Max Verstappen Dominates Nordschleife in ADAC Barbarossapreis
Max Verstappen has proven his racing prowess on one of the most challenging tracks in the world, the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The Dutch driver secured a commanding overall win at the 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis alongside AMG factory drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon. Together, they steered their #3 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to victory, setting a new benchmark for the SP9 Pro field.
The race was a testament to the team’s strategy and driving skill. After an intense first stint, the AMG remained untouchable for the rest of the competition. Despite starting from pole position, Verstappen faced a formidable challenge from Christopher Haase in the #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi. Haase managed to overtake Verstappen at the end of the first lap, sparking a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle that kept fans engaged throughout.
Verstappen eventually reclaimed the lead with a calculated move just before handing the car over to Juncadella. The lead fluctuated briefly during the first pit stop, as the #16 Audi took an advantage due to more efficient service. However, Nico Hantke, who was making only his second ever GT3 appearance on the Nordschleife, struggled against the aggressive moves of Juncadella.
Later in the race, the #99 Rowe BMW of Dan Harper and Max Hesse emerged as a different threat. Due to a shorter opening stint, Harper was able to capitalize on a quicker mandatory pit stop, temporarily taking the lead from Jules Gounon. Although the BMW’s time advantage would have balanced out by the final stop, the two factory drivers engaged in a genuine battle for track position.
The duel ended abruptly when Harper misjudged a move on a lapped Porsche Cayman, resulting in a collision that earned the BMW a penalty lap. While the race strategy made it clear that this wasn’t a “real” battle, the incident highlighted the intensity of the competition.
Verstappen, who aimed to gain experience in pit stops, returned to the cockpit for the final stint. With the victory secured, he used the clear air to refine his pace, extending the gap to one minute. He crossed the finish line with a 59.524-second lead over the #99 BMW.
This dominant performance solidified the Winward-AMG crew as early favorites for the upcoming 24-hour race later this spring.
Flawless Debut for the BMW M3 Touring 24h
Behind the #99 Rowe BMW, the #44 Falken Porsche of Tim Heinemann and Sven Muller claimed a spot on the podium after a four-way battle. Heinemann held off Dylan Pereira, who, along with Tobias Muller and Patrick Assenheimer, provided the 48 Losch Motorsport by Black Falcon team with a sensational debut in the SP9 class. The #45 Realize by Kondo Racing Ferrari of David Perel, Thierry Vermeulen, and Thomas Neubauer finished in third, followed by the #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin with Christian Krognes and Mattia Drudi behind the wheel.
In other categories, the #81 BMW M3 Touring 24h, competing in the SP-X class, delivered a flawless race debut. It finished in P13, defeating 13 GT3 cars in the process.
Upcoming Events
The next NLS race, the 57th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, is scheduled for April 11th. There is potential for another appearance by Max Verstappen, thanks to the cancellation of F1 races in the Middle East.
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