This video is the perfect way to get yourself in the mood for a weekend of endurance racing. It was produced after the 2011 24 hour race and features Mal Rose at the wheel of his Holden Commodore V8 Supercar and Darren Turner in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.

You’re taken for a full lap of the Grand Prix track and Nordschleife, with the view alternating between the two cars. There’s some great racing action to be seen.

Now that Mal Rose has secured a drive with Aston Martin for this year’s race, it’s quite appropriate to see these two cars in the same video.

The 2012 Nürburgring 24 hour race is almost upon us and if you’re keen to stay up to date over the weekend here’s a few tips.

Live radio coverage will be provided by Radio Le Mans, and you can also follow RLM via twitter. The official Nürburgring 24 hour website will again provide pictures via a live stream (access here). That stream will also be replicated on Audi tv. It looks like Subaru will also be joining in the on the live streaming action in 2012.

German TV station Sport1 will have free internet streaming of the race, although their live stream is limited by IP address. Other streams may pop up over the weekend and if you hear of any please post a link in the comments section below.

As in previous years you will be able to follow the race via live GPS update. Access is provided HERE. After making its debut last in 2010, you can also follow the race on your iPhone (new link).

There will also be updates from AUSringers via the AUSmotive twitter account. If you are using twitter to follow the race make sure you use the #N24h hashtag.

AUSringers will be providing updates of the Aussies and Kiwis competing. Regular reader and N24 racer Wayne Moore has left some comments in the Your Story column, as well.

If you have any other links or references please post them below and we will update this article.

In the build up to the 40th running of the Nürburgring 24 hour race the organisers have released a few facts about the race.

You can read them all after the break, but it’s the first point that has the key numbers. There’ll be around 170 cars competing around the 25km track and driving all those cars will be some 600 drivers. If those numbers seem large, don’t forget the crowd is expected to be arond 200,000.

There’s no other race like this one anywhere in the world!

40. ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen from 17th to 20th May, 2012:

The most important 24h facts at a glance

• About 200,000 spectators, more than 170 cars that will be raced by some 600 drivers and the 25-kilometre combination of the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife turn the 24h into the biggest motor-racing event of the world.

• The course of the weekend has been altered: the Thursday action comprises the practice session and the night-qualifying session, with the second qualifying session being contested on Friday morning. And in the new Top-40-Qualifying on Friday afternoon, the fastest of the two qualifying sessions will battle it out – in individual time trials – for the grid positions at the front end of the grid.

• The race is open for touring cars and GTs. In the top categories, the ‘Balance of Performance’ makes for equal opportunities by individually defining performance relevant key specs such as minimum weight, fuel-tank capacity or the air-restrictor diameter for every vehicle model involved.

• Teams and vehicles regarded as the top favourites: Porsche 911 GT R (inter alia the 2011 winners Manthey or Falken Motorsport), BMW Z4 GT3 (inter alia the works teams BMW Team Schubert and BMW Team Vita4One), Audi R8 LMS ultra (inter alia works involvement with Team Phoenix) and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (works drivers racing for the customer teams Heico and ROWE).

• Perfectly prepared independent teams will contest the event in the top category – inter alia – with vehicles such as the Ferrari P4/5, McLaren MP4, Ford GT and Chevrolet Corvette.

• Some of the top drivers: Frank Biela, Marcel Fässler, Markus Winkelhock (Audi), Claudia Hürtgen, Pedro Lamy, Jörg Müller (BMW), Thomas Jäger, Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz), Romain Dumas, Peter Dumbreck, Marc Lieb (Porsche), Nicola Larini (Ferrari)

• Special anniversary: the ADAC Zurich 24h race will be held for the 40th time, this year. The winners of the first edition, held back in 1970, were Hans-Joachim Stuck / Clemens Schickentanz (BMW 2002).

• Support programme: British GT Championship (races on Friday and Saturday), joint race of Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Renault Clio Cup and MINI (Saturday), ADAC 24h-Classic (Three-hour race with historic racing cars), RCN regularity run (Thursday).

Nürburgring 24 hour race timetable

Thursday, May 17
14:30–16:00 Free practice
19:30–23:30 Qualifying 1

Friday, May 18
09:35–11:35 Qualifying 2
18:00–18:50 Top 40 qualifying

Saturday, May 19
13:30–15:10 Grid formation
16:00 Start (Sunday 00:00 Australian Eastern time)

Sunday, May 20
16:00 Finish

The provisional entry list for the 40th Nürburgring 24 hour race was released at the end of April. You can download a copy right now if you like (70kb PDF). We’ve scanned through the doc and picked out the Aussies and Kiwis entered in the race. As always these lists can be a bit fluid so if we’ve missed someone, or you know of any changes please let us know in the comments section below.

Car #14 – Porsche 911 GT3 Cup // Class SP 7
Frank Kräling (GER), Marco Schelp (GER), Marc Gindorf (MCO),
Peter Scharmach (NZ)

Car #24 – Audi R8 LMS ultra // Class SP 9
Florien Gruber (GER), Alexander Yoong Loong (MAS), Warren Luff (AUS),
Luca Cappellari (MCO)

Car #85 – Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 // Class SP 8
Jürgen Stumpf (GER), Mal Rose (AUS), Rob Thomson (AUS), Peter Cate (GB)

Car #99 – BMW M3 // Class SP 6
Roberto Feccio (ITA), Dario Paletto (ITA), Richard Purtscher (GER),
Paul Stubber (AUS)

Car #103 – BMW M3 // Class SP 5
Richard Gartner (AUS), Kean Booker (AUS)

Car #117 – Subaru Impreza WRX // Class SP 3T
Martin Bailey (AUS), Mike Reedy (AUS), Ross Lilly (AUS)

Car #130 – Seat Leon Supercopa // Class SP 3T
Malcom Niall (AUS), Brett Niall (AUS), Clint Harvey (AUS), Mark Pilatti (AUS)

Car #202 – BMW 320i // Class SP 3
Axel Burghardt (GER), Guy Stewart (NZ), Toshiya Ito (JPN)

Car #214 – BMW 325i // Class V4
Bastian Hüttinger (GER), Peter O’Donnell (NZ), Matthew Hansen (AUS),
Angus Chapel (AUS)

Car #215 – BMW M3 // Class V5
Niels Borum (DEN), Maurice O’Reilly (NZ), Wayne Moore (NZ), Michael Eden (NZ)

Best of luck to all the crews, especially Mal Rose and Wayne Moore, both great supporters of AUSringers.

