Friday 14th May 2010

Preview: Nurburgring 24 Hours

PH previews a few of the runners of this weekend's 'Ring racers

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The Monaco GP might be stealing the majority of motorsport headlines at the moment, but don't forget about another legendary race happening this weekend - the Nurburgring 24 hours.

Germany's most celebrated race kicks off on the tortuous Nordchsleife at 3pm this Saturday, although the infamous weather has already played its part - Thursday night's first qualifying session abandoned after three hours of running due to fog.

But whatever the outcome of the qualifying - the second session is due to kick off as we go to virtual press - the race is set to be as entertaining as ever.

This year there's a particularly wide variety of entries from manufacturers keen to prove the mettle of their, er, metal in one of the world's toughest test of performance and endurance.

This year there is the usual gaggle of Porsche 911s (33 to be precise), with plenty of new GT3 Rs and the new GT3 R hybrid.

Audi is fielding seven GT3-spec R8s, while BMW is also heavily present, with two works M3 GT2s and three Z4 GT3s.

Aston will be there too, with the V12 Vantage and, making its Nurburgring debut, the Rapide saloon

At the quirkier end of the field is Lexus, which is racing two LFAs and one ISF. Weirdest of all, perhaps, is the Mini E electric car to be driven by His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria. In fairness, this isn't actually racing, but it is going to be doing a fast lap as a prelude to one of the support races...

 

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Is this being televised anywhere? Might be good to dip in and out of the coverage.

[soad]

Be good to see how those LFAs get on. Nice event either way.

[havoc]

Looks like being such a good race this year. Had a last-minute offer of ticket and accom'n too, but already busy.

(To be fair, I've not really got the leave to spare either...very bad planning on my part...)

[freedman]

http://adac.24h-rennen.de/

Streamed on here

[Mermaid]

Wish I was there...... a pic shamelessly nicked from somewhere else.

[Mermaid]

One more

[Beefmeister]

Some good racing going on there!

I'm following the Twitter feeds from Dickie Meaden who's driving the Aston V12 Vantage racer, and evo's Chris Harris who's in a 997 GT3 RS...

[monthefish]

Beefmeister said:

Some good racing going on there!

I'm following the Twitter feeds from Dickie Meaden who's driving the Aston V12 Vantage racer, and evo's Chris Harris who's in a 997 GT3 RS...

Some chap called 'Guest' started a thread on that very subject...

[Caractacus]

Any Nissan GTR's in the race?

Surely be quicker than that gaggle of Pork?

[Beefmeister]

monthefish said:

Beefmeister said:

Some good racing going on there!

I'm following the Twitter feeds from Dickie Meaden who's driving the Aston V12 Vantage racer, and evo's Chris Harris who's in a 997 GT3 RS...

Some chap called 'Guest' started a thread on that very subject...

lollage, hadn't seen that!

Walter isn't racing anymore though, he's spannered his back.

[monthefish]

Beefmeister said:

monthefish said:

Beefmeister said:

Some good racing going on there!

I'm following the Twitter feeds from Dickie Meaden who's driving the Aston V12 Vantage racer, and evo's Chris Harris who's in a 997 GT3 RS...

Some chap called 'Guest' started a thread on that very subject...

lollage, hadn't seen that!

Walter isn't racing anymore though, he's spannered his back.

That's a shame - Chris seemed genuinely excited by the prospect.

[pjwind]

Has anyone noticed that everything except the Aston Martin Rapide has a whacking great wing on the back. Is it just me, or would others like to see these things banned in motor racing? I would like to get back to cars with little or no downforce that drift around corners. F1 could do with some of the same medicine so they can drive close enough to each other to pass.

[mark3man]

pjwind said:

Has anyone noticed that everything except the Aston Martin Rapide has a whacking great wing on the back. Is it just me, or would others like to see these things banned in motor racing? I would like to get back to cars with little or no downforce that drift around corners. F1 could do with some of the same medicine so they can drive close enough to each other to pass.

Thats so they can get the boot open and take out the pic-nic table and chairs and be civilised. None of this standing round the wing of a Porsche, using it as a cocktail table while they wait for a tow.

[Europa1]

Evo are clearly going large at the Nurburgring - Roger Green is co-driving the Stratton Motor Co Lotus Exige with Gav Kershaw and Matt Cummings

[lexusEU]

You can follow the LFAs on Twitter via www.twitter.com/lexus_eu

[mcelliott]

Caractacus said:

Any Nissan GTR's in the race?

Surely be quicker than that gaggle of Pork?

Er no, don't think so actually. You obviously didn't watch the Spa francorchamps where the Porker not only blitzed everything in GT2, but also beat the nearest contender in GT1 (Ford GT40 if I'm not mistaken).

[scottdav]

mcelliott said:

Caractacus said:

Any Nissan GTR's in the race?

Surely be quicker than that gaggle of Pork?

Er no, don't think so actually. You obviously didn't watch the Spa francorchamps where the Porker not only blitzed everything in GT2, but also beat the nearest contender in GT1 (Ford GT40 if I'm not mistaken).

He was laying bait, you were caught
Good to see lexus there.

[freedman]

Audi 1-4 on the grid

But comments by Marc Lieb Suggest that the multiple winning Manthey car will still be the car to beat despite, only qualifying 7th

Hybrid 911 qualifies an impressive 9th

[flemke]

freedman said:

Audi 1-4 on the grid

But comments by Marc Lieb Suggest that the multiple winning Manthey car will still be the car to beat despite, only qualifying 7th

Hybrid 911 qualifies an impressive 9th

If you correct for the enlarged 24 Hr circuit, R8's pole time was equivalent to roughly an 8:05-06 VLN lap. IINM, all-time fastest VLN lap was an 8:09. That is to say, the R8s are bloody fast, faster than they were last year. This belies the organisers' attempt to compensate for poor Audi's () alleged lack of pace by giving them a massive artificial pit-stop advantage.
I wouldn't think that the pole car is the one to beat, as its drivers' collective 'ring experience is not on a par with that of some other sets of drivers.
Manthey's victory last year happened only because everything fell right for them (in addition to their superb preparation, self-discipline and driving performances). I fear that this year the Audi money may overwhelm them.
Also, let's not forget the M3s. Those are serious bits of kit - effectively DTM cars - and Schnitzer are as professional as they come.

[Great Pretender]

Is the race being aired on TV anywhere?