Strong Grid and Difficult Conditions
The latest round of the GT World Challenge Europe took place at the Nürburgring GP Circuit. A total of 61 cars entered the three hour endurance race.
Qualifying took place under slightly damp conditions. Team WRT and ROWE Racing secured a BMW front row lockout.
However, the number 32 WRT BMW received a five place grid penalty. The sanction followed contact with the GetSpeedMercedes driven by Jules Gounon. ROWE Racing therefore inherited pole position.
Action Packed Opening Laps
The race immediately delivered intense action. Ayhancan Güven made an excellent start in the Schumacher CLRTPorsche. He climbed to second place through the Mercedes Arena section.
Nicki Thiim also impressed in his Aston Martin. He briefly led during the opening lap before settling into fourth position.
After ten minutes, the first Full Course Yellow and Safety Car appeared. The neutralization followed contact between the Attempto Racing Audi and the number 991 Paradine BMW driven by Darren Leung.
Strategy and Strong Recovery Drives
One of the standout performances came from Luca Stolz. Starting from the pit lane, he charged into the top 30 within one hour. His recovery meant he overtook nearly half the field during the opening stint.
Pit strategy soon became decisive. The number 007 ComtoYou Racing Aston Martin gained the lead through an effective undercut strategy.
During the second stint, the Aston Martin created a comfortable gap at the front. Strong pace also came from the HRTFord Mustang driven by Jann Mardenborough. The car demonstrated impressive speed throughout the middle phase.
Late FCY Changes the Race
Another major moment arrived during the second pit stop cycle. A collision caused by the Nordique Mercedes triggered another Full Course Yellow near the Schumacher S section.
The timing benefited teams choosing a later pit strategy. ROWE BMW, Winward Racing Mercedes, and the HRT Ford gained valuable track position.
Once the final stint began, ROWE Racing controlled the race from the front. The BMW squad steadily extended its advantage and avoided mistakes.
Post Race Penalty Alters the Podium
ROWE Racing eventually secured victory and celebrated its first GT World Challenge win on German soil. The result marked an important milestone for the team and BMW.
Second place went to the Mann Filter Mercedes entry. The Rutronik Racing Porsche inherited third after a post race penalty for the HRT Ford.
The Ford Mustang driven by Arjun Maini and Jann Mardenborough received a penalty for a Full Course Yellow infringement.
Nürburgring Delivers Another Memorable GTWC Race
The Nürburgring round once again highlighted the unpredictability of GT endurance racing. Strategy, penalties, and changing conditions shaped the outcome from start to finish.
ROWE Racing emerged victorious after a composed performance, while several manufacturers showed strong pace ahead of the next GT World Challenge event.
Photos: ©Niklas Husmann