From 14 to 17 May 2026, the heart of endurance racing will be beating on the Nordschleife: at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the world’s longest race track serves as the grand stage for world-class motorsport and, at the same time, the meeting place for countless fans. The entry list for this endurance classic underlines its exceptional nature: 161 cars have been entered; in the SP9 class (GT3 cars) alone, the variety of over 40 cars is greater than ever before: nine manufacturers are represented, and the level of performance is correspondingly high. With Max Verstappen, a four-time Formula 1 world champion is also coming to the Eifel. yet the message is clear: on the Nordschleife, it is not a name that wins, but a combination of speed, flawless driving and strategy that pushes the limits for 24 hours. The enormous demand for advance tickets also shows just how high the tension is even before the start. Fans should secure their tickets early, as the box office may remain closed for the first time in the 24h Nürburgring’s history due to capacity constraints. Those staying at home can experience the full race action on the German channel NITRO. Throughout the weekend, a free live stream, live ticker and timing will also be available at the [live page].
Stage of Champions: Verstappen faces world-class rivals
Max Verstappen’s entry is attracting international attention – and, in sporting terms, fits perfectly into a field that is bursting at the seams at the top of GT3. Verstappen himself summed up his motivation in a single sentence: “The 24h Nürburgring has been on my wish list for a long time.” The Dutchman is drawn to the unique circuit – and perhaps also by the fact that he is in excellent company here: in 2026, the race will be a gathering of drivers who have amassed titles and major individual successes in practically all relevant GT and professional series.
A glance at the line-up shows just how high the bar is set. In the SP9-PRO class, recent DTM champions feature on the list – including Thomas Preining (2023, Manthey-Porsche), Mirko Bortolotti (2024, Abt-Lamborghini) and Ayhancan Güven (2025, Manthey-Porsche). Added to this is the international endurance and GT elite: Drivers with successes in the WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GT World Challenge or IMSA feature in the line-ups of many top teams.
Defending champions Rowe: two heavyweights – and an extra burden
As defending champions, Rowe Racing returns with start number #1 – and here too, the ambition for 2026 is clear: The team is banking on defending its title with two strongly fielded BMW M4 GT3s. Rowe driver Augusto Farfus aptly describes the starting position: “We’re returning as champions. That naturally means we’re carrying an extra burden on our shoulders. I consider our driver line-up to be extremely strong. So I see no reason why we shouldn’t count ourselves among the favourites. But of course, on the Nordschleife you often can’t choose who the winner is, because the Nordschleife decides who the winner is.”
Manthey in the “Grello”: A mission for an eighth victory
The Rowe BMWs are being chased by a whole host of top teams. Right at the forefront: last year’s runners-up from Manthey. In the #911 “Grello” Porsche 911 GT3 R, three top drivers will take the wheel, and Kévin Estre explains: “I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Grello. As every year, it’s a major highlight of my season – this year perhaps even the biggest.” His team-mate Ayhancan Güven adds: “Having finished second for two years running, the clear goal for this year is to win my first 24h Nürburgring and secure Manthey’s eighth overall victory in this fantastic race.”
New Top Qualifying format adds to the excitement
An additional source of excitement in 2026 is Top Qualifying, which features a new three-stage format. With the ruthless “shoot-out” mode, race Friday becomes a special spectacle full of high-octane drama. Only in the third Top Qualifying session will it be decided who starts from pole position with the best chance in the opening hours of the race – and who has to fight their way through traffic and a multi-class field early on. Precisely because the field in the top classes is so tightly packed, every clean lap becomes invaluable. In a race where victory or defeat is often decided by minutes or even seconds in the end, the pressure therefore reaches its peak as early as the top qualifying session.
Fans can look forward to around 64,000 overtaking manoeuvres in 24 hours
As spectacular as the GT3 battles at the front are, the 24h of Nürburgring thrives on the multi-class field – and in 2026 there will be plenty of excitement there too. Alongside the top classes, the Cup Porsche categories and the GT4 class (SP10) in particular boast a strong line-up. There will also be thrilling battles among the production cars in a field well worth watching. The numerous ‘races within the race’ across all classes are also the very essence of the 24h: varying performance levels, heavy traffic, constantly shifting dynamics and plenty of one-on-one duels make the action unique. Statistics recorded over 64,000 overtaking manoeuvres last year – so there is plenty of excitement and variety far beyond just the front runners.
A four-day motorsport festival: sport, history and fan programme
In 2026, the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring will be not just a race, but a weekend with a festival atmosphere. This is underlined by the lavish supporting programme: with the RCN, Tourenwagen Legenden (Touring Car Legends) and the DHLM, series are on the grid that offer grassroots racing, endurance flair and nostalgia. The DHLM succeeds the ADAC 24h Classic and offers the competition cars of yesteryear a full endurance season on the world’s most beautiful race track. Over 100 entrants were already on the grid for the debut as part of the 24h Qualifiers in April, and there are likely to be many more for the second round as part of the 24h Nürburgring.
Fans take centre stage – be sure to secure your tickets in advance!
There is plenty to experience away from the track at the 24h Nürburgring too. For fans, the paddock remains the centre of attention, where you can see teams and cars up close or take a spin on the RAVENOL Ferris wheel. The fan mile on the ring°boulevard is home to many exhibitors and traders. And following the conclusion of the three-hour DHLM race on Friday, the popular Falken Drift Show in the Müllenbachschleife and the autograph session with a track walk opportunity at the start/finish line will take place simultaneously – moments that mark the highlights of the festival in the Green Hell. The sporting action over the weekend will also be fully covered by the media: German station NITRO will broadcast the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring live and in full. In addition, a live stream, live ticker and timing will be available throughout the weekend at www.24h-rennen.de/live. Advance ticket sales are exceptionally strong; fans should therefore secure their tickets early via online sales to avoid any surprises on the event weekend.