An general win on the Nurburgring 24 Hours isn’t solely some of the prestigious crowns in worldwide motorsport, however the 2026 version guarantees to be extra thrilling than ever. With greater than 40 automobiles entered, the GT3 discipline is bigger than it has ever been.
As Max Verstappen prepares to line up for the beginning of the race for the primary time, who’re the System 1 star’s main rivals within the hunt for victory? And which groups usually tend to be darkish horses? Our examine on among the favourites lining up for this 12 months’s race gives an evaluation of the hierarchy forward of the weekend.
We’ve restricted this evaluation to the 22 automobiles entered within the SP9 GT3 Professional class, which, on paper, boast the strongest driver lineups. The ranking relies on a scale of 1 to 5: from outsider to absolute high favorite.
The analysis considers the whole bundle: How briskly is the automotive? How a lot high quality and expertise does the workforce have on the Nordschleife? What’s the potential of the motive force lineup? And eventually: Which tyres are the groups working?
Tyres, specifically, may very well be a decisive issue. For years, Michelin has been the benchmark on the Nordschleife. Particularly within the predicted chilly or moist circumstances, the French producer’s tyres might maintain a bonus over the competitors.
Moreover, this evaluation refers solely to race probabilities. Previous occasions have repeatedly proven that a number of outsider groups may cause a shock in qualifying with a single quick driver. Nonetheless, for the general victory, a balanced mixture of quick pilots with enough Nordschleife expertise is important.
As at all times with editorial assessments: they can’t declare absolute objectivity and stay, to an extent, subjective. Listed below are the automobiles to be careful for within the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours.
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Rowe-BMW #1
Drivers: Farfus/Marciello/Pepper/Okay. van der LindeRating: 5.0 out of 5
The defending champions are among the many high favourites once more this 12 months, particularly since three of the 4 successful drivers from final 12 months stay on board.
Winward Mercedes #3
Drivers: Verstappen/Auer/Gounon/Juncadella)Ranking: 5.0 out of 5
The crew centred round Max Verstappen will probably be beneath extra scrutiny than another workforce and is anticipated to have a significant say within the combat for victory. The F1 star is second to none in terms of tempo in comparison with Nordschleife aces.
Konrad Lamborghini #7
Drivers: Paul/Lefterov/Stalidzane/Engelhardt)Ranking: 1.0 out of 5
The improve to the Evo2 model of the Lamborghini is definitely progress. Nonetheless, the motive force lineup has comparatively little GT3 expertise on the Nordschleife. A top-10 end can be successful.
Scherer-Phx Audi #16
Drivers: Haase/Sims/B. GreenRating: 4.6 out of 5
In 2026, the blue Audi should nonetheless be thought-about within the combat for the general win. Slight deductions are made as a result of Ben Inexperienced’s comparatively low Nordschleife expertise.
Dunlop Racing Porsche #17
Drivers: Picariello/Boccolacci/Menzel/AndlauerRating: 3.3 out of 5
The standard of the automotive, the operational workforce, and the drivers is past query. Nonetheless, the Dunlop tyres may very well be a drawback — particularly if it will get moist, which is sort of probably.
Lionspeed Porsche #24
Drivers: Heinrich/L. Vanthoor/FellerRating: 3.6 out of 5
Three lightning-fast manufacturing unit drivers in a Porsche — and but extra of a “darkish horse” than a high favorite. It’s because Lionspeed is competing for the general win on the Nordschleife for the primary time.
Prosport Mercedes #26
Drivers: Christodoulou/Grenier/Lulham/BockmannRating: 2.3 out of 5
A stable mixture of workforce, automotive, and drivers, however competing on this association on the 24h race for the primary time. Due to this fact, they’ve an out of doors likelihood.
Walkenhorst Aston Martin #34
Drivers: Krognes/Thiim/Drudi/Fernandez LaserRating: 3.0 out of 5
Walkenhorst remains to be ready for a significant breakthrough on the Nordschleife with the Aston Martin Vantage. The Pirelli tyres are a query mark right here, although the motive force lineup is top-tier.
