Mercedes-AMG dominated and win 24 H of Nürburgring
Winward Racing dominated the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, initially with the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car and finally with sister Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80. It is the second win in a row in the Intercontinental GT Challenge for Mercedes-AMG, Maro Engel and Maxime Martin since they claimed victory in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring after winning the 12 Hours of Bathurst in February.
RAVENOL Mercedes-AMG #80 wins
It is Mercedes-AMG first victory in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in a decade, Maro Engel’s second overall win in the “Green Hell” as he was also part of the marque’s most recent triumph in 2016 and Maxime Martin’s first win in 15 participations to the famous Eiffel 24 hours race. Both drivers are now first of the IGTC drivers challenge as their co-driver in Bathurst race, Mikael Grenier, DNF in PROsport racing Mercedes-AMG #26. Luca Stolz and Fabian Schiller were also part of the Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80 success at the Nürburgring.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80
The weekend didn’t start as planned following Engel’s accident in Top Qualifying 3 on Friday. As a result, the #80 Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL did start the race from 25th on the grid. A right tyre choice when the rain started to fall early evening turned out to be decisive as well as the mechanical issue for the leading sister car #3 that opened the way for victory to the quartet Engel, Martin, Schiller and Stolz.
Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80
From pole to 49th, the Abt Lamborghini ends second.
Pole sitter Mirko Bortolotti in the Abt Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO #84, didn’t enter the Nordschleife in the first lap as he headed straight back to the pits to change a damaged rear tyre. Together with Luca Engstler and Patric Niederhauser they charged through the field from 49th position to end second despite a more than 1:20 minute penalty.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Abt Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO #84
Walkendhorst Aston Martin Vantage #34 third
Mattia Drudi in the #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin Vantage GT3 was hunting behind the Abt Lamborghini hoping for a P2 as the #84 Lamborghini would be penalized by a 1:20 minute penalty at checkered flag but heavy traffic prevented him to finish third with a gap inferior to the penalty. Together with Christian Krognes and Nicki.Thiim they are classified third, 16.439 seconds behind the Lamborghini.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Nürburgring. #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Two BMW M4 in top 5
Daniel Harper, Max Hesse, Sheldon Van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor with ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO #99 end fourth ahead of specially deveopped for the Nürburgring 24 Hours race BMW M Motorsport BMW M4 Touring 24H driven by Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde, Connor de Phillippi and Neil Verhagen.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Nürburgring. left: #99 ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO; right: #81 BMW M4 Touring 24h
Related Info
📷© Luc Warnotte at Nürburgring 2026. The "Grello" out at the fourth hour and Ford lead
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Nürburgring Top Qualifying 3. Two Lamborghini Huracan squat front row of N24
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Nürburgring Qualifying 1. Mercedes-AMG and BMW share the top 4 Thursday N24
📷 © Luc Warnotte at NLS1. Current IGTC leader Mercedes-AMG with 4 PRO teams
