Everything you need to know about F1 star Max Verstappen’s NLS race at Nordschleife

4-time Method 1 champion Max Verstappen will contest the second spherical of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) on Saturday 21 March.

He will likely be driving the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered by Winward beneath the Verstappen Racing banner and can share the automobile with GT3 specialists Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon. Each drivers are representing Verstappen Racing within the GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup this yr.

The 2026 NLS season was initially scheduled to kick off on March 14, however gentle snow and freezing temperatures led to the race being cancelled. The season is now set to get underway with NLS2 – formally titled the 58th ADAC Barbarossa Prize – with forecast of 12 levels and sunshine on Saturday.

However what’s the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, who’s competing, and the place are you able to watch the race stay? Motorsport.com has compiled a very powerful data.

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 that Max Verstappen will drive in NLS2 and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

What’s the NLS?

The Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, higher often called NLS, is a long-distance championship consisting of 10 races. Every race takes place on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Nonetheless, the structure differs from that used in the course of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, one of many highlights of long-distance racing. 

Within the NLS, the so-called ‚Mercedes-Enviornment‘ and the ‚Motorcycle-Chicane‘ are used, earlier than continuing to the Nordschleife part. Thus, all the grand prix circuit will not be utilised, as is the case in the course of the Nurburgring 24 Hours. The NLS structure is thus 24.358 kilometres lengthy, whereas the 24H structure is 25.378 kilometres.

As well as, the length of the NLS races fluctuate. Most rounds, together with this weekend’s NLS2, final 4 hours, however the seventh spherical of the championship, which takes place on August 1, lasts six hours. The Nurburgring 24 Hours will not be a part of the NLS calendar: it’s a race that stands extra by itself, however does play a outstanding function throughout the Intercontinental GT Problem (IGTC).

The NLS is taken into account good preparation for the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

Many producers and groups view the NLS nearly as good preparation for the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. Consequently, NLS races main as much as the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring usually have full entry lists, whereas NLS races following the spotlight of the calendar have a tendency to draw much less curiosity.

In races on the Nordschleife, which incorporates the NLS, drivers should additionally take particular security guidelines into consideration. Underneath a double yellow flag, drivers could drive at a most of 120km/h, and such a zone could also be adopted by a so-called Code 60 zone, the place the pace restrict is 60km/h. Anybody who violates these guidelines dangers dropping their license and should then undergo the method of acquiring a license as soon as once more.

When are you able to take part within the NLS?

The Nurburgring-Nordschleife is called the “Inexperienced Hell” and, for a number of causes, presents a singular problem for drivers wishing to compete within the races. Nobody escapes the stricter guidelines that apply to racing within the Eifel — not even Verstappen.

Anybody who needs to race in NLS should register for the racing course on the circuit. First, a web based questionnaire should be accomplished. As soon as that is completed, drivers obtain a form of refresher course on-site in a classroom, the place the particular guidelines for the endurance races on the Nurburgring are reviewed.

That is adopted by a bus tour of the circuit, stopping at a number of factors so the observe might be studied in additional element. After the speculation comes the follow, throughout which drivers comply with an teacher and take turns altering positions within the line. A very powerful data is then reviewed, after which the tempo is progressively elevated.

As soon as these reconnaissance laps are full, college students say goodbye to their teacher and should full eight full laps on their very own with one objective: to remain out of bother. Lap occasions aren’t but related at this stage. Those that succeed on this obtain Allow B. They’re then allowed to race in much less highly effective automobiles. As soon as at the least seven trouble-free laps have been accomplished in a single NLS race, the motive force turns into eligible for Allow A and should race within the prime class — the SP9 class with GT3s.

Who’re Max Verstappen’s team-mates?

Verstappen will likely be teaming up with Juncadella and Gounon in NLS2, with Lucas Auer set to hitch the trio on the Nurburgring 24 Hours later in Might.

Juncadella initially started his profession in single-seaters and even joined Drive India as a reserve driver after successful the F3 Euro Collection with Prema. Nonetheless, he made a quantity for himself in sportscar racing whereas driving for reputed manufacturers like Mercedes and Corvette. His profession highlights embrace successful the 2022 GT World Problem Europe with Gounon and Raffaele Marciello, in addition to an total victory on the Spa 24 Hours with the identical team-mates. In 2026, he’ll step as much as the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship with Genesis.

Gounon left single-seaters comparatively early in his profession and loved loads of success in sportscars, initially with Bentley and in a while with Mercedes. The Frenchman shares the report for the joint most wins at Bathurst 12 Hour with three successes, whereas he additionally triumphed on the fabled Spa 24 Hours twice. With titles in GT World Problem Europe and ADAC GT Masters, he’s thought-about one of the achieved GT drivers of his technology. Gounon has additionally gained expertise in prototype equipment and is about to contest his second Hypercar marketing campaign with Alpine this yr.

Who’s competing in NLS2?

The principle focus in NLS2 is on Verstappen. Final yr, the 28-year-old Dutchman made his debut in a Ferrari 296 GT3 beneath the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” throughout a check day on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife.

Later that yr, he competed in his first NLS race, driving a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. This allowed him to earn his license to race GT3s. He returned not lengthy after to race the Ferrari 296 GT3 and received instantly with team-mate Chris Lulham, though the GT3 area had thinned out significantly and there have been few severe opponents.

That will likely be completely different in NLS2, regardless of a number of drivers contesting the clashing Sebring 12 Hours IMSA enduro.

Many producers and groups are fielding robust line-ups at NLS2, and no fewer than 26 GT3 automobiles are competing within the SP9 class. Verstappen, alongside Juncadella and Gounon, will face off in opposition to, amongst others, the #80 Mercedes-AMG Crew Ravenol, the place Fabian Schiller and Maxime Martin — two Nordschleife specialists — share the cockpit.

