+ IGTC leaders Engel, Martin and Grenier split between Winward and PROsport
+ Verstappen headlines event’s record SP9 entry
+ IGTC entry list: ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring
The 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge ramps up a notch next weekend at the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring where 26 of the 41 SP9 (GT3) entries are eligible to score IGTC points.
SRO’s globe-trotting GT3 series makes its third appearance at the Nordschleife after first visiting in 2024. This season’s edition follows Mercedes-AMG’s victory at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in February, and also represents the first of two twice-around-the-clock GT3 races in a little over one month. The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa follows at the end of June.
Make no mistake: this is the most hotly anticipated GT3 race in recent history – and possibly ever – thanks to the buzz surrounding Max Verstappen’s participation. That alone does not fully explain the record number of SP9 entries, nor the most cars overall (161) since 2014. But there is no doubt the four-time FIA Formula 1 World Champion’s presence has increased interest significantly.
The Green Hell’s showpiece event poses a very different test to anything else, anywhere. 23 classes, significant speed discrepancies between categories, no Safety Cars, 300,000 spectators and a circuit as legendary as it is long makes 24h Nürburgring a spectacle like no other in world motorsport.
No wonder Max is so keen to be a part of it.
Five of Intercontinental’s six manufacturers are represented this year. Porsches account for half of the 26 eligible points scorers, championship leaders Mercedes-AMG boast six, BMW and Ford both have three, and Ferrari just the one. There’s also a single IGTC Independent Cup entrant, Kerong Li, whose High Class Racing squad sensationally finished second overall at Bathurst.
Mercedes-AMG | 6x GT3 | IGTC points: 33
IGTC’s early championship leaders are always ‘all in’ at the Nordschleife. This year, though, the hype has been turned up to eleven thanks to Verstappen who shares the first of two Winward-run factory cars with former IGTC champions Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, as well as Lucas Auer.
Verstappen’s comparative lack of Nürburgring experience mattered little during his NLS outings earlier this year. Navigating a busy Nordschleife at night will, however, present a new set of challenges for the Flying Dutchman.
The other side of Winward’s garage – known as Team Ravenol – has no such concerns thanks to four works drivers with vast knowledge of the event. Maro Engel – who was part of Mercedes-AMG’s last Nürburgring-winning crew in 2016 – is reunited with fellow Bathurst victor and early IGTC championship leader Maxime Martin in an entry also boasting Luca Stolz and Fabian Schiller. Sure, it won’t generate as many pre-race headlines, but this combination presents a considerable threat regardless.
IGTC’s other championship leader, Mikaël Grenier, shares the PROsport entry with Adam Christodoulou who partnered Engel in 2016, while KCMGs quartet boasts two former winners in the shape of Jesse Krohn (2025) and David Pittard (2023). Their car is already guaranteed a spot in Top Qualifying 3 thanks to results at the 24h Qualifiers.
Porsche | 13x 911 GT3 R Evo | IGTC points: 28
Packing this many entries – six of which comprise Pro driver combinations – perhaps makes Porsche pre-race favourites. But it’s also worth remembering that its last seven 24h Nürburgring wins have all come via one team: Manthey Racing. Its iconic Grello 911 returns one year on from taking pole position and narrowly missing out on victory with the same trio of Kevin Estre, Ayhancan Güven and Thomas Preining that also finished second in 2024.
Dinamic GT brings two strong line-ups, half of which finished on the overall podium last season. But for pure star quality outside of Manthey it’s tough to look beyond the #24 PK Motorsport / Lionspeed GP combination of Laurens Vanthoor, Laurin Heinrich and Ricardo Feller who won this race with Audi just two years ago.
There’s also factory stars galore split across the Falken and Dunlop Motorsport entries, both of which are run by Schnabl Engineering – a team with significant Nordschleife experience.
High Class Racing were not expected to feature amongst Bathurst’s overall front runners but scored the majority of Porsche’s IGTC points by finishing second overall there. That also earned Kerong Li his first Independent Cup win, a tally he could double on Sunday by dint of being the race’s only such class contender. He’s again joined by Aders Fjordbach, as well as reigning GT World Challenge Asia champion Ye Hongli and 911 ace Harry King.