[Pic: 24h-rennen.de]

Toyota will be racing two of its new back-to-basics GT86 models at the 24 hour race this weekend. They’ve been entered under the Gazoo Racing banner, who are back with a V10-powered Lexus LFA.

The Gazoo Racing GT86s have been entered in the SP3 class, while the Toyota Swiss Racing Team will have another two GT86s running in the production-based V3 category. We reckon it’s great to see the GT86s in action in one of the world’s toughest races. They have our best wishes.

You can read Toyota’s full preview after the break.

Toyota GT86 and Lexus LFA line up for Nürburgring 24 hours

• Four GT86 and one LFA to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend (17 – 20 May)
  
• Gazoo Racing to field the race-engineered LFA and two GT86
  
• Two further production GT86 entered by Toyota Swiss Racing Team, race prepared by Toyota Motorsport

The Nürburgring has played an important role in the development of Toyota’s latest generation of high-performance cars and this weekend the daunting German circuit will see the Lexus LFA and GT86 demonstrating their race pace in the 40th running of the ADAC 24 Hours race.

Gazoo Racing will be back at the famous Nordschleife to field the LFA (in the SP8 class) and two new race-prepared GT86 (SP3 class). The team personnel, including technicians and drivers, will include Toyota employees from Japan, taking part to hone their skills and craftsmanship, gaining experience that will feed back directly into the work developing future vehicles.

Gazoo Racing has already kicked off its 2012 season with two shorter-distance races at the Nürburgring, in which the LFA was twice a winner in its class and the GT86 showed promising progress.

Speaking after the most recent race, Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida said: “The momentum of our team is very good. Our target for the 24 Hours Nürburgring race is to maintain a steady pace, in line with the way we have chosen to set up the vehicles. Nevertheless, we have run at good speed and confident we will be full ready before the 24-hour event.”

The Toyota Swiss Racing Team will also be taking part, fielding two GT86 race-prepared by Toyota Motorsport. Both will take part in the competition class (V3) for production models. Their participation is part of Toyota Switzerland’s grassroots motorsport programme with GT86 to encourage a new generation of car enthusiasts.

The Official Website
http://www.24h-rennen.de/Startseite.1.0.html?&L=1

Online streaming
http://www.sportauto-online.de/lives…=1011710104001
http://tv.sport1.de/player/player.php?id=s743873

English language commentary will be provided by Radio Le Mans throughout Practice, qualifying and the race.
http://www.radiolemans.com/

17 May 13:30 N24 Free Practice
17 May 18:30 N24 Qualifying
18 May 08:30 N24 Qualifying
18 May 16:45 N24 Qualifying: Top 40
19 May 14:00 N24 Countdown to Green
19 May 15:00 N24: Race

MINI Motorsport is back for a second helping of Nürburgring 24 hour action in 2012, returning with their JCW Endurance machine. As well as the factory-back s.i.g. Motorsport team, three other MINI entries are finalising preparations for the big race.

The Besaplast Racing Team will compete in the SP 2T category, fresh off their class win at the Dubai 24 hour earlier this year. Schirra motoring return to the Eifel, theirs was the highest placed MINI last year, finishing 34th outright. Finally, Hermann Bock, Jörg Weidinger and Max Partl will race in a privately entered MINI John Cooper Works Challenge.

You can read MINI Motorsport’s full preview after the break.

Green Hell Reloaded.

MINI is returning to the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 2012 for the 24-hour race. The MINI Coupé made its debut here last year, and this year’s race sees four teams line up in MINIs.

It is the toughest circuit race in the world: 33 left-handers and 40 right-handers over a distance of 25.378 put man and machine to the ultimate test. Whilst still important, speed is not all that counts here. Driving skill, stamina, tactics, flexibility, teamwork and, last but not least, a good portion of courage are also essential on an unforgiving circuit. Over 200,000 motorsport fans from around the world will make the annual pilgrimage to the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. It is no coincidence that the perilous circuit, which winds its way through the hilly landscape in the Eifel region of Germany, has been given the nickname “Green Hell”. On 19th and 20th of May the waiting will be over. The ultimate endurance roller-coaster ride – twice around the clock – will roar into life once again.

MINI fans will still remember the 2011 Eifel marathon like it was yesterday. The MINI John Cooper Works Coupé Endurance made a successful sporting premiere at the Nürburgring. Both MINI Coupés completed 24 hours of spectacular racing – just reward for the commitment shown by the MINI Motorsport works team. The result was a triumph in itself: many rivals had already been forced to park up before the end of the race. The new MINI Coupé proved to be a successful endurance specialist.

MINI Coupé #146 – an international star.

Even today, the number 146 MINI Coupé remains a star around the world, and still attracts the attention of motorsport fans as a show car at international events. The MINI John Cooper Works Coupé Endurance is still in exactly the same condition as it was when it crossed the finish line at the Nürburgring on 26th June 2011: totally unaltered, complete with rubber abrasion in the wheel arches and dead flies on the bonnet and front windscreen. Fans were most recently able to experience the #146 MINI Coupé at close hand at MINI United in Le Castellet, the largest MINI fan festival in the world.