The NLS championship options the cream of the GT3 world.

Photograph by: Julian Schmidt

As well as, Rowe Racing will area two robust BMW M4 GT3s with begin numbers 98 and 99. The #98 will likely be pushed by Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, and Sheldon Van Der Linde — a line-up that, based mostly on pace and expertise, is taken into account one of many favourites for the general victory. The #99, with Jordan Pepper and Dan Harper, may even give Verstappen a run for his cash.

There may even be robust competitors from Italy within the type of Pink Bull Crew Abt, which is competing with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO II bearing begin quantity 130. This automobile will likely be pushed by a top-tier line-up consisting of DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti, Nordschleife knowledgeable Marco Mapelli, Luca Engstler and Patric Niederhauser.

Learn extra:

The Porsche groups are additionally historically robust. Falken and Dunlop Motorsport are fielding two 911 GT3 Rs, with Nico Menzel and Dorian Boccolacci within the #17 and Sven Muller and Tim Heinemann within the #44. As at all times, Porsche is taken into account a contender for the win.

The producer battle is rounded out by the brand new Aston Martin Vantage from Walkenhorst Motorsport, that includes report holder Christian Krognes (#34), the eye-catching Ford Mustang GT3s from Haupt Racing Crew (#64 and #65), and the Ferrari 296 GT3 from Kondo Racing with Rinaldi, pushed by Thierry Vermuelen. The Dutch DTM driver is supported by Verstappen Racing all through his profession, however this weekend he will likely be competing in opposition to that very workforce — and Verstappen himself.

Scherer Sport PHX, which depends on Audi, shouldn’t be underestimated both. For Verstappen, this implies he’ll should compete in opposition to absolutely the world elite in endurance racing.

Which lessons are competing?

The NLS championship is understood for its many alternative lessons. The highest class is the SP9, wherein GT3 automobiles compete. As well as, there’s the SP10 class, consisting of GT4 automobiles. The CUP2 class, that includes the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, can be among the many quickest classes within the NLS. Moreover, the entry record consists of the BMW M2 Racing, BMW M240i Racing Cup, VW Golf 8 GTI Clubsport, and BMW G81 M3 Touring 24H — simply to focus on the number of automobiles and classes.

Since 20 completely different lessons are competing — totalling 136 automobiles for NLS2 — there are three completely different beginning teams. First, the sector consisting of the SP9, SP10, SP7, SP-X, CUP2, AT1, and AT2 will likely be launched, comprising 56 automobiles. Shortly thereafter, the second beginning group follows with 43 contributors from the SP4, SP3T, BMW M240i, BMW M2, TCR, CUP3, and SP4T lessons. Lastly, the remaining 37 automobiles are allowed to begin. These embrace the V6, V5, VT2-F+4WD, VT2-RWD, SP2T, and BMW 325i.

Why are there completely different classes throughout the GT3 class?

To maintain the taking part in area degree, there are three completely different sub-categories within the SP9 class that includes GT3 automobiles: Professional, Professional/Am, and Am. For these calculations, the NLS makes use of the FIA classification system.

Drivers who want to compete in these kind of championships should apply for such a licence from the FIA, and based mostly on sure necessities, drivers are divided into the classes platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. As an F1 driver, Verstappen holds the tremendous licence and due to this fact mechanically falls beneath platinum. This ends in a score of 4 within the NLS championship. 

The Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 falls beneath the Professional class in NLS.

Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz

If the common score of the drivers in a single GT3 automobile exceeds 2.4, that workforce falls into the Professional class — absolutely the prime tier on the Nordschleife. With a mean of precisely 2.4 or decrease, a workforce falls beneath Professional-Am. The AM class is for groups with a mean score of 1.35 or decrease — usually reserved for groups with silver and bronze drivers.

Verstappen’s workforce competes within the Professional class, which contains a complete of 13 automobiles. There are 9 automobiles within the Professional/Am class and 5 within the Am class throughout NLS2.

How can Verstappen race on the Nurburgring in the course of the F1 season?

Verstappen had already commonly expressed his ambition to compete within the Nurburgring 24 Hours. This yr, the celebs aligned for the Pink Bull F1 driver, because the enduro falls between the Miami and Canadian grands prix. Nonetheless, Verstappen additionally emphasised that he would solely take part if he may correctly put together for the race, so the thought of competing in an NLS race shortly got here up. 

The primary two races of the NLS season, nevertheless, coincided with the F1  races in China and Japan. Mercedes-AMG lobbied the NLS organisation to postpone the primary race by every week in order that Verstappen may nonetheless take part. That didn’t occur, however the NLS organisation recognised the constructive influence of Verstappen’s participation and determined, as a compromise, to maneuver NLS2 up by every week as an alternative. Consequently, NLS2 fell between the F1 races in China and Japan.

What does the schedule for NLS2 appear to be?

The NLS championship follows a normal schedule for many weekends. This entails a compact programme. Qualifying for NLS2 begins on Saturday, March 21, at 8:30 am and runs till 10:00 am. Followers in attendance can then benefit from the pit stroll from 10:20 am to 11:00 am, earlier than the automobiles head to the beginning grid at 11:00 am for the pre-race process. The race begins at 12:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Solely throughout NLS7 will the checkered flag be waved at 6:00 pm. All occasions are listed above are in CET. 

Date: 21 March (Saturday)

Race begin: 11:00am GMT / 12:00pm CET

The place are you able to watch NLS2 stay?

The second race of the NLS championship will likely be streamed stay on ADAC Motorsports’s YouTube channel with German and English commentary. Moreover, Verstappen’s sim racing workforce, Crew Redline, will likely be following the workforce’s efficiency stay by way of Twitch. 

We wish your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Crew