The 2026 24 Hours of Nurburgring is about to function a really particular journey by time. As Timo Glock heads into the “Inexperienced Hell” this 12 months, he is not simply bringing the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo again to the Nordschleife with Dorr Motorsport – he’s doing so in a livery that’s making followers’ hearts race worldwide.
Sporting the Bitburger design, Dorr is paying tribute to the Benetton B195, the legendary automobile by which Michael Schumacher clinched his second Components 1 world championship title in 1995. This livery additionally recollects Schumacher’s unforgettable race on the Nurburgring that very same 12 months, that includes his daring late-race overtake on Jean Alesi.
For Glock, this challenge is excess of only a visible gimmick; it’s a profound tribute to his idol. “It seemed wonderful and emotional in photographs, however seeing it stay right here, attending to put on this unbelievable go well with, and having Michael’s unique automobile standing proper there—it’s pure emotion,” the previous Components 1 pilot stated, describing his emotions.
Glock adopted Schumacher’s profession on tv as a younger boy. The truth that the challenge was realized with the specific assist of the Schumacher household and the Maintain Preventing Basis provides an additional layer of significance.
Glock sees it as a technique to give one thing again to the person who triggered the motorsport growth in Germany, laying the muse for the careers of lots of at present’s racing drivers.
The challenge’s origin story was marked by hurdles and immense effort. The concept was born again in December throughout a dialog between Glock and his long-time good friend Carsten Schwinn. As Motorsport.com Germany has realized, the challenge was initially deliberate with a Mercedes-AMG workforce.
#69 Dorr Motorsport, McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Timo Scheider, Timo Glock, Ben Dorr, Marvin Kirchhofer
Photograph by: Dörr Group
Initially, Glock and Schwinn supposed to cooperate with Kenny Habul’s 75 Categorical Racing workforce. Habul had deliberate to contest your entire Intercontinental GT Problem however withdrew attributable to security considerations.
This stemmed from his critical accident at Raidillon in the course of the 24 Hours of Spa in 2023. This sudden withdrawal left Glock with out a automobile simply three weeks earlier than the 24h Qualifiers.
On this precarious state of affairs, the construction of Dorr Motorsport proved to be a decisive benefit. As a family-run enterprise, the workforce may react rather more flexibly than a standard manufacturing unit workforce. Your complete program was reorganised in document time.
This reshuffling led to veteran Volker Strycek stepping down from the SP9 cockpit to make room, now competing in an Opel Corsa and the Posavac-Z4, thus clearing the best way for Glock within the McLaren. “We’d by no means have managed this in time with a manufacturing unit workforce,” Glock admitted.
Now, Dorr Motorsport faces the huge problem of tackling the endurance traditional with minimal preparation. The race is receiving unprecedented visibility this 12 months, aided by the presence of Components 1 world champion Max Verstappen.
Technical preparation has been extraordinarily condensed. Glock himself admitted to having solely three laps of expertise within the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. His team-mate Timo Scheider and McLaren manufacturing unit driver Marvin Kirchhofer have even fewer kilometers behind the wheel.
#69 Dorr Motorsport, McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Timo Scheider, Timo Glock, Ben Dorr, Marvin Kirchhofer
Photograph by: Dörr Group
Solely Ben Dorr can draw on a bit extra expertise from Nordschleife outings in 2024. However, confidence stays excessive because the automobile has confirmed dependable thus far.
Regardless of the euphoria, a risk hangs over Glock’s entry. After an incident in a Code 60 zone in the course of the Qualifiers, he already has two penalty factors on his account. Three factors would result in the lack of his Nordschleife License (DMSB Allow Nordschleife).
Learn Additionally:
Glock defined that he missed a marshal on the fringe of the woods within the Metzgesfeld part as a result of the put up was positioned in a really tough spot to see. “You by no means actually lookup there,” the DTM driver famous.
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