Soon it will be a case of “Green Hell Reloaded” for MINI fans. The sister car will once again face the challenges of the Nordschleife. s.i.g. Motorsport has put together the MINI Coupé for the second outing at the 24-hour race. Experienced drivers Ingo Gaup, Friedhelm Erlebach and Jürgen Bretschneider will alternate in the cockpit of the number 145 MINI. As last year, s.i.g. Motorsport will line up with a second MINI. Gotoh Hitoshi, Steffen Schmid and Dirk Lauth will drive the MINI with the start number 146 – last year’s lucky number for MINI Motorsport’s MINI Coupé.

Competition from within its own ranks.

The Besaplast Racing Team, which is also sending a MINI into action on the Nordschleife, will provide stiff competition in the SP 2T class. The team showed its potential at the 24-hour race in Dubai, when the MINI produced a flawless performance to clinch the class victory. Furthermore, the driving quartet of Franjo Kovac, Fredrik Lestrup, Steffi Halm and Jürgen Schmarl are well aware of the properties of the car, having driven it in the MINI Trophy series. The third MINI team at the 24-hour race is that of Schirra motoring, who are also counting on the MINI’s potential to be successful. Schirra landed its MINI in 34th place overall at the Nürburgring in 2011, making it the best-placed MINI racing car. And, last but not least, drivers Hermann Bock, Jörg Weidinger and Max Partl make up the fourth private MINI team. The experienced trio will take to the track in a MINI John Cooper Works Challenge.

Regardless of which is your favourite team, MINI fans can look forward to an exciting 24-hour race, as the four MINI teams go head-to-head with the opposition on the Nordschleife. It is another case of David against Goliath. To find out who comes out on top, we will have to wait until about 16:00 on 20th May, when another bruising encounter on the Nordschleife comes to an end at the 40th Nürburgring 24 Hours.

You can find detailed previews and updates throughout the race at Twitter.com/MINImotorsport, Facebook.com/MINImotorsport and MINImotorsport.com.

Now that the mighty M3 is back in DTM mode, BMW has thrown their eggs into the Z4 GT3 basket for the Nürburgring 24 hour race this year. Indeed, it’s a shame that there’s a scheduling clash this weekend, with the DTM series heading to Brands Hatch in England.

Back at the Nürburgring, two teams will benefit from the weight of factory support for this year’s 24 hour race: BMW Team Schubert and BMW Team Vita4One; each will run a pair of Z4 GT3s.

BMW has an impressive record at the Nürburgring 24 hour race, winning no less than 19 of the previous 39 races, including the very first 24 hour back in 1970. Their most recent success was in 2010 with the M3 GT2.

“The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is a very special event for us. The enthusiasm the fans show towards BMW is more tangible there than at almost any other race,” said Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director.

“During our preparations, we have seen that the BMW Z4 GT3 performs very well on the Nordschleife. If our teams are to be in with a shout, then everything must come together. Only those who complete the marathon without any major mistakes have any chance of scoring a really top result. I have every faith that we can do just that.”

You can read BMW’s full preview after the break.

BMW sends strong contingent to the 24-hour race at the Nordschleife – BMW Z4 GT3 well prepared for the classic.

Munich, 15th May 2012. The BMW Z4 GT3 is ready for possibly its greatest challenge of the 2012 motorsport season: this coming weekend, the iconic Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) will provide the stage for the 24-hour race for the 40th time. BMW is closely associated with this event, which was held for the first time in 1970. To date, the company has no fewer than 19 overall victories in the “Green Hell” to its name, making BMW by far the most successful brand in the history of this race. This year, countless teams will once again line up with BMW racing cars at the Nürburgring, and will be looking to write the next chapter in this unique success story. Taking centre stage is the BMW Z4 GT3, with which – among others – two teams supported by BMW Motorsport will be challenging for win number 20: BMW Team Schubert and BMW Team Vita4One.

Jörg Müller (DE), Dirk Müller (DE) and Uwe Alzen (DE) will line up in the number 19 BMW Z4 GT3 for BMW Team Schubert. With almost 200 cars starting in the Eifel Mountains, the three BMW works drivers form one of the most experienced driving teams. Jörg Müller (2004, 2010) and Alzen (2000, 2010) have both triumphed twice on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, while Dirk Müller also knows how it feels to climb onto the top step of the podium, having tasted victory in 2004. Claudia Hürtgen (DE), Dominik Schwager (DE), Nico Bastian (DE) and Dirk Adorf (DE) will alternate behind the wheel of the sister car, number 20. Adorf is also registered for the number 19 car.

BMW Team Vita4One lines up with the number 17 BMW Z4 GT3 and drivers Pedro Lamy (PT), Mathias Lauda (AT), Ricardo van der Ende (NL) and Frank Kechele (DE). Car number 18 will be driven by BMW Motorsport test and development driver Marco Wittmann (DE), Jens Klingmann (DE) and Richard Göransson (SE). Like Adorf in BMW Team Schubert, Lamy is registered for both cars. The privately run Marc VDS Racing team completes the strong BMW contingent in the fiercely-competitive SP9 class, and will also send a BMW Z4 GT3 into action. Bas Leinders (BE), Markus Palttala (FI) and Maxime Martin (BE) will share the driving duties. Michael Bartels’ (DE) team has already tasted success in the hard-fought Blancpain Endurance Series this season.

The official entry list for the 24-hour race includes a total of 49 BMW cars, with BMW drivers represented in nine classes. The largest contingents of the manufacturer’s racing cars can be found in the V4, V5 and V6 categories: eight BMW cars will be battling for the top positions in each of these classes. The diverse range of BMW vehicles lining up at this year’s race is equally as impressive. Just short of 20 different BMW models will be appearing in the “Green Hell”

If the races in the VLN Endurance Championship are any indication of how competitive the cars will be at 24-hour races, then BMW fans can look forward to an exciting weekend: at least one of the BMW Z4 GT3 cars run by BMW Team Schubert has made it onto the podium at each of the three races so far, with Jörg Müller, Dirk Müller and Dirk Adorf winning the season-opener. The BMW Z4 GT3 has also celebrated victories in other championships held in accordance with GT3 regulations, including the FIA GT1 World Championship, the Blancpain Endurance Series, the ADAC GT Masters, and national GT series like those held in Great Britain, Japan and Brazil.

