Qualifying Race Added for Nurburgring 24

Photo: John Dagys

There will be further buildup, and some extra incentive, surrounding next year’s Nurburgring 24, as a qualifying race has been added to the schedule for 2014.

The ADAC announced Tuesday the addition of a six-hour qualifying race, scheduled for April 5-6, which will provide teams with extended track time, particularly in the evening and dusk, ahead of the twice-around-the-clock German endurance classic on June 21-22.

“We wanted to offer the teams contesting the 24h-Race an optimum testing opportunity – and without the pressure of a championship,” explained Walter Hornung, Race Director of the ADAC Zurich 24h-Race and head of motorsports of the organizers, ADAC Nordrhein.

While the Qualifying Race will not set the full grid for the race, it will secure 10 of the 30 positions for the event’s recently introduced Top-30 Qualifying session, which will still be held on the race weekend.

“To make sure that the teams will be able to complete as many laps as possible even in the case of technical problems or minor accidents, we will interrupt the practice sessions by short breaks that will be used to tow damaged cars back to the paddock,” Hornung added.

“And they also can practice driving in the dark, on this weekend – a move underlining our efforts to increase the safety for the 24h-Race competitors.”

More than 200 cars are again expected for the race, which will be held one week after the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John