Verstappen & Winward-AMG Dominate NLS2 Nordschleife

Verstappen Masters Nordschleife in Dominant Barbarossapreis Victory

Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen has seamlessly transitioned his track prowess to the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, clinching a commanding overall victory at the 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis. Teaming up with formidable AMG factory drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, Verstappen piloted the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a dominant performance that has set a new benchmark for the highly competitive SP9 Pro class. While the opening stint presented a world-class battle, the AMG machine proved virtually untouchable for the remainder of the gruelling race.

The race began with Verstappen starting from pole position, a familiar vantage point for the Dutchman. However, his early dominance was met with fierce resistance from Christopher Haase, who, in the #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi, matched Verstappen’s pace throughout the initial laps. Haase even managed to snatch the lead from Verstappen by the end of the very first lap, igniting a thrilling multi-lap, wheel-to-wheel duel that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Verstappen, demonstrating his exceptional race craft, eventually fought back and reclaimed the lead with a decisive manoeuvre just before handing the reins over to Juncadella.

The lead briefly changed hands again during the initial pit stop cycle. The #16 Audi emerged ahead thanks to a slightly more efficient pit stop. However, Nico Hantke, facing a steep learning curve in only his second GT3 appearance on the Nordschleife, was unable to fend off a charging Juncadella, who quickly reasserted the Winward Racing team’s advantage.

As the race progressed, a new challenger emerged in the form of the #99 Rowe BMW, driven by Dan Harper and Max Hesse. Leveraging a shorter opening stint, Harper was able to capitalise on a reduced mandatory pit stop time, temporarily placing him ahead of Jules Gounon. While the BMW’s strategic advantage would have mathematically equalised at the final pit stop, the two factory drivers engaged in a genuine battle for track position, trading paint in a captivating display of racing skill.

This intense duel was brought to an abrupt end when Harper misjudged a manoeuvre while navigating a slower Porsche Cayman. The ensuing collision resulted in a penalty lap for the BMW. However, given the differing pit stop strategies employed by the teams, it’s debatable whether this would have evolved into a truly decisive battle for the lead anyway.

Verstappen, whose primary objective for the race was to gain valuable experience with the pit stop procedures, returned to the cockpit for the final stint. With the victory all but secured, the Dutchman used the clear track ahead to further hone his pace, meticulously extending the gap to his rivals. He ultimately crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of 59.524 seconds over the second-placed #99 BMW, a testament to the car’s and driver’s exceptional performance.

This dominant display has firmly established the Winward-AMG crew as early frontrunners and strong contenders for the prestigious 24-hour race scheduled for later in the spring.

A Flawless Debut for the BMW M3 Touring 24h

The battle for the final podium spot was a fierce four-way affair, ultimately won by the #44 Falken Porsche, driven by Tim Heinemann and Sven Müller. Heinemann successfully held off a hard-charging Dylan Pereira, who, alongside Tobias Müller and Patrick Assenheimer, delivered a sensational debut for the 48 Losch Motorsport by Black Falcon team in the SP9 class. Following closely behind were the #45 Realize by Kondo Racing Ferrari, piloted by David Perel, Thierry Vermeulen, and Thomas Neubauer, and the #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin, with Christian Krognes and Mattia Drudi at the helm.

In an impressive display of performance and reliability, the #81 BMW M3 Touring 24h, competing in the SP-X class, achieved a remarkable 13th overall position in its flawless race debut. This outstanding result saw it finish ahead of no fewer than 13 more powerful GT3-specification cars, highlighting the potential of this new machine.

The next event on the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) calendar is the 57th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, slated for April 11th. With the cancellation of several Formula 1 races in the Middle East, there’s a strong possibility of Max Verstappen making another appearance at the Nordschleife, much to the delight of motorsport enthusiasts.