Winward Mercedes-AMGs in Control With Six Hours to Go

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/SRO

The pair of Winward Racing-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos continue to have held firm control of the Nürburgring 24 heading into the final six hours of the race.

The No. 3 Verstappen Racing entry of Max Verstappen held a seven-second advantage over the sister No. 80 Ravenol-backed entry of Luca Stolz, in what has so far been a trouble-free run for both cars.

Fabian Schiller, who climbed out of the No. 80 car just after sunrise, told the German language official pit lane reporter that the positions are “essentially frozen” for the time being.

It’s believed the decision was made after the two cars came to blows in the overnight hours with Verstappen and Maro Engel at the wheel.

Sprinkles of rain began to fall around the track at the end of the hour.

The No. 34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo of Christian Krognes ran third, despite his car having been under investigation for overtaking under yellow in the 17th hour and referred to the stewards.

Max Hesse was fourth in the lone-remaining ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, with the pole-sitting No. 84 ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 having continued its recovery drive to complete the top-five.

The SP-X class BMW M3 Touring 24H was sixth overall at the 18th hour, after running as high as third after a battle between Connor De Phillippi and the No. 99 ROWE BMW of Dries Vanthoor.

Ricardo Feller ran seventh, with the No. 24 Lionspeed GP entry remaining the highest-placed Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.

Several top-ten contenders hit trouble just after sunrise, with the No. 67 HRT Ford Mustang GT3 EVO of Fred Vervisch having sustained a right-rear puncture after running off-course.

The Belgian driver limped the lone-remaining Mustang back to the pits but dropped from seventh to 14th at the time. Co-drivers Chris Mies and Dennis Olsen, however, recovered to 11th since then.

The SP9 Pro-Am contending No. 11 Schnitzelalm Racing Mercedes-AMG dropped out with Philip Ellis at the wheel, just moments before a sizable accident on the Döttinger Höhe for Guido Dumare in the SP9 Am class No. 37 PROsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

Two high-profile drivers, meanwhile, have had their Nordschleife permits revoked during the race, with both Timo Glock and Nathanael Berthon disqualified due to Code 60 infringements.

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