Oof: wild HWA Evo.R is a sight for sore eyes

HWA always said its take on the 190E would make it to N24 - now behold the (nearly) finished article

By Matt Bird / Tuesday, 24 February 2026 / Loading comments

You’ve probably heard it said many times before, but just in case you haven’t: make sure the Nurburgring 24 Hours is on your automotive bucket list. It really is an event like no other, the racing, the atmosphere and the currywurst unforgettable. For 2026 there’s another reason to attend, as HWA will be there with three of these stunning Evo.R racers.

From early in the Evo programme, HWA promised that an Evo would run competitively at the Nurburgring enduro epic. It would show off the durability of the car, for one thing, but also celebrate all that was achieved by the original Mercedes in German (and international) tin-top events. Remember that race to open the Nurburgring GP track, so famously won by Ayrton Senna more than 40 years ago, was using 190E 2.3 16s. And it’s not just HWA that’s enthusiastic about the prospect of an Evo.R at N24; having originally stated it would run two cars, there’s been ‘exceptional interest in the program’, so now there’s going to be three on the grid.

With the standard Evo having featured in a demonstration run at N24 last year, the trio of racers will compete in the SP-X class this year. It’s for the special stuff that can’t really be categorised anywhere else, with previous entrants having included a Glickenhaus and a GT2-spec AMG GT. The HWAs aren’t going to be in contention for an outright win, but it’s already easy to see the three Evo.Rs becoming firm fan favourites. Because look at this thing: the yellow lamps, the arches like half pipes, the spoiler on the spoiler and the retro liveries are surely going to prove very popular indeed. Don’t forget there’s V6 power as well, so it should sound pretty good.

A Pro-Am line up of drivers will be behind the wheel of the three HWAs, including Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig, sons of Roland Asch and Klaus Ludwig - famous of course for their exploits in DTM 190 Evos. So that’s pretty cool. Markus Winkelhock, three-time N24 winner, will also be racing for HWA - they mean business alright. As CEO Martin Marx is only too keen to point out: “Having been involved in top level motorsport at the Nürburgring for over 25 years, the circuit is like a second home to us. We are naturally incredibly excited to finally be competing in a car of our own, but to see that excitement matched by so many drivers, fans, customers and sponsors makes it all the more special.” Full tech specs will follow soon, and expect some test footage from Portimão in due course also. Then the race itself is less than three months away…