BMW | 3x M4 GT3 Evo | IGTC points: 27
IGTC’s reigning champions made a steady start to their title defence at Bathurst but now have an opportunity to kick on at an event where the sole M4 excelled last year. Indeed, Raffaele Marciello’s battle with Estre for the lead and, ultimately, win became an instant N24 classic that might well be replayed next weekend.
Bavaria has banked on stability in its bid to claim a record extending 22nd 24h Nürburg-win. Three quarters of last year’s victorious ROWE Racing quartet – Marciello, Augusto Farfus and reigning IGTC champion Kelvin van der Linde – are joined by Jordan Pepper who previously proved his credentials with Lamborghini and Bentley. The team’s second car combines Dan Harper and Sheldon van der Linde with 2024 pole man Max Hesse and two-time race winner Dries Vanthoor, while Schubert’s Marco Wittmann, Philipp Eng, Charles Weerts and Robin Frijns complete the list of 12 factory stars split across three entries.
Marciello and Farfus occupy third in IGTC’s drivers’ standings, and a good result for them would also bring Van der Linde back into the title picture after the reigning champion failed to register in Australia. Top Qualifying 3 participation – and a guaranteed shot at pole position – was earned through the 24h Qualifiers, easing the pressure somewhat on Friday morning.
Ferrari | 1x 296 GT3 Evo | IGTC points: 10
BMW proved 13 months ago that a manufacturer with just one entry can not only survive 24h Nürburgring but also thrive. Now, Ferrari will be hoping that’s the case for them this year when the Rinaldi-run, Realize Kondo Racing-badged 296 GT3 Evo makes its event debut.
The car’s predecessor was always very capable on the Nordschleife. It did win, after all, in 2023 and started second last season before a late retirement ended hopes of a likely top four finish. Its 24h Qualifiers pace has already secured it a Top Qualifying 3 slot, so there’s every chance the Ferrari can at least match the front row starting slot Kondo/Rinaldi earned last year.
David Perel and Thomas Neubauer remain, but there’s also fresh – and fast – talent courtesy of Dennis Marschall and Thierry Vermeulen who won a GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS class title with Ferrari last season.
Ford | 3x Mustang GT3 Evo | IGTC points: 0
The Green Hell contains many things. Fortunately for Chris Mies, HRT and Ford, none of them look like a kangaroo…
The infamous incident that rooined the Blue Oval’s hopes down under will not be repeated next weekend when three works-prepared Mustangs tackle 24h Nürburgring. This event and the circuit has been a key pillar of Ford’s GT3 programme, but now it counts for something more in the form of IGTC points.
Its primary combination of Mies, Dennis Olsen, Fred Vervisch and Arjun Maini will fully expect to feature at the sharp end. But with two cars able to score manufacturers’ points, Ford is also counting on its other pro entry which, in David Schumacher’s hands, finished fifth overall in 2025.
Schumacher is also slated to drive the Pro-Am contender alongside Maini, Fabio Scherer and Frank Stippler who registered the last of his three wins just two years ago.
Top Qualifying explained
24h Nürburgring has updated its qualifying format this year.
The battle for overall pole begins in Top Qualifying 1, which is reserved for the 49 entries spread across SP9, SP-X, SP-PRO and AT1. The fastest 20 from this first session – minus the five cars that secured their Top Qualifying 3 place in April’s 24h Qualifiers – then progress to Top Qualifying 2 where just seven advance to the pole shootout.
Waiting for them in Top Qualifying 3 are the #45 Kondo/Rinaldi Ferrari, #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi, #47 KCMG Mercedes-AMG, #1 ROWE BMW, and #84 Red Bull Team Abt Lamborghini.
The 12 cars will each set off at 60-second intervals, with their fastest time across two laps determining the first six rows.
More broadly, there are still no practice sessions as such because grids for the other classes are set via Qualifying 1, 2 and 3.
ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring timetable
Wednesday 13 May
16:00 – 19:00: Adenauer Racing Day (parade)
Thursday 14 May
13:15 – 15:15: Qualifying 1
20:00 – 23:30: Qualifying 2 (all classes)
Friday 15 May
10:15 – 11:35: Top Qualifying 1 + 2
12:00 – 13:05: Qualifying 3 (excluding Top Qualifying entries)
13:35 – 14:35: Top Qualifying 3
Saturday 16 May
10:00 – 11:00: Warm up
15:00 – 15:00 +1: ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring
