Phew, I don't even know where to start. Same name, same mission. Professional motorsport for everyone. We know that the 2023 season was already tremendous. We also know that the NLS has been listing for years. Long-running discussions, regulation changes, changes in leadership, name changes, the eternal discussion of the „big“ and „small“ ones on the track. Yes, all old hat.
NLS – New Series, New Asphalt
During the winter, the beloved Nürburgring's slumber was subtly disturbed when the asphalt in the Füchsröhre section was repaved. A total of 4000 tons of new asphalt were laid in this revered section of the track over the winter. A new curb has already sparked some discussion in recent days, as drivers now have to adjust their lines to the track conditions in the exit of Füchsröhre.
„It's just like on the highway now,“ commented driver Andreas Schettler, from Adrenalin Motorsport. „I used to take the curbs directly, you barely noticed it in a production car, but now I try to avoid them,„ said Ulrich Korn, who also drove a Porsche Cayman for the Adrenalin team. “I never went over them anyway,„ countered his teammate Schettler.
When the pit garages opened on Friday morning, everyone was buzzing with excitement. The much-too-long winter break was finally over. And there they were again in all their glory: race cars from Aston Martin to AUDI, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, and Toyota. A breathtaking sight! „It's always great when the race cars finally get going again,“ enthused motorsport legend Jochen Neerpasch, who manages the BMW factory team with Daniel Harper, Max Hesse, and Charles Weerts.
That's what I'm saying, the Nordschleife's fascination just doesn't let go. Not Ernst Moser either:
„This morning I was sitting at breakfast and heard the sound of the race cars. I just had to go to the Ring, even though I'm officially retired now. But I can't quite let go of it,“ said the ex-Phoenix Racing team boss.
Aston Martin Vantage driver Nicki Thiim also looks confidently to the new season. „For the team, it's the first outing with the new Aston Martin, so there's a lot of getting to know each other ahead. It was important for my two new teammates that they could drive as much as possible. We had a productive day.“ The smaller cars also started with renewed ambition and courage. The „Jung Motorsport“ team is using two Cupra Leons this season. „These are cars that we completely rebuilt over the winter,“ explains team principal Tobias Jung. „It's always an exciting feeling when you take the cars out on the Nordschleife for the first time.“
So, back to the topic: Two competing long-distance series at the Nürburgring Nordschleife? WHAT? Yes, that's how it is this year. THE NES is bringing a good deal of fresh air into the power struggle at the Nürburgring. But how is the NLS positioning itself in relation to this? The regulations took a long time to arrive. Mike Jäger, managing director of VLN Sport GmbH & Co. KG, is full of confidence even after the rocky road:
„I've emphasized this a few times: The Nürburgring Endurance Series is a good product. Therefore, our goal wasn't to throw everything overboard. Rather, it was about making targeted adjustments. We succeeded in keeping the entry fees stable. In the area of technology, we were even able to reduce costs and administrative effort here and there. That is anything but a given in today's world.“ Whether it was scheduling, loss of personnel, or regulations – there was a lot of work for the NLS even in the 2023 season:
„I must say that the dialogue with everyone from the operational side has been very constructive. We were able to talk to each other on an equal footing. Nothing stood between us. Nevertheless, we were also obstructed time and again by others. However, that doesn't stop us from seeking dialogue again and again. We have done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future. For our part, we have never slammed any doors or ‚cut our ties‘. Mike Jäger continued.
Until then, everything sounds very diplomatic and extremely positive. But what does reality look like? When you hear about animosity between the NLS and NES camps, the motorsport world doesn't look so rosy anymore. Haven't we learned that newcomers must also be given a chance? Apparently not. Although the NES test day on Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM was carried out as planned, the race on Saturday had to be canceled. A severe blow for us motorsport enthusiasts. We just want to race! The reason? It's probably a mix of everything, but when I go through the press releases myself and read the headlines, I feel sick. „Talk of threats and animosity.“ Whether it was just a spread of fake news or due to the low number of participants, we will probably never know, but the fact is that the NES has to continue fighting for acceptance in the paddock, as the majority have sided with the established NLS society. You can't simply displace 47 years of endurance racing series, but it's truly regrettable that our motorsport has become a matter of principle here.
„Anyone who keeps doing what they've already learned will always remain what they already are,“ once said Henry Ford.
In this spirit, let's put aside our competitive spirit as motorsport enthusiasts, because in the end, we all have the same goal: to DRIVE on the most beautiful racetrack in the world.
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Photos: Michael Summerer