The Nordschleife makes its Intercontinental GT Challenge debut this weekend when 130 cars contest the 52nd ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
It’s a unique race that differs considerably to other IGTC and SRO events. So it’s worth knowing the basics before settling in…
First, the easy bit: all BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche GT3 cars are nominated to score IGTC points, just as they are elsewhere. Points are only scored at the end of the race, and only the top two finishers contribute towards their manufacturer’s total. Drivers’ points are scored per IGTC’s top 10.
Victory at Bathurst leaves Porsche on top of the IGTC standings heading into Round 2. Its Manthey squad is the most successful in Nurburgring 24 Hours history and last won here in 2021. BMW, meanwhile, is chasing a record extending 21st victory, but Mercedes-AMG is searching for its first since 2016.
So far, so SRO. But now for the N24 specifics…
Each car features three or four drivers, some of whom like Augusto Farfus, Adam Christodoulou and Arjun Maini are split across two entries.
All drivers must complete a minimum of 15 laps but cannot race for more than three hours continuously. There is no maximum stint length; instead, stints are limited by fuel, which tends to last nine or 10 laps.
But there are minimum pitstop times, which change depending on the class, how many laps have been completed and how many minutes remain before the finish. It’s very complicated!
There’s also no sole tyre supplier, and teams can use several slick compounds or wet tread patterns during the race. Indeed, these tyres are developed specifically for the Nordschleife. Each car may use up to 116 tyres during the week. That’s 29 sets.
There are no safety cars or FCY procedures. Instead, waved yellow flags and Code 60 zones manage speeds locally around the 20km-long track while cars are recovered and barriers repaired. This is therefore one of the few races where time cannot be recovered behind a safety car.
And then there are the race cars. 25 GT3s, which run in the SP9 class here, fight for overall victory, while GT4 – known as SP10 – is generally the second fastest class. The entry also features TCR, one-make classes and categories grouped by engine size. As such, the fastest and slowest lap times can differ by four minutes!
Qualifying is also different. The Top Qualifying session features 17 SP9 or SPX entries, 12 of which have already earned their place via the NLS Qualifiers. The final five slots are reserved for the fastest cars across Thursday and Friday’s three qualifying sessions.
Top Qualifying itself sees each car complete one warm-up lap from a standing start and then two flying laps. The 17 entries set off at 30-second intervals.