overshadowed by incident on FridayA tragic accident occurred on Friday evening in the run-up to the race. According to current information, 22 people were injured, four of them seriously, when a compressed air cylinder exploded. After initial treatment at the medical centre on site, some of the injured were transferred to nearby hospitals by rescue helicopter. According to the Koblenz police station, the condition of all seriously injured people was stable on Saturday morning. After consultation with participants, the ILN and the driver representatives of the NLS, the VLN decided to hold the race. After the race, an award ceremony with anthem and champagne shower was cancelled. "Our thoughts are with those affected by the incident on Friday evening," says VLN boss Mike Jäger. "We wish everyone a speedy recovery."
