Double Drama for GetSpeed AMGs in Hour 9

Mercedes-AMG was struck a double blow in its efforts to take a first Nürburgring 24 since 2016, as both GetSpeed-entered machines hit delays in Hour 9.

As Thomas Preining’s Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R continued to lead from Jesse Krohn in the ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, GetSpeed teammates Fabian Schiller and Lucas Auer ran line astern in third and fourth.

However, a 46-second time penalty for Auer’s No. 17 machine, issued for failing to comply with the minimum pitstop time, dealt a heavy blow to his efforts to give chase.

GetSpeed’s issues were compounded when Maro Engel, freshly installed for Schiller, was stranded at the pit exit with his car rolled back to the garage.

Engel was then seen commiserating with his mechanics, appearing to suggest that the car he and Schiller shared with Luca Stolz and Maxime Martin was out of the race.

This was subsequently confirmed by Mercedes-AMG, with a drivetrain failure the cause.

Auer relayed Mikaël Grenier in the No. 17 Mercedes-AMG, which ran seventh at the end of the ninth hour.

Several other GT3 cars in the SP9 class also hit trouble as darkness fell over the Nordschleife, after the No. 33 Falken Porsche fell victim to an accident on the Grand Prix loop at the end of Hour 6.

While running second, Julien Andlauer was unable to avoid the rotated No. 94 Sante Royale Racing Team Porsche 992 GT3 Cup machine of David Kiefer and has retired.

Also out is the defending event winner from 2024, the sole remaining entry from Scherer Sport PHX after Laurens Vanthoor’s Top Qualifying accident forced the withdrawal of its Porsche.

Luca Ludwig had just taken over the team’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II from Christopher Haase at the end of the seventh hour, when an electrical fault caused him to understeer into the barriers on his outlap. He crawled slowly back to the pits, but the car would not rejoin.

The Mercedes-AMG woes temporarily elevated the second Falken Porsche to fourth, until Dorian Boccolacci suffered a right-rear puncture and lost time crawling back to the pits.