The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie is entering the home stretch and has a very special highlight in store for motorsport fans: an action-packed double-header on the legendary Nordschleife awaits this coming weekend (September 12 and 13). As the onset of late summer settles over the Eifel forests, the competition heats up for races eight and nine. With the 65th ADAC Reinoldus Endurance Race on Saturday and the 66th ADAC ACAS Cup on Sunday, drivers face two four-hour races that could prove decisive in the battle for the title. Tickets for this motorsport festival start at 25 euros per day and are available at VLN.de/tickets; admission is free for youths up to and including the age of 14. Those unable to experience the double-header action live at the track can follow the events via the free livestream on VLN.de, starting at 8:15 a.m. on both days (with races kicking off at 12:00 p.m.).
Dutch driver Loek Hartog is at the heart of the most emotional story in the paddock. Just a few days ago, the 23-year-old became an internationally acclaimed hero during a China GT race in Shanghai. When rival Ollie Millroy’s car burst into flames following a crash, Hartog didn’t hesitate for a second; he stopped at the scene, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and helped pull the injured Briton from the burning wreckage. Following that courageous rescue, the Dutchman is now turning his focus back to racing. This weekend in the Eifel region, Hartog is competing for Team Dinamic GT, sharing the cockpit of the No. 54 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Danish driver Michael Klitgaard Christensen.
Big Names and Raw Power in the Fight for Overall Victory
The entry list for the championship’s final sprint is exceptionally strong and diverse, featuring 136 registered vehicles from 14 different brands. Spectators can expect an incredibly tight level of competition, particularly in the top categories: the 22 thoroughbred GT3 machines in the SP9 class are joined by four high-caliber vehicles from the AT 1 class for alternative fuels. Since these operate at the same level in terms of technology and lap times, the number of contenders for overall victory rises to 26 vehicles. The premier class boasts immense brand diversity, with seven manufacturers—Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Ford, and Lamborghini—battling for the overall win in the Eifel. The field is packed with top-tier talent: alongside Schubert Motorsport (BMW M4 GT3 EVO) and the Haupt Racing Team with the Ford Mustang GT3, Team KCMG is mounting a challenge in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 featuring Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi. They are joined by leading teams such as Falken Motorsports and Dinamic GT (Porsche), Walkenhorst and PROsport (Aston Martin), and Renazzo Motorsport, which is fielding a Lamborghini. Max Kruse Racing adds further excitement to the mix: the team led by the former national football player is not only bringing a VW Golf GTI for the footballer himself but is also entering three Audi R8 LMS GT3s in the AT 1 class.
Double the points at stake: The title battle intensifies
With two races taking place in quick succession, there is a great deal at stake for the title contenders this weekend—especially since this season’s standings count every race without any dropped results, meaning every single point matters in the championship fight. Leading the overall standings with 79 points is the trio of Edoardo Bugane, Yannick Fübrich, and Sven Markert. Competing for the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels in the BMW M240i Racing Cup, these three drivers have maintained a flawless record in their class so far, winning every race of the season to date. Their closest rivals, sitting in second place with 64 points, are Alexander Fielenbach and Oskar Sandberg, who race a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS for Smyrlis Racing. Although the duo has fallen behind after suffering a costly DNF earlier this year, they remain poised to seize any opportunity that arises. Close behind in third place, with 56 points, is the PROsport racing trio of Anton Abée, Yannik Himmels, and Jörg Viebahn (Mercedes-AMG GT4).
Schubert Motorsport is setting the pace in the prestigious NLS Speed Trophy, commanding a significant lead with 121 points in their BMW M4 GT3 Evo ahead of the 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON squad (Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo), who have 75 points to their name. The Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol currently holds third place with 60 points in their Mercedes-AMG GT3. Fierce competition is also unfolding among the up-and-coming talents in the Junior Trophy: Raphael Rennhofer (Team LIQUI MOLY by BLACK FALCON, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) has pulled slightly ahead with 55 points, distancing himself from Tim Lukas Müller—who has 45 points but has ended his season early. A chasing pack is forming behind them, with Ryan Harrison, Leon Wassertheurer, and Santiago Baztarrica all tied on 40 points. However, since Harrison and Wassertheurer share the cockpit of the Cup Porsche directly with leader Rennhofer, they cannot gain points on him in a head-to-head battle. Santiago Baztarrica (Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, BMW M2 Racing) is therefore best positioned to mount a comeback: as the only chaser who is actively driving, the Argentine has the opportunity to independently gain ground in the title fight during the double-header.
Tickets cost 25 euros per day (admission is free for children up to and including age 14) and are available at VLN.de/tickets as well as at the box office on race days. The ticket includes unrestricted access to the open grandstands on the Grand Prix circuit, the popular spectator areas at Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, and the paddock, pit lane, and starting grid.
The schedule promises action-packed Nordschleife racing on both days. Qualifying sessions take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings, running from 08:30 to 10:00 on each day. Afterwards, fans have a fantastic opportunity to see the fascinating race cars and their drivers up close during the pit walk in the pit lane (starting at 10:20 a.m.) and the subsequent grid walk on the starting grid (starting at 11:10 a.m.). Both four-hour races will start promptly at 12:00 p.m. on both days. Those unable to watch the spectacle in person can tune in to the official livestream on VLN.de starting at 8:15 a.m. or follow the dramatic action via “Radio Nürburgring” on rpr1.de and the RPR1 app.
