Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen finished a remarkable seventh on his Nürburgring endurance racing debut after competing in the four-hour ADAC ACAS Cup race, held on the legendary Nordschleife circuit.
The Dutchman took on this challenge to obtain the specific DMSB Permit Nordschleife that allows him to compete in the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours – a goal he has been working towards with intense preparation.
Verstappen’s entry was in the CUP3 class, driving a detuned Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS with team Lionspeed GP alongside co-driver Chris Lulham.
Despite the steep learning curve, Verstappen achieved a commendable seventh-place finish in class, showcasing his adaptability and racecraft on one of the most challenging race tracks in the world.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, often dubbed the “Green Hell” by racing legend Jackie Stewart, is a 24-kilometer track with more than 170 corners. It requires supreme concentration, skill, and endurance from any driver.
The ADAC ACAS Cup race which is part of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) demanded sustained focus and consistency over four continuous hours, testing drivers against both the circuit’s physical demands and variable weather conditions, making it a true test of his skills outside single-seater racing.
The race commenced with Verstappen starting from sixth in the CUP3 field after a remarkable qualifying performance under wet conditions where he posted a lap time of 10:21.591.
While the Red Bull star qualified approximately 15 seconds off the quickest time in class, he was staggeringly more than a minute faster than the next closest competitor in CUP3.
This was particularly notable given that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 he drove was detuned from its usual 425 horsepower to about 300 horsepower to comply with class restrictions, heightening the challenge of maintaining competitive pace.
The first hour of the race saw Max Verstappen quickly settle into a rhythm. Despite this being his first Nürburgring run in full race conditions, he demonstrated impressive pace and consistency.
The 27-year old driver skillfully navigated the intricate corners and elevation changes, managing tyre wear and fuel consumption efficiently. His performance was a testament to his natural speed and ability to adapt quickly to the unique demands of endurance racing.
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With the drivers required to complete at least 14 laps safely and incident-free to secure their Nürburgring Nordschleife permit, Verstappen ensured that his stints were clean, avoiding any costly mistakes in the ever-challenging “Green Hell.”
As the race progressed into the second hour, Verstappen continued to maintain strong lap times while managing traffic from the diverse mix of cars on the grid, which ranged from high-powered GT3 machines to touring and cup cars.
Endurance racing at the Nürburgring is as much about strategy and patience as it is about outright speed, and Verstappen carefully balanced aggression with caution.
He also demonstrated effective communication with the team, providing valuable feedback on car performance and track conditions to optimize setup and strategy.
The Porsche Cayman #980 he piloted sustained relentless abuse from the track’s brutal surfaces, but the car’s reliability combined with Verstappen’s measured driving allowed them to maintain their position within the top ten of the class.
Additionally, Verstappen’s stint was characterized by clean overtakes and efficient lap times that extended the gap to the cars behind him, reinforcing his dominance within the CUP3 field despite being a newcomer.
His steady performance and teamwork throughout the race culminated in a respectable seventh-place finish in the CUP3 class and 27th overall in a highly competitive and crowded field of 19 entries.
The successful completion of the race and his on-track discipline earned him the coveted DMSB Grade B Nordschleife permit, a crucial milestone towards participating in the famous Nürburgring 24-hour race in the future.
Prior to the race, Verstappen engaged in extensive simulator sessions and underwent a secret test where he reportedly broke an unofficial GT3 lap record while driving under a pseudonym.
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