– The Nürburgring is preparing for a weekend dedicated entirely to motorsport enthusiasm.
Read more After summit: No agreement for MotoGP “Concorde Agreement”
The 57. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy not only marks the third round of the 2026 Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) season, but is also a meeting point for tradition, technological innovation, and international top-class racing. From the first steps in kart slalom to gripping multiclass racing on