Verstappen Leads After Three Hours; Top Cars Hit Trouble

Max Verstappen stormed into the lead of the Nürburgring 24 after three hours aboard the No. 3 Winward Racing-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, while a host of front-running contenders hit trouble.

The four-time Formula 1 champion had a nervy start to his stint at the beginning of the second hour after taking over from Dani Juncadella when he ran wide onto the grass at Eiskurve.

He then had another grassy moment as he passed the No. 47 KCMG Mercedes-AMG of Jesse Krohn on the grass at Klostertal, before his next target was the No. 911 Manthey ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo of Ayhancan Guven that was the net leader as the first of the cars on the more traditional strategy.

With Guven struggling to stop at the first turn in the third hour, Verstappen sensed an opportunity and dived down the inside and just made the corner to take the place.

He then set off after the two leaders, the No. 34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo of Christian Krognes and the No. 67 HRT Ford Mustang GT3 EVO of Dennis Olsen. Both of these cars had vaulted up the order thanks to their offset pit strategy, having made their first stops earlier than the majority of the field.

Towards the close of the third hour, Verstappen was able to pass Olsen at Galgenkopf and then later around the 19th tour he pounced on Krognes at Tiergarten with the Aston seemingly struggling for front grip.

Sure enough, Olsen demoted Krognes to third on the next tour as they entered the Nordschleife part of the circuit and was around two seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the third hour.

Guven remained in fourth in the Manthey Porsche with the SP-X class BMW M3 Touring 24h running in a remarkable fifth in the hands of Neil Verhagen after being another of the cars on an unconventional strategy.

Sixth, and third of those on the more traditional strategy, was the No. 7 Konrad Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 of Pavel Lefterov.

However, unlike Verstappen, some of the lead contenders had been unable to get away with off-track excursions, including Thierry Vermeulen in the No. 45 Realize Kondo Racing with Rinaldi Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.

Vermeulen had just climbed aboard the sole Ferrari in the field early in the third hour with it among the cars to have pitted early when he encountered the No. 969 SRS Team Sorg Rennsport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport of Josh Jacobs at Hatzenbach.

The Dutchman put one wheel on the grass when he was unsure of which side to pass the Porsche on and this sent the Ferrari into a spin and heavy impact with the barriers.

Also in strife was Alexander Sims in the No. 16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II that had started third but Sims collided with the No. 47 KCMG Mercedes-AMG of Krohn as they encountered backmarkers when a Code 60 ended at Pflanzgarten.

Sims guided the Audi back to the pits with substantial front damage and the hood up in the air but it is unlikely the car will be able to continue, while Krohn was out on the spot.