BMW’s record on the previous 39 occasions the Nürburgring has hosted the 24-hour race is nothing short of impressive. As well as 19 overall victories – eight of which were one-twos – the brand also has 150 class wins to its name. The second-placed manufacturer in the all-time best list for class victories could manage no more than 53. The first running of the race back in 1970 was won by two BMW drivers: Clemens Schickentanz (DE) and Hans-Joachim Stuck (DE) in a BMW 2002 ti. In 1998, Andreas Bovensiepen (DE), Marc Duez (BE), Christian Menzel (DE) and Stuck claimed the first victory at this event in a car with a diesel engine – the BMW 320d. BMW most recently crossed the finish line in first place in 2010: Augusto Farfus (BR), Jörg Müller, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy guided their BMW M3 GT to overall victory in a dramatic finale. Last year, the quartet finished runners-up.

The BMW M3 has ten victories at the Nürburgring to its name. On the 40th anniversary of BMW M, it is the BMW Z4 GT3 that is the most promising candidate for the next win. A 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine provides the necessary power. BMW Motorsport has systematically further developed the car for the 2012 season. The engine now achieves up to 9,000 rpm and has been given a new exhaust system. The rear wing is made of carbon fibre instead of aluminium and offers greater downforce and less air resistance at the same time.

The brake cooling on the front axle has also been optimised and a new rear axle differential is now in operation. The larger tank, with a capacity of 115 litres, gives the teams greater tactical leeway over the course of the 24-hour race. In the 2012 version of the BMW Z4 GT3, the pedal system can be moved and adjusted to suit the driver’s individual needs.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is a very special event for us. The enthusiasm the fans show towards BMW is more tangible there than at almost any other race. Traditionally, almost a third of the starting field is made up of BMW privateers, which just goes to show the huge importance for BMW Customer Racing. The crowds are there to enjoy a huge motorsport party – out on the track, we are obviously keen to give them a few good reasons to celebrate. It is hard to predict the balance of power. There are a lot of GT3 cars there that could challenge for the overall victory, and then there is bound to be the odd surprise package. During our preparations, we have seen that the BMW Z4 GT3 performs very well on the Nordschleife. If our teams are to be in with a shout, then everything must come together. Only those who complete the marathon without any major mistakes have any chance of scoring a really top result. I have every faith that we can do just that. Fans of BMW M are once again in for a real treat, as the M Festival returns in 2012. It goes without saying that we want a good result to celebrate the 40th anniversary of M. That is why our drivers and teams are working so hard. However, we are all aware that the Nordschleife has its own rules. I will be following the race closely from Brands Hatch.”

Jörg Müller (BMW Team Schubert, car number 19):
“The 24-hour race is unique. Every year without fail I look forward to being a part of this classic and experiencing the fans’ enthusiasm at close hand. Victory at the VLN season-opener and pole position in the third round has definitely shown what a good basis the BMW Z4 GT3 provides for the outing on the Nordschleife. In order to convert this potential into a good race result, however, everything must come together perfectly. Perfect teamwork is the platform for success – and I have absolutely nothing to worry about in that regard with BMW Team Schubert.”

Uwe Alzen (BMW Team Schubert, car number 19):
“Even after so many years, the Nürburgring 24 Hours is still the biggest race there is for me. I would even put it above Le Mans in my personal list of favourite events. It is hard to say where we stand compared to the opposition. We will only get a really clear picture once we are a few hours into the race. There are a lot of strong cars in the SP9 class. However, neither BMW Team Schubert nor we drivers have anything to be afraid of.”

Dirk Adorf (BMW Team Schubert, car number 19/20):
“The 24-hour race is always a highlight for me. There is a great atmosphere around the circuit. What make it so attractive are the many different cars and the quality of the drivers. It is an amazing feeling to drive on the Nordschleife at night, when you can smell the barbecues and see the camp fires. This race is a real adventure. This year will be my 20th start at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and I would like to celebrate my first win at last. However, there are a lot of other drivers and teams with exactly the same goal. The BMW Z4 GT3 is a reliable car and has the necessary speed, so I hope we can have a say in what happens at the front of the field.”

Claudia Hürtgen (BMW Team Schubert, car number 20):
“The 24-hour race is the highlight of the 2012 season. We have been preparing intensely for it. A podium finish is a realistic target. Of course, the top step is always the best. You also need a bit of luck at a 24-hour race, however. If we can get through without any problems, then we are definitely capable of achieving great things.”

Marco Wittmann (BMW Team Vita4One, car number 18):
“I have driven in the VLN Endurance Championship to get a feel for the Nordschleife. The four-hour races are also a good basis with which to prepare for the long-distance marathon. It is all about perfecting procedures during pit stops, technical things, and the interaction with your fellow drivers. You are simply trying to eliminate as many possible sources of errors as possible. We have a good package. The preparatory races all went positively. I am now really looking forward to my first 24-hour race in the Eifel Mountains.”

Richard Göransson (BMW Team Vita4One, car number 18):
“For me, it is always fantastic to travel to the Nürburgring 24 Hours. We have a great car, a great team, and I have good team-mates, with whom I will hopefully challenge for a great result. The team does not have a huge amount of experience on the Nordschleife. That is why we have tried, successfully, to get to know both the car and the circuit during the preparations.”

Pedro Lamy (BMW Team Vita4One, car number 17/18):
“It is nice to return to the Nordschleife. In the past, I have always been competitive there with BMW and have achieved good results. I hope the same can be said again this year. I am very happy with the BMW Z4 GT3. The race will be a long one. Some of my team-mates have experience, others don’t. For that reason, it is difficult to make any predictions. We practiced together in the VLN. That is immensely important, as you do not have a chance unless you are perfectly prepared for a 24-hour race.”

