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Verstappen to race Nürburgring 24 Hours in Mercedes GT3.

5/13/2026

Summary

Verstappen Races Nürburgring

Max Verstappen will race in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon, starting Saturday at 3 pm.
The event uses both the Nordschleife and GP-Strecke to form a 25 km circuit and sold out for the first time.
Timo Bernhard’s 5:19.546 Nordschleife lap (2018) remains the all-time record, while a Mercedes-AMG ONE posted the fastest production lap of 6:35.183 in 2022.

Summary

Verstappen 24h Nürburgring

Verstappen Racing’s 2026 Nürburgring 24-Hour will be run by Team Winward Racing in SP9.
Co-driver Lucas Auer has 11 DTM wins and a 2022 runner-up finish.
Driver Dani Juncadella has 2011 Macau win, 2012 European F3 title and 2022 GT World Challenge Europe crown.
Driver Jules Gounon has two Spa 24h wins, three Bathurst 12h victories and a 2023 Daytona GTD Pro win.
Qualifying runs Thursday 13:15-15:15 and 20:00-23:30, Friday 08:50-14:35, with the race starting 15:00 Saturday 16 May.

Summary

De Vries GT3

Nyck de Vries, a Formula E driver, hopes to race a GT3 car at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
He has never driven a GT3, only a GTE-spec Ferrari in 2017.
His Formula E Monaco race leaves no free weekend for endurance events.
He urges better calendar coordination among major series so drivers can attend iconic GT races like Spa, Bathurst and the Nürburgring.

History

Historical Context

After the 1970 debut of the 24-Hours Nürburgring—won by Hans-Joachim Stuck in a Porsche 911—the event cemented the Nordschleife as a premier endurance venue, especially after Formula One abandoned the circuit in 1976. The race grew to 161 starters for the 2026 edition, where drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lucas Auer continue the tradition of top-level racers crossing from single-seaters to endurance competition.

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Verstappen Races Nürburgring

Max Verstappen will race in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon, starting Saturday at 3 pm.
The event uses both the Nordschleife and GP-Strecke to form a 25 km circuit and sold out for the first time.
Timo Bernhard’s 5:19.546 Nordschleife lap (2018) remains the all-time record, while a Mercedes-AMG ONE posted the fastest production lap of 6:35.183 in 2022.

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