Falken Porsche #44
Drivers: Heinemann/S. Muller/Schuring/Bachler)Ranking: 4.0 out of 5
The Falken squad has been a staple on the Nordschleife for years. Whereas a significant win remains to be lacking on the 24h race, the workforce should undoubtedly be counted among the many prolonged circle of favourites in 2026.
Kondo Ferrari #45
Drivers: Perel/Marschall/Vermeulen/NeubauerRating: 3.6 out of 5
A quick automotive with quick drivers that would trigger a shock, particularly in qualifying. However can the workforce preserve this stage over 24 hours?
KCMG Mercedes #47
Drivers: Fukuzumi/Krohn/Pittard/Gamou)Ranking: 2.3 out of 5
A high placement in qualifying is feasible right here as nicely. Nonetheless, the motive force lineup is just too unbalanced to intervene within the combat for the general win.
Dinamic Porsche #54
Drivers: Sturm/Christensen/Buus/HartogRating: 2.6 out of 5
Dinamic now possesses a whole lot of expertise on the Nordschleife, however the Pirelli tyres may very well be a limiting issue right here too.
Dinamic-Porsche #55
Drivers: Beretta/Ghiretti/Sturm/HartogRating: 1.6 out of 5
The second Dinamic Porsche seems barely weaker when it comes to drivers than its sister automotive and is subsequently more likely to have solely exterior likelihood this weekend.
HRT Ford #64
Drivers: Stippler/Maini/Scherer/SchumacherRating: 2.3 out of 5
With Frank Stippler, an absolute Nordschleife ace is within the automotive, however this Mustang crew is rated barely weaker than its sister automotive.
HRT Ford #67
Drivers: Olsen/Mies/Vervisch/StipplerRating: 3.3 out of 5
Primarily based on the motive force line-up alone, this Mustang is the Ford automotive with the perfect probabilities. The query mark is the Yokohama tyres, which may very well be at a drawback in comparison with the Michelin benchmark in chilly or damp circumstances.
Dorr McLaren #69
Drivers: Dorr/Kirchhofer/Glock/ScheiderRating: 1.6 out of 5
Actually a fan favorite as a result of livery and the 2 “Timos” (Glock and Scheider), the McLaren has not been a successful automotive on the Nordschleife up to now. The workforce additionally has considerably much less expertise there than lots of its opponents.
Schubert BMW #77
Drivers: Weerts/Wittmann/Eng/FrijnsRating: 4.3 out of 5
Basically a crew that belongs within the interior circle of favourites. In comparison with Rowe, nonetheless, we’re not giving full marks as a result of Yokohama tyres.
Winward Mercedes #80
Drivers: Engel/Schiller/Stolz/MartinRating: 5.0 out of 5
Quick automotive, quick drivers with Nordschleife expertise: The second Winward Mercedes can be a sizzling candidate for the general victory.
Abt Lamborghini #84
Drivers: Engstler/Bortolotti/NiederhauserRating: 3.6 out of 5
The profitable workforce from the Allgau area has usually been quick on the Nordschleife with the Huracan, however it hasn’t been sufficient for the large win but. A part of the prolonged circle of favourites.
Rowe BMW #99
Drivers: Harper/Hesse/S. van der Linde/D. Vanthoor)Ranking: 5.0 out of 5
4 manufacturing unit drivers, an skilled workforce, and a confirmed automotive: There isn’t any cause why the second Rowe BMW shouldn’t combat for the general win.
Abt Lamborghini #130
Drivers: Mapelli/Catsburg/YellolyRating: 3.6 out of 5
Just like the sister automotive, an general victory can be a shock — additionally as a result of, excluding 2023, the 24h race has lengthy been firmly within the grip of German producers.
Manthey Porsche #911 “Grello”
Drivers: Estre/Preining/GuvenRating: 5.0 out of 5
One of the vital profitable Nordschleife groups, a quick automotive, and three drivers past any doubt. “Grello” stays among the many narrowest circle of contenders for the general win in 2026.
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