Aston Martin returns to the Ring for the seventh successive year and will field four factory cars this weekend. That will be matched by a further four customer cars, meaning a total of eight Astons will be tested to the limit for 24 hours.

Of course, the coolest thing about Aston Martin’s involvement at the 24 hour race is seeing company boss Dr Ulrich Bez in a set of race overalls and behind the wheel in race conditions. This year Dr Bez will be in the stunning V12 Zagato pictured above; he will be joined by fellow Aston employees Chris Porritt and Wolfgang Schuhbauer. Evo journo Richard Meaden will round out the four driver line up.

The other big news for AUSringers readers is that Mal Rose has secured a factory drive in an V8 Vantage this year. Mal is best know for bringing some good old Aussie V8 power to the Ring, but we’re sure he won’t mind settling in with a British icon this year. Mal will be joined by fellow Australian Rob Thomson as well as Jurgen Stumpf and Peter Cate.

You can read Aston Martin’s full preview after the break.

Aston Martin steps up its Nürburgring 24 hour programme

Gaydon, 11 May 2012 – For the seventh successive year, Aston Martin will compete in the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (19/20 May) as a total of eight Vantage racers gear up for the endurance epic. The marque will field its most ambitious entry to date with four official Aston Martins – including a pair of V12-powered Vantage GT3s – supported by a further four customer cars.

In excess of 170 cars will start the fearsome 24-hour race, which runs on the daunting 25km circuit that combines the legendary Nordschleife with the modern Grand Prix track. Having focused its efforts in previous years on near production-specification cars since its 2006 Nürburgring24 Hour debut, Aston Martin will, for the first time, be represented in the senior SP9 category for FIA-homologated GT3 cars. The pair of V12 Vantage GT3s will be run in association with long-standing official partner team, Young Driver AMR.

The lead Vantage GT3, carrying the iconic #007 designation, will be driven by Johannes and Ferdinand Stuck (A) – sons of triple Nürburgring 24 Hour winner Hans-Joachim Stuck – alongside Dennis Rostek (D) and Aston Martin Racing factory driver Darren Turner (GB). Turner’s regular works team-mate, Stefan Mücke, will drive the #006 car with Tomas Enge (CZ), Fredy Barth (CH) and Oliver Mathai (D).

In addition, Aston Martin’s engineering department will return with the spectacular V12 Zagato concept car that made its Nürburgring24 Hour debut in 2011. Targeting another successful race finish will be Aston Martin Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez (D), Chief Engineer Chris Porritt (GB), Aston Martin Nürburgring Test Centre Director Wolfgang Schuhbauer (D) and renowned motoring journalist and racer Richard Meaden (GB).

Ahead of the race, Dr Bez said: “Our 100 per cent finishing record in thirteen starts in one of the world’s toughest endurance races is remarkable; truly a testament to the reliability of our cars and the efforts of our people. In the past six years we have deliberately focused on racing close-to-production cars, achieving seven class podiums and three class wins. For 2012, I am delighted to be returning again to drive our V12 Zagato with my engineering team, but also to have such an exciting step up with the V12 Vantage GT3s.”

The fourth official entry will be a V8-powered Vantage run by Aston Martin’s Nürburgring Test Centre team and driven by Jurgen Stumpf (D), Australians Mal Rose and Rob Thomson, and Peter Cate (GB). Aston Martin will be represented by four further customer outfits, including Team Mathol Racing, winners of the SP10 class for GT4 cars in 2010.

David King, Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, said: “The Nürburgring 24 Hour race is the most important 24-hour race in the world for GT cars. The quality of the entry in the GT3 class and throughout the field is truly impressive. It is a hugely important step for us to be challenging in the SP9 class, with a top class partner team and a fine driver line up. The V12 Vantage GT3 has a direct line to our V12 Vantage road car, sharing the same chassis and base engine, and I know all the fans will love to see and hear these cars hopefully running near the front of the pack.”

John Gaw, Aston Martin Racing Team Principal, added: “2012 is a development season for the new V12 Vantage GT3 and the Young Driver AMR team are being closely supported by Aston Martin Racing to tune the car to the unique demands of the Nordschleife. We see this as the first step in a longer term plan to challenge for race victory at the Nürburgring in future years, but we are already greatly encouraged by the performance of the car in recent four hour VLN races here.”

Young Driver AMR Team Principal, Hardy Fischer, concluded: “It is an honour and also a big challenge for my team to be representing Aston Martin at this great event; it is something we have wanted to do for a long time. The racing and working conditions are unique – for the cars, the drivers and the team – it takes some getting used to, but we are ready for the challenge.”

The 40th ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours starts at 1600hrs CET on Saturday, 19 May. Keep up to date with Aston Martin’s progress on the official website at www.astonmartin.com/racing, or on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amr_official.

Fans can follow the race live via Radio Le Mans at www.radiolemans.com, which will broadcast for the duration of the 24 hours.

The 40th running of the Nürburgring 24 hour race is almost upon us and Audi has sent out a few words about their campaign.

In all seven 2012-spec R8 LMS ultra GT3s will represent Audi this weekend. Two cars will line up for the factory Audi Sport Team Phoenix outfit, while four other teams will enjoy factory support. Those teams are Audi race experience, Mamerow Racing, Raeder Motorsport and Speedhunters Team WRT.

Australia’s own Warren Luff will line up in the #24 Audi race experience machine. Here’s what he had to say leading in to the race: “It’s a nice opportunity to compete on the Nordschleife again with Audi. Last year I already drove a VLN race and the 24-hour race was my goal even then. Now I’m competing with the Audi race experience. Our chief aim is to run without any problems throughout. If we do, then a good result will be possible too.”

You can read Audi’s full preview after the break.

