Munich. BMW M Motorsport will line up with three BMW M4 GT3 EVOs in the top SP9 category at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on May 16/17. The endurance classic on the Nordschleife is regarded as one of the most important GT3 races on the international motorsport calendar.
Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) return to the Nürburgring as defending champions. Together with Jordan Pepper (RSA), they will compete in the number 1 car for ROWE Racing. Other works drivers will also be competing with ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport. BMW M Motorsport is aiming for its 22nd overall victory at the event.
Two cars for ROWE Racing
The second ROWE Racing car, number 99, will be driven by Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL). Both ROWE cars will start on Michelin tires.
For Harper and Hesse, it is a return to a track where they have already competed on numerous occasions as part of the BMW Junior Team. In 2024, Hesse achieved pole position in his last ever start at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and finished third in the race.
Schubert Motorsport with Yokohama tires
The third car, car number 77 from Schubert Motorsport, will be driven by Charles Weerts (BEL), Marco Wittmann (GER), Philipp Eng (AUT) and Robin Frijns (NED). The team will be competing on tires from Japanese manufacturer Yokohama and is relying on a special vehicle design.
Track record at the Nürburgring
BMW M Motorsport can look back on a long history at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Last year’s victory was the 21st overall success at this event. ROWE Racing already won the race in 2020 and achieved podium finishes in 2017, 2021 and 2023.
Several of the drivers have already celebrated overall victories at the Nürburgring in the past, including Kelvin van der Linde, Augusto Farfus, Dries Vanthoor and Robin Frijns.
Preparation for the Nürburgring endurance series
In preparation for the 24-hour race, ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport are planning to compete in selected rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) in March and April as well as in the 24-hour Qualifiers in April. Schubert Motorsport will also compete in the third NLS race.
Voices from the teams
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, emphasized the importance of the race for the company and referred to the experienced driver line-up and the cooperation with the two teams ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport.
Hans-Peter Naundorf, Team Principal of ROWE Racing, explained that the team was going into the event with clear sporting objectives. The driver line-ups for both cars are correspondingly strong.
Torsten Schubert, Team Principal of Schubert Motorsport, described the return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours as a special challenge. Together with tire partner Yokohama, the team is working intensively on preparations.
The drivers were also positive about the upcoming participation and emphasized in particular the importance of the race and the cooperation within the teams.
Driver line-up at a glance
#1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO – ROWE Racing
Kelvin van der Linde (RSA)
Raffaele Marciello (SUI)
Augusto Farfus (BRA)
Jordan Pepper (RSA)
#99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO – ROWE Racing
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
Dries Vanthoor (BEL)
Max Hesse (GER)
Dan Harper (GBR)
#77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO – Schubert Motorsport
Marco Wittmann (GER)
Charles Weerts (BEL)
Philipp Eng (AUT)
Robin Frijns (NED)