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Winward #80 Wins 24h Nürburgring After Verstappen Retires

5/18/2026

Summary

Winward Racing Wins

Winward Racing #80 claimed overall victory at the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring on 16 May 2026 after sister #3 Max Verstappen-led Mercedes-AMG GT3 retired with a driveshaft failure.
The #80, which started 25th, moved to the lead and finished 1 minute 18 seconds ahead of #84 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
The race drew a record 352,000 spectators, the largest sell-out in event history, boosted by Verstappen’s debut.

Summary

Wendl Secures Fanlap

Stefan Wendl said the team repaired the #3 car enough for a fan lap.
Mechanics found the driveshaft break caused significant rear-axle damage, requiring lengthy repairs.
The extra lap was intended to entertain spectators after the retirement.
Max Verstappen expressed interest in racing at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps endurance events.
Daniel Juncadella said Verstappen will return to the Nürburgring next year while the episode raised awareness of endurance racing’s appeal.

Summary

Engel Takes Lead

After the #3 Mercedes retired, Mario Engel in the #80 Winward-operated Mercedes seized the race lead ahead of Engstler’s and de Philippe’s Lamborghini Huracán.
Winward Racing identified a driveshaft failure as the cause and said repairs would be extensive.
Lucas Auer, after a clean double stint for Verstappen Racing, said the track was good but warned that changing weather would decide the remaining hours.

History

Historical Context

ADAC made the 24 Hours Nürburgring official in 1970, turning early contests into a GT3 arena that hosted 135 cars in 2023. Mechanical failures have often decided winners—Audi lost a rear axle in 2010, and in 2026 Winward’s #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 took the lead after a driveshaft failure knocked out a rival. The endurance format stays a key test for manufacturers.

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Winward Racing Wins

Winward Racing #80 claimed overall victory at the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring on 16 May 2026 after sister #3 Max Verstappen-led Mercedes-AMG GT3 retired with a driveshaft failure.
The #80, which started 25th, moved to the lead and finished 1 minute 18 seconds ahead of #84 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
The race drew a record 352,000 spectators, the largest sell-out in event history, boosted by Verstappen’s debut.

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