Verstappen to Make NLS GT3 Race Debut This Weekend

Photo: NLS

Max Verstappen will make his GT3 race debut on the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend, in the 57th ADAC Barbarossa Prize NLS round on Saturday.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion, who recently received his ‘A-Permit’ after an outing in a de-tuned Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in NLS7, will be at the wheel of a SP9 Pro class Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Emil Frey Racing alongside co-driver Chris Lulham.

Verstappen, under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’ tested the GT3-spec Ferrari on the ‘Green Hell’ prior to NLS3 earlier this year.

“It’s my passion to take part in GT3 races like this too,” he said. “I can hardly wait. I am enthusiastic about racing, even outside of Formula 1.

“Every lap on the Nordschleife is a very special experience. The atmosphere is also really good and there are lots of endurance racing fans there.

“It is my hobby to drive in categories other than Formula 1. My dream is to compete in the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife one day.”

The No. 31 Ferrari will face a moderate level of competition in the class, with Haupt Racing Team, which gave the Ford Mustang GT3 its first overall win on the Nordschleife last time out in NLS8, will field two Mustang GT3s, one again driven by Frank Stippler and Vincent Kolb.

Fabio Scherer, Dennis Fetzer and Jann Mardenborough will be in a second HRT Ford.

The fourth and final car in SP9 Pro will be the No. 54 Dinamic GT Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Joel Sturm and Bastian Buus.

Among the SP9 Pro-Am entries include a Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo for NLS lap record holder Christian Krognes alongside co-drivers Mateo Villagomez and Anders Buchardt.

Radio Le Mans will have coverage of the four-hour race, which gets underway Saturday at 12 p.m. CEST. (6 a.m. EST).

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