Fresh off his commanding victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is set to make his GT3 racing debut this weekend in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) on the iconic Nordschleife.
The Red Bull charger will take to the daunting circuit at the wheel of an Emil Frey Ferrari 296 alongside teammate Chris Lulham in Saturday’s four-hour race, marking a significant milestone in his motorsport journey.
Verstappen’s move to GT3 racing follows his recent outing in a Porsche Cayman GT4 two weeks ago, where he earned the specialized license required to compete in GT3 machinery at the notoriously demanding Nordschleife.
The four-time F1 world champion is no stranger to the track, having tested a Ferrari 296 there in May, reportedly setting an unofficial lap record. Now, with the license in hand, Verstappen is poised to chase an overall victory in the competitive NLS field.
“It is my passion to do these kinds of GT3 races too - I can’t wait,” Verstappen said, expressing his enthusiasm for the new challenge.
“I’m passionate about racing, also outside of Formula 1. Every lap at the Nordschleife is a different kind of experience.”
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The Nürburgring’s ‘Green Hell’, with its 20.8 kilometers of twisting, historic tarmac, is a bucket-list track for Verstappen.
“The Nordschleife is at the top of my list of tracks I want to race on, as it’s extremely challenging and demanding, with its enormous length and tight historic layout,” he added.
“My dream is to eventually participate in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.”
Verstappen will share his Ferrari 296 with 22-year-old Chris Lulham, a sim-racing prodigy in his debut season of GT competition with Verstappen.com Racing in the GT World Challenge.
The pairing promises to blend Verstappen’s experience and raw speed with Lulham’s emerging talent, making them a formidable duo in the diverse NLS grid.
Verstappen also highlighted the unique atmosphere of the Nürburgring, noting, “The atmosphere is also really good and there are a lot of endurance fans present.”
For the 27-year-old Dutchman, racing in other categories than F1 is more than a side project – it’s a passion.
Saturday's race will kick off at 12:00 pm, with qualifying taking place in the morning, and will likely be broadcast on NLS' YouTube channel.
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