At the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the newly launched Deutsche Historische Langstreckenmeisterschaft (DHLM) lined up for its second race of the 2026 season. Divided into different classes and three starting groups, the field took to the track for the three-hour race in dry, sunny conditions. Following a rain-soaked qualifying session, the BMW M3 #46 of Michael Tischner and Heiko Tögnes led the field away from pole position.
Right from the start, the joy of leading for the surprise pole-setters was short-lived, however, as they were quickly passed by the more powerful Porsches and dropped back through the field. In the #911 Porsche, the Griesemann brothers – who were considered favorites by many – were able to pull slightly ahead. They were followed by fellow Porsche entries #487 and #511, as well as the Mercedes 190E Evo #516, with Ralf Schall staying firmly in touch.
After the opening lap, several groups had already formed at the front of the field. Heiko Hammel (#487) briefly led the Griesemann Porsche #911, with Oliver Boyke in #511 close behind. The battle at the front quickly intensified. While Hammel made full use of the straight-line speed of the Porsche 964 Cup #487, Björn Griesemann repeatedly closed the gap in the more aerodynamic Porsche 911 RSR through the twistier sections. Right behind them, the Porsche 911 RSR IMSA #511 waited for any mistake from the two leaders. At the beginning of lap four, however, Porsche RSR IMSA #501, driven by Michael Funke, moved into the spotlight. Starting from 60th place as the final car in start group one, he crossed the line as the overall leader, ahead of #911 and #487.
Volker Strycek, meanwhile, was forced to park his Opel Manta B #561 on lap four with propshaft trouble.
After the first hour, Funke (#501) led the Griesemann Porsche #911 by just under 30 seconds. Hammel (#487) and Boyke (#511) were a further 13 seconds adrift. The leading non-Porsche at that stage was Schall (#516), 1:46 minutes behind the race leader.
Eifel Weather Ups the Drama
At the end of lap six, #501 became the first of the front-runners to make the mandatory pit stop. Almost simultaneously, it was clear that the cars in the Flugplatz/Aremberg section had switched on their windscreen wipers once again. The rain gradually spread across the GP track, Hatzenbach and Hohenrain, catching out several drivers. While the leaders chose to stay out on slicks, chasers #487 and #516 pitted for a tyre change. It was not until the end of lap eight that the front-runners finally headed for the pits, with Björn Griesemann handing over to his brother Georg. One lap later, the rain was joined by hail in the Hatzenbach and GP track sections. In those treacherous conditions, Ralf Schall was able to play to the strengths of his Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo #516 and climb to second overall.
At the start of the final hour, all of the top 10 cars headed back into the pits. Thanks to the wildly changeable weather and the right pit strategy, Ralf Schall in the Mercedes #516 emerged in the lead ahead of Griesemann #911 and Rudolph #487. After building a margin of just under a minute, Schall made his final stop with 40 minutes remaining and rejoined in second place. With 25 minutes left on the clock, the Griesemann brothers (#911) held a lead of just under a minute over Schall (#516), while Hammel (#487), running third overall, was another 30 seconds back. In the closing stages, Schall tried to reel in the leaders, but could only reduce the gap slightly. The fight for third, however, intensified after Hammel spun in the Sabine Schmitz turn around ten minutes from the finish. It was not enough, though, for Porsche #511 to take advantage. Even at the front, the tension returned on the final lap, as it was clear that the tyres on Porsche #911 were heavily worn. Georg Griesemann had his hands full keeping the car on track and cooling the rain tyres in the remaining damp patches around the circuit.
In the end, Björn and Georg Griesemann claimed their first victory after four consecutive retirements in their eFuel-powered Porsche 911 RSR. Ralf Schall took second in #516, while Jürgen Rudolph and Heiko Hammel completed the podium in #487.
Post-Race Reactions
Georg Griesemann #911: “After our run of bad luck, finally taking the win feels fantastic. We tried to keep every tactical option open in the changing conditions. Then, when the heavy rain came, Björn radioed in to say that staying out on slicks was no longer possible. That was the moment we decided to switch to rain tyres. But because the rain we had hoped for did not continue, the final two or three laps became a real balancing act. Naturally, the last thing you want is to throw the car away on the final lap, especially when you are leading. That makes this victory even more special.”
Ralf Schall #516: “In the early stages, it was a little frustrating for me because, in the dry, I simply could not match the pace. But then the rain came and our consistency and strategy really came into play. From halfway through the race, I no longer had a clutch, but somehow I still managed to bring the car home. I would like to dedicate this podium finish to my father, who recently passed away, and to my daughter Janina Schall. Her accident yesterday was absolutely not her fault and could just as easily have happened to me. She is already driving better than I am and will definitely show what she is capable of in the future.”
Heiko Hammel #487: “The first lap is usually ours – that has worked very well for us in recent years. Over the longer run, however, the higher weight and narrower rear end of our Porsche 964 unfortunately start to show. Especially at the start, it was great fun battling with Oliver Boyke and Björn Griesemann, and I am delighted that we managed to secure third place.”