Audi begins 24-hour marathon

• Three 24-hour races within ten weeks
  
• Five Audi teams at Nürburgring 24 Hours
  
• New Audi R8 LMS ultra competes in large field of GT3 class

Ingolstadt/Nürburgring, May 12, 2012 – Audi is contesting three 24-hour races as factory commitments within the space of ten weeks this year – at the Nürburgring and at Spa with the R8 LMS ultra GT3 sports car and at Le Mans with the R18 LMP sports car. The classic Eifel event on May 19/20 that will be held for the 40th time and at which seven Audi R8 LMS ultra cars meet with strong competition marks the beginning of this marathon.

Audi is starting into the Nürburgring 24 Hours with a carefully orchestrated new formation. For the first time, Audi Sport Team Phoenix as the exclusive factory team is representing the brand with the four rings with two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars. In addition, four other teams with support from Audi Sport customer racing will line up on the grid. They all are relying on the latest generation of Audi’s GT3 sports car, the R8 LMS ultra that has been clearly revised for the 2012 model year. This gives Mamerow Racing, Raeder Motorsport, Speedhunters Team WRT and the Audi race experience the chance of scoring top results as well.

The Audi R8 demonstrated its capabilities at the Nürburgring 24 Hours on as many as three previous occasions. On its debut in 2009 and in the two subsequent years the race car with the V10 mid-engine was always the car to be beaten in the GT3 class. Yet in those years only more complex and higher-powered GT2 models were in contention for overall victory. This year, the SP 9 class for GT3 vehicles with no less than 30 vehicles of eight renowned brands in the field is regarded as the top category.

The changes of the 2012 season include single timed laps of the 40 top contenders in qualifying on Friday. This guarantees clearly higher equality of opportunities than in the past. Another welcome new feature that also encompasses the Spa 24 Hours on July 28 and 29: For the first time, there is a joint trophy by the organizers of both events to be won by the teams that achieve the best aggregated results in the Eifel and in the Ardennes.

From May 18 to 20, Audi Sport is tackling a double race weekend. Whereas Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich coordinates the activities at the third DTM round at Brands Hatch Dieter Gass, Head of Racing Commitments at Audi Sport, is responsible in the Eifel.

The fans on location are not the only ones who can look forward to the major German endurance race. TV audiences will also have excellent opportunities to watch the action. The TV channel Sport1 will provide a total of 23:10 hours of on-air Nürburgring coverage from May 17 to 20. ARD on “Das Erste” is planning to air two live reports of 15 minutes each from the Eifel before and after the DTM race on Sunday afternoon and on Saturday will carry reports in two of its “Sportschau” programs. www.audi.tv will be broadcasting the race by live streaming as well and offering additional coverage of its own.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of Racing Commitments Audi Sport): “In recent years, we celebrated major successes with the Audi R8 LMS at the Nürburgring in the GT3 class. This year, the big aim is to shoot for overall victory. We’ve got a very strong line-up of teams and drivers plus an updated vehicle. The Nürburgring is even more unpredictable than Spa where we clinched overall victory last year. The weather is hard to judge and you can easily find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong moment. But we’re broadly poised with the factory team and the factory-supported customer teams.”

Werner Frowein (quattro GmbH): “The 40th running of the 24-hour race this year is very special for me. 42 years ago, at the inaugural event in 1970, I participated as a race mechanic in the team of Hans-Joachim Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz and clinched the first ever overall victory. Naturally, there’s nothing I wish for more than an overall victory of the Audi R8 LMS ultra that has won so many endurance races and champion’s titles all over the world. This great endurance classic at the Nürburgring is the only one that’s still missing.”

Romolo Liebchen (Head of Audi Sport customer racing): “This year, the GT3 class at the Nürburgring is playing an even more prominent role than before. Even the overall winners from recent years are now relying on such vehicles. Our factory-supported customers are receiving vehicles that are technically identical to those of the factory team. And they are completely integrated with the network in terms of organization, spare parts logistics, team support and information flow through to radio communications. They can profit from the information of the factory team and vice versa.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “Our preparations have been completed. We did everything that was possible. Our drivers have perfectly adjusted to the new car in the VLN races. 24-hour races are our passion, and this particular one is our home round. With the new Audi R8 LMS ultra and our driver squads we’ve got every chance this time of finishing at the very top after several attempts.”

Vincent Vosse (Team Director Speedhunters Team WRT): “We’re intimately familiar with the Audi R8 but are competing with it on the Nordschleife for the first time. For our team, this is not new territory, though. Last year, many of our employees were involved in the Volkswagen factory commitment at the 24-hour race. Still, we’ve got a lot of respect for this event and the track. We know that our drivers can handle this challenge well. They’re drawing on many years of experience in professional racing and have all contested this event before.”

Peter Mamerow (Team Director Mamerow Racing): “The Nordschleife is our home and now we’re getting to know the Audi R8 LMS ultra for the first time. With our driver line-up we’ve got a good mix of experience and youth on the grid. They can all drive the same pace and get along well with each other. I’m eager to see what we can achieve this year.”

Nicki Raeder (Team Director Raeder Motorsport): “Expectations are high. After clinching class victory last year with the TT RS it’s nice to take the next step with the R8 LMS ultra. We’ve fielded GT3 models on previous occasions and started from the pole position in 2009. The drivers are one of our fortes. In addition to good team spirit and cohesion, they have the skills to handle this race very intelligently.”

Josef Haider (Sporting Director Audi race experience): “The Audi race experience is competing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in the second year. Audi has taken the top spot in the group of automobile manufacturers by offering customers with a sporting orientation the opportunity to contest races. This race is the absolute pinnacle of the season for us. Besides the customer car we’re entering a car strictly driven by professionals. For the many loyal fans, this is a nice opportunity to meet international drivers and to experience them on this challenging track.”

