The 50th running of the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring got off to an atmospheric start on Wednesday: in early-summer conditions, the long-standing Adenauer Racing Day attracted numerous fans who welcomed the Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams. On Thursday, the on-track action got underway with a good first qualifying in which the AMG teams used the opportunity to prepare for the endurance racing classic. In the process, Luca Stolz (GER) with the #12 Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN entry posted the third-fastest lap time. The starting grid order for the season highlight will be decided in Top Qualifying 2 on Friday evening. Four Mercedes-AMG GT3 have already secured their slots for this session.
- Atmospheric start for the 24-hour race during Adenauer Racing Day
- A good start for Mercedes-AMG in first qualifying
- Four Mercedes-AMG GT3 already present in decisive Top Qualifying 2
Following a two-year Covid-19 break, the Adenauer Racing Day was a first emotional highlight of the race weekend for the fans and for the Mercedes-AMG crews alike. Several thousands of visitors lined the main street of the racing city at the ‘Ring and celebrated the teams taking part in the 24h race. During the prologue, next to a selection of the participating Mercedes-AMG GT3s, the actual winning car of the race in 2016 drove through the row of the fans. The homage to the historic quadruple success from six years ago underlines the high ambitions of the performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach. During the race weekend, the car is on display at the ring°boulevard of the Nürburgring where a first autograph session of the AMG drivers was held on Thursday and proved to be highly popular among the visitors.
The battle for the prestigious overall win got underway with a successful first qualifying on Thursday. During the 90-minute session, teams with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 presented themselves in a good form. In ideal weather and track conditions, the drivers had ample opportunity to get accustomed to the approximately 25 kilometres long combination of the Grand Prix track and the Nordschleife. Luca Stolz posted the third-fastest time of the 137 participants in total: he drove the #12 Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN to a time of in 8m 18.599s. With the #4 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed entry, Maro Engel (GER) was classified fifth with a time of 8m 19.300s.
The next session has been scheduled for 8.30-11.30pm tonight during second qualifying. For the starting grid order of the race, Top Qualifying 2 on Friday evening is decisive. Four Mercedes-AMG GT3s have already secured their slots for this session, the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed car, the #6 and the #12 Mercedes-AMG Team Bilstein car and the #34 Schnitzelalm Racing entry.
Raffaele Marciello, Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN #12: “That was a good start of the race weekend for us. We have strong opponents and we are particularly well prepared to take on the challenge.”
Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #4: “For me, this is the most beautiful and most important race of the year. We have a really good car and a very good team. These are the elements to achieve a good result. Nothing would make me happier than victory. But we are taking it step by step and we hope to be right up at the front in the end.”
Maximilian Götz, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #3: “The Adenauer Racing Day was very emotional. I was so happy to see the fans back again here. We really missed that in the past years. There was more action than ever before. Yesterday, I still had the chance to ride a bike around the Nordschleife. There, the atmosphere is spectacular, too. The 50th running is a highlight, everybody wants to win, of course, and we are particularly committed.”
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #4: “Being back here again is great, experiencing the Nordschleife and seeing the many spectators, this very special atmosphere. We are really happy to have a large crowd again for this year’s race. In Q1, our car was running well. Now, the most important thing for us is to find a good balance in the car.”
Nico Bastian, Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN #6: “It is twice as much fun because the spectators are back. The atmosphere in the paddock and especially yesterday during the Adenauer Racing Day is so much better. I am expecting a thrilling race.”
Philip Ellis, Mercedes-AMG Team BILSTEIN #12: “We have a very strong car and expectations are high. Everyone has worked hard and is highly motivated. We are looking forward to the race and want to be in contention for the win. The impressions during qualifying were already unique: it is nice to see so many people along the track now already.”
