BMW Cup classes have a long and storied history in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and have shaped the landscape of grassroots motorsport at the Green Hell for years. Starting in the 2026 season, this success story will continue with the new BMW M2 Racing. The car has already passed its baptism of fire on the world’s toughest racetrack: The BMW M2 Racing underwent intensive development on the Nordschleife last year and, as the culmination of its testing phase, secured a class victory at the legendary 24-hour race.
VLN boss Mike Jäger experienced the performance of the new BMW M2 Racing firsthand last year and was thrilled: “During my active career, I drove almost everything on the Nordschleife, from small production cars to GT3 racers. What immediately struck me about the BMW M2 Racing was its drivability. You feel instantly at home in the car and can gradually approach the limit. This is a huge advantage, especially on the Nordschleife.”
Nico Amende, BMW M Customer Racing, Product and Sales Manager for the M2 Racing, says: “During the development of the new M2, we placed great emphasis on creating an accessible customer racing car that also offers experienced drivers a truly exhilarating driving experience. A key focus was keeping running costs within a reasonable range. I am convinced that with this new model, we can build on the success of the M235i and M240i Racing and deliver thrilling racing action.”
Based on the current BMW M2 platform, the car, with its 313+ hp inline four-cylinder turbo engine and optimized seven-speed ZF automatic transmission, provides a modern, technically sophisticated foundation for exhilarating endurance racing. To guarantee maximum fairness and cost efficiency, the engines are delivered sealed by BMW M Motorsport. Furthermore, the series relies on strong partnerships: Goodyear is the official tire partner and supplies the teams with tires in size 265/660 R18 at attractive rates. For the participants, the cup offers a comprehensive support package, as BMW M Motorsport is present at all races with a parts truck and a support engineer directly in the paddock.
The prize money totaling €10,000 is particularly lucrative. In the overall standings, first, second, and third place receive €2,500, €1,500, and €1,000, respectively. In addition, special categories are promoted to encourage diversity in the starting field: The winner of the Gentleman category (born before 1975) and the first-place finisher in the Junior category (born from 2001 onwards) each receive €2,500. With this, BMW seamlessly continues the tradition of legendary cup predecessors, offering both young talents and experienced drivers a top-class platform in the NLS.
The ADAC RAVENOL NLS kicks off its anniversary season on March 14, 2026, with the grand opening race at NLS1. Tickets for all races are already available in advance starting at €25. Fans who want to experience the Nordschleife series’ anniversary year live can find all the information on prices and categories at vln.de/tickets.