Selected quotes from each driver team

Marcel Fässler, Audi R8 LMS ultra #2 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “I’m happy to be able to race at the Nürburgring 24 Hours again. It’s a great race track. We’ve already won a few VLN races but have not been able to take overall victory at the 24-hour race yet. I’m convinced that we’re well prepared and thus have the chance to win the 24 Hours. But as everyone knows such races are always a challenge to ‘man and material.’ You can’t afford to make any mistakes and the pace has got to be right.”

Frank Stippler, Audi R8 LMS ultra #3 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “I’m again extremely excited about the race coming up this year. In winter, we worked hard on the efficiency of the R8 LMS and continued to develop the car’s ultra evolution. I believe that we’ve got a good base to be in contention for overall victory after three consecutive class wins. It’s a long-cherished dream and wish of mine to win this endurance classic once. It would also be a very nice farewell gift to Werner Frowein, who has been driving this project with a lot of passion for years and will begin his well-deserved retirement at the end of the year.”

Allan Simonsen, Audi R8 LMS ultra #4 (Speedhunters Team WRT): “I’m very happy to be able to compete with Audi. Two years ago I was on podium. Now a victory would be perfect. Our driver line-up is good, the car is quick and the team is top-notch. There’s a strong brand behind us. In this race it’s crucial to minimize your pit stops. To do so, you’ve got to use your brains at the wheel.”

Thomas Mutsch, Audi R8 LMS ultra #9 (Raeder Motorsport): “We’ve got a good chance of finishing the 24-hour race among the top five with the Audi R8 this year. Obviously, the weather and a bit of fortune are important too. We’ve thoroughly prepared for this marathon. Raeder Motorsport has done a very good job and I’m confident.”

Warren Luff, Audi R8 LMS ultra #24 (Audi race experience): “It’s a nice opportunity to compete on the Nordschleife again with Audi. Last year I already drove a VLN race and the 24-hour race was my goal even then. Now I’m competing with the Audi race experience. Our chief aim is to run without any problems throughout. If we do, then a good result will be possible too.”

Marco Werner, Audi R8 LMS ultra #25 (Audi race experience): “I’m really looking forward to the Nürburgring 24 Hours because it’s my second race this year. There’s almost nothing better than driving on a challenging track like the Nürburgring and a fascinating car like the R8 LMS ultra. That’s a challenge. I’ve got a lot of ties to the Nordschleife, after all, that’s where I drove my first race.”

Christian Mamerow, Audi R8 LMS ultra #26 (Mamerow Racing): “The Nordschleife is our territory. We’ve been active in endurance racing there for many years. With Audi a totally new opportunity has materialized for us. I’m hoping that right in the first year with the R8 LMS ultra we’ll be able to demonstrate this car’s potential. Our whole squad is looking forward to this.”

The Audi teams at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours

Audi Sport Team Phoenix
#2 Marcel Fässler (CH)/Christopher Mies (D)/René Rast (D)/Frank Stippler (D)
#3 Marc Basseng/Christopher Haase/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock (all D)

Speedhunters Team WRT
#4 Oliver Jarvis (GB)/Andrea Piccini (I)/Edward Sandström (S)/Allan Simonsen (DK)

Raeder Motorsport
#9 Frank Biela/Christian Hohenadel/Luca Ludwig/Thomas Mutsch (all D)

Audi race experience
#24 Luca Cappellari (I)/Florian Gruber (D)/Warren Luff (AUS)/Alex Yoong (MAL)
#25 Christian Bollrath (D)/Pierre Ehret (D)/Peter Venn (GB)/Marco Werner (D)

Mamerow Racing
#26 Christian Abt/Michael Ammermüller/Armin Hahne/Christian Mamerow (all D)

Nürburgring timetable

Thursday, May 17
14:30–16:00 Free practice
19:30–23:30 Qualifying 1

Friday, May 18
09:35–11:35 Qualifying 2
18:00–18:50 Top 40 qualifying

Saturday, May 19
13:30–15:10 Grid formation
16:00 Start

Sunday, May 20
16:00 Finish

Freelance motoring journalist Karl Peskett was recently at the Nürburgring as a guest of Jaguar. He was kind enough to pen a few thoughts for us.

The Nürburgring. It’s the name which strikes fear into the hearts of many, and awe into the minds of others. It was named Green Hell by Sir Jackie Stewart—“Green” because it’s surrounded by forest and fields, and “Hell” because, as Niki Lauda can attest, the risks can often outweigh the rewards.

It’s like the Crowded House song, “Four seasons in one day”, because of its length. The Nürburgring “Nordschleife” (Northern Loop) is a track that experiences such a diverse range of weather conditions that the north end of the track is often a complete contrast to the southern end. Its elevation also affects conditions in this respect, sitting at 620 feet above sea level in the Eifel mountains. Every cloud in the Atlantic makes a path directly for the track, so you should always account for a risk of rain when you visit the track.

The Nordschleife is motoring Mecca, though, and almost all petrolheads will make a pilgrimage at some point. Before you do, though, you need to know what to expect, because often the expectations you have are shattered once you arrive.

You’ll know you’re near the ‘Ring by the amount of Porsche GT3s which congregate on the local roads. Throw in a Caterham or two, and some test mules for Jaguar, BMW and Audi, and you can sense the gravity of the ‘Ring.

There’s a small roundabout close to the entrance, and a modest metal gate. It’s not a swish entrance, or an area in which fanfare is common—this is just a track in rural Germany after all. What were to be the actual tourist attractions are further along, near the Lindner Hotel, but the rollercoaster still isn’t running, years after it was built. It’s what lies behind that gate, though, that makes this place so special.

AUSringers was invited to experience the track during a closed session, with a lead driver showing us the lines to follow. Tom Schwister, who has raced in BMW ADAC Formula Junior, Formula Renault, Formula 3, Champion Formula BMW ADAC, Renault Clio V6 Trophy  and Porsche Carrera Cup, is the man who is taking the lead.

