Change is part of the concept at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. After all, the organisers at ADAC Nordrhein have been continually adapting the regulations for this classic race since its premiere in 1970. In this way, they keep pace with technical developments, whilst also continually improving procedures and enhancing safety for all involved. Just how attractive the race remains, even in its 54th edition, is demonstrated by the huge rush of teams. With over three weeks to go before the entry deadline (22 April), it is already becoming clear that the maximum possible 150 starting places will be fully booked. The start list regulations, like all other rules of the 24h Nürburgring, can be found in the suplementary regulations, the central document for the event. Here is a preview of the most important changes – and a refresher on how starting grid positions are allocated…
Top Qualifying: Three rounds of full throttle – three rounds of excitement
For fans at the track and watching on screen, the new format of Top Qualifying is certainly the most striking change. It is now divided into three sessions, similar to Formula 1: Top Q1, Top Q2 and Top Q3 as the highlight. “We opted for the new format because we wanted to make the process more comprehensible and transparent for the fans,” explains Race Director Walter Hornung, outlining the evolution of the single-lap qualifying session. As before, only the top classes in the field are eligible for this: SP9 (FIA-GT3), SP11 (GT2), AT1 and SP-Pro. Finally, SP-X cars are also eligible to compete, provided the team submits a corresponding application to race control and can prove that the car has an engine output of at least 450 hp.
Pre-qualification remains possible. A maximum of six cars can secure a starting place in advance for the battle for pole position in the final Top Q3. The results from NLS Rounds 1 to 3 and the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifier will be used for this purpose. In the NLS races, one starting position is allocated to the overall fastest driver across all qualifying sessions and two positions to the fastest drivers in the races, whereby all sector times that meet the criteria listed in the regulations and have been included in the standings are combined to form theoretical best-lap times. In the 24h Qualifiers, one starting position is awarded to the team with the fastest lap time from Qualifying and Top Qualifying. A further starting position each goes to the participants with the theoretically fastest race lap times in the two races of the weekend.
Things then get serious at the 24h Nürburgring on Friday: in Top Q1, all eligible vehicles that have not yet been seeded for Top Q3 will compete first – for vehicles that have already pre-qualified, participation outside the classification is also permitted, but not mandatory. The 20 fastest cars from the first Top Q session advance to Top Q2. These will then battle for the remaining places in the individual time trial. Pre-qualified cars are not permitted to take part in this session. Top Q sessions 1 and 2 last 35 minutes. In the final Top Q3, a maximum of twelve cars will then compete against each other in an individual time trial for pole position.
Light panels – for better visibility even during the day
It is now established practice at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for the marshals’ flag signals to be replaced by illuminated panels at selected positions as darkness falls. However, from 2026, drivers are to receive greater visual support on these sections of the track during the day as well – after all, the Eifel weather is prone to rain and fog. For this reason, light panels will now be used there in addition to the flags. These display only the flag signal shown at the marshal post. The flag signal is always decisive – the display on the light panels has no sporting relevance in this respect, but serves solely as a support. “We trialled this system at the second NLS race in 2026,” explains 24-hour race director Hornung. “It was very well received by the drivers and the marshals on site who have to operate it.” The plan is to deploy 28 of these display panels on the Nordschleife and eight on the GP circuit.
Entries: a maximum of 150 participants will take part in the race
In terms of participant numbers, the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is traditionally the world’s biggest race. But even the world’s longest race track cannot accommodate an unlimited number of cars: according to the regulations, a maximum of 150 entrants are permitted to start. Whilst this figure has not quite been reached in previous years, the organisers are delighted to see a veritable rush of interested teams in 2026, meaning that three weeks before the entry deadline it is already certain: the maximum number will be reached this year. To ensure a fair process for the teams, the regulations stipulate that, once the entry deadline has passed, a review and selection process will take place, in which factors such as the balance of the classes and the technical and sporting quality of the teams and vehicles will be taken into account – after all, the race thrives on the diversity ranging from ‘small’ production cars to beefy GT3s. Should a team accepted by the organiser withdraw its entry, a replacement procedure is in place whereby any vacancies are then filled by teams not previously considered.
