For many fans and competitors, the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is quite simply the “race of the year”. The motorsport festival, which is again expected to attract more than 200,000 spectators this year, will again live up to this reputation: now that the deadline for entries has passed, the provisional list of starters consists of 130 cars. At the forefront of the 52nd staging of the endurance classic from 30th May to 2nd June will be the stars of the GT3 scene. Overall victory will be decided among the top classes (GT3 / SP9 and SP-X), which feature no fewer than eight manufacturers with 26 high-class super sports cars. And there will also be plenty of excitement behind the big names at the front of the field, as the battle for victory in the individual classes promises to serve up another feast of dramatic racing.
Defending the title could be a tough task for the crowd favourites at Frikadelli Racing. The Ferrari 296 GT3 of the team run by Klaus “Frikadelli” Abbelen faces stiff opposition – not just numerically, but the driver line-ups are also brimming with quality. Top-class customer racing teams representing the major German manufacturers Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG receive support in the form of factory drivers and material to aid them in their pursuit of victory on the longest and most beautiful racetrack in the world. Among the pre-race favourites are the Porsche teams, who between them have won all of this season’s races so far in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and at the ADAC 24h Qualifiers in April. The most successful of them: Falken Motorsports – the factory team of the Japanese tyre maker lines up with two Porsche 911 GT3 R and a top driver line-up. The green and blue 911s with the start numbers #33 and #44 could set the benchmark for the whole field – together with fellow Porsche team Manthey Racing. They start with the #911 in the familiar “Grello” design, with another quartet of proven top drivers at the wheel. Rounding off the Porsche GT3 armada are the Renauer, Dinamic GT and Lionspeed teams, with the latter starting in the Pro-Am class. A total of six 911 GT3 R will take their place on the starting grid.
Top teams at the head of the field
On quality alone, the teams running the Mercedes-AMG GT3 are right up there with the Porsche outfits. Here too, several teams can call on drivers from the manufacturer’s factory squad. The teams in question are the proven and very successful HRT and GetSpeed teams, while Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport also fields a GT3 in the Pro-Am class. Audi and BMW are both represented with three cars. Leading the way for the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer are the two R8 LMS GT3 of Scherer Sport PHX, while there is also a Pro-Am outing for Juta Racing. BMW is counting on the M4 GT3 and teams at RMG and Rowe Racing. Representing Britain at the Ring will be four Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, run by Walkenhorst, Prosport Racing and Four Motors. Adding some real spice, spectacular looks and even more top-class competition will be the two Lamborghini Huracan GT3 of Abt and Konrad Motorsport, as well as the SCG 004C of Glickenhaus Racing.
Strong line-ups in the cup classes and GT4 field
The battle in the other classes also promises to provide plenty of excitement, with attractive cars and fiercely-competitive racing. For example, the PETN (Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring) provides 20 starters, while the Cup3 class also stands out with 14 cars: the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport cars may not be competing for championship points, but at stake is the most coveted individual victory of the season. The GT4 class is another competition with a strong field, with 14 starters in cars from Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Toyota. In the production car class, the VT2 category with rear-wheel drive is particularly competitive with ten starters, dominated by BMW 330i models.
VW marks Golf milestone, Mercedes-AMG celebrates 130 years in motorsport
Spread across the different classes within the field at the 24h Nürburgring will once again be a host of factory projects from automobile manufacturers and companies from the supply industry. They include the likes of Subaru and Hyundai. Volkswagen is using the 24h Nürburgring to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf. Run by Max Kruse Racing, a Golf GTI Clubsport 24h will make its race debut at the 24-hour race – fittingly adorned with the number #50. The celebrations also include a trio of Golf GTI in the 24h Classic support race, and a world first: on Friday, the new Golf GTI Clubsport will be unveiled on the ring°boulevard. Incidentally, this is not the only anniversary being celebrated during the race weekend: Mercedes-AMG is also marking 130 years in motorsport at the 24h Nürburgring. To this end, the GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 will not only have a strong driver line-up, but will also bear the number #130. There will also be a large activity area based round this topic in the paddock.