Tom is in his late 30s, with a head-full of dark brown hair, and a quiet but confident disposition. He’s been a Nürburgring driving instructor for around 12 years, so his knowledge of the track is invaluable. Having a local instructor is by far the best way to tackle the track, because the Nürburgring is one of those places where you may think you have yourself lined up ready for the corner, but you should actually be on the other side of the track.

After heading through the gates, we line up at the starting position, off to the right of the track. A boom gate is lifted, you drive through a laneway, and then you are onto the Nordschliefe. The first section is part of the main straight, which then slightly bends to the left. A couple of simple corners right and left, then lead to a hard right turn which is blocked by a wall, so you can’t see what’s on the other side. It’s one of the slower sections of the track, however, meaning you shouldn’t run into too much trouble. You then pass the point at which most companies use to begin the timing of their official laps.

The first left hander is quite easy after that, and it’s quickly followed by a couple of tight left and right turns in which you can happily clip the kerb and use the wheel to follow easy left and easy right. And this is where the trick to driving the Nordschleife comes into play—steering movement.

Tom tells us to follow his line and just watch what the wheel is doing. Amazingly, it doesn’t move much at all; just a few degrees each time, and a bit more on the sharper corners. The secret to getting a good lap time at the Nürburgring is simple: Don’t move the wheel too much. The less steering angle required, the quicker you’ll end up being.

It proves true, too, with sharper steering throwing the car off balance, or even inducing oversteer. While that might be fun—actually, yes it is fun—it’s not fast. Some corners are in fact double or triple apexes, and if you try to steer into each apex you won’t follow the correct line. One fluid steering movement, one steering angle and you’ve set the car up to tackle several corners at once. Unloading the wheel as soon as you can straightens the car up so you can get onto the throttle earlier. The later you can brake, and the earlier you can accelerate, the quicker time you’re going to put in.

A word of warning to the uninitiated: this is not the track for heroics. Don’t think you’ll be able to rock up and then start coming into corners backwards, powersliding your way through the track like a D1 champion. Sure, Sabine may be able to do it in her M5 Ring Taxi, but we’re talking someone who knows each corner intimately.

Drifting on the Nordschleife is not advisable for one very important reason—the track is narrow. Like, liquorice-strip narrow. That means there’s no runoff. It’s track, then kerb (sometimes, if you’re lucky), and then barrier. Occasionally, on some of the tighter corners there will be a little bit of kitty letter after the apex, but for the most part, you’re on your own. Crash into the barrier as well and there’s little sympathy—you’ll be paying for any damage you’ve done to the track or armco.

Further along the track you’ll come across a section with open left and right corners, but again, with the limited steering rule, you can straightline that section, speeding up your approach to the following left hander.

I found myself turning in too early initially, but following Tom’s line, a bit later on the brakes and a bit later turning in would set the car up ready for the correct line out of the corner. Unwind the wheel smoothly and you’re ready to jump back on the gas and power away.

That is, of course, until the rain came. All of a sudden, the track takes on a completely different dynamic. The main straight doesn’t drain the water away that quickly, so you have a very real risk of aquaplaning. And if your car is fitted with semi-slicks, you may as well raise the white flag there and then.

With our lead-follow set up, the cars behind suffer dramatically from water spray and it’s virtually impossible to see the car in front. The trick then is to look at the road—the water parted by the tyres shows you the exact line that the car in front has taken. While that’s helpful for placing your wheels and seeing how Mr Schwister clipped apexes, it doesn’t show you how grippy or slippy it is.

Actually, the worst time to drive is after a brief shower, because the water is draining off and making it impossible to predict grip levels. At least if the rain is continuous, you know what to expect. While our cars were 550hp supercharged Jaguar V8s with rear-wheel-drive, it was a good thing they had a track mode for the stability control system; it allows for a certain amount of slip but doesn’t let you get too far out of shape.

In the wet, the Nordschleife can be broken down into two areas: 1) The first three-quarters and 2) the last quarter. Broadly speaking, the first three quarters are the older sections of tarmac, meaning plenty of graffiti (paint makes the road like black-ice when it’s wet) and old surface, so grip is almost absent. The last quarter or so has had new asphalt laid across it and you can feel a huge difference in how well the car grabs onto the road.

In the wet, the limited steering rule plays an even more important role. While everyone else will be skidding about, spearing off the track, a slightly more disciplined approach with throttle application and steering input means you won’t get the car out of shape. Very slowly unwind the wheel when exiting corners and you won’t risk ending up backwards and into the armco.

There are two “jumps” on the track (the most famous being Flugplatz), and on both, you’ll want to have the wheel straight before you head over them. Likewise, brake before the jump and after the car is on the other side and the suspension has settled.

The Karussell and mini-Karussell are left-hand bends in which the car drops into a steep embankment. The trick here is to keep your left wheel hard into the corner and DO NOT come out until the end. The mini-Karusell is the most dangerous, as it doesn’t seem that steep, but if you leave it too early it’ll launch you backwards. In the wet, it’s the most critical to stay with the corner and don’t let bravery overtake knowledge.

In our time at the Nordschleife we were able to experience the track completely dry and sodden with water. Both require knowledge of the track, but more importantly, both require a modicum of self control. If you expect to turn up and put in a sub eight minute time without any experience, then you may as well stay home.

Schwister says that it takes around 50 laps to get to know the track and another 50 to become somewhat competent. Sure, you can study it using GT5 or another race simulator, but all that will tell you is where the corners are. There’s no sense of elevation or the stomach-compressing G-forces which tell your lunch to exit your body.

The Nürburgring Nordschleife is the racetrack which is the benchmark for real motoring enthusiasts—forget the TopGear track—the fact the public is invited to take part makes it something rather special.

If you’re a true petrolhead, then a trip to Germany and a visit to the Eifel Mountains must be one of your priorities. It may be called Green Hell, but for a car enthusiast, it’s motoring heaven.

– Karl Peskett