The opening day of the 54th ADAC RAVENOL 24 Hours of Nürburgring was dominated by typical Eifel weather. Rain, hail, fog, and standing water on parts of the track created difficult conditions on the Nordschleife on Thursday and prevented further improvements in lap times during the second qualifying session in the evening. The day’s fastest time from the first qualifying session thus remained unchanged: The RAVENOL Mercedes-AMG #80, driven by Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin, took the top spot in the standings with a lap time of 8:14.957 minutes.
Behind the Mercedes-AMG were the two Rowe BMWs, #1 and #99. Third place went to the Verstappen Mercedes-AMG #3, driven by Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen alongside Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella. The top-placed Porsche was the Manthey „Grello“ with start number 911 in fifth place, followed by the Abt Lamborghini #130. The HRT Ford Mustang GT3 #64 and the Scherer PHX Audi #16 also made it into the top 10.
While the first qualifying session in the afternoon still took place under changeable conditions, the night practice became a real challenge. Several drivers reported massive aquaplaning – sometimes already at around 40 km/h. The conditions were particularly critical in the areas of Flugplatz, Fuchsröhre, and Schwedenkreuz, while other sections of the track were already drying out again. Fog banks further hampered visibility.
After practice, Maro Engel explained that lap times under these conditions were not very significant. It was much more important to gain experience in changing weather conditions. Other drivers also described the sessions more as preparation for possible race conditions than as a serious attempt at fast times.
Max Verstappen made quite a splash in his first appearance at the 24-hour race weekend. The Dutch driver completed several stints in the Mercedes-AMG #3 and made a commanding impression despite difficult conditions. Teammate Lucas Auer handed the car over to Jules Gounon in the evening, while Verstappen had already taken the lead at times during the afternoon.
However, the weather not only created difficult conditions but also led to numerous incidents. The evening was particularly dramatic for the Dacia Logan #300 from Ollis Garage Racing. After spinning out in the carousel, the car came to a stop perpendicular to the track. Driver Christian Geilfus had to maneuver the car to get it back in the direction of travel. Race officials deemed the maneuver dangerous and imposed a five-grid-position penalty for the race.
The Dunlop-Porsche #17 also had a turbulent night practice session. After hitting a barrier in the Galgenkopf section, the track’s lighting system briefly went out. However, after the electronics were reset, the car was able to continue.
There was a serious accident already in the first qualifying session, which meant the end for the „Girls Only – Ready to rock the Green Hell“ Porsche. The Giti Tires Motorsport by WS-Racing team's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup collided with a vehicle that had previously broken down and was on fire. The chassis was irreparably damaged. Team principal Matthias Möller later confirmed the car's withdrawal from the race weekend. The race stewards classified the accident as not at fault.
In addition to the numerous spins and technical issues, several penalties also provided plenty of talking points. Several teams received time penalties for speeding during Code 60 phases. The Posavac BMW #40 was also fined because the onboard camera was mounted incorrectly. The High-Class Porsche #86 was even black-flagged during night practice after driver Harry King had been driving with an unauthorized helmet camera.
Despite the difficult conditions, there was great anticipation in the paddock for the coming days. Many drivers praised the enormous spectator turnout around the Nordschleife already on Thursday. The changeable weather conditions in particular reminded numerous participants why the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is considered one of the most demanding races in the world.
On Friday, the focus shifts to the three-stage top qualifying. There, the fastest teams will battle in individual time trials for pole position in Saturday's race. Additionally, Qualifying 3 for the remaining classes, the German Historic Endurance Championship race, and the traditional Falken Drift Show and autograph session are on the schedule. While Saturday is already sold out, remaining tickets are still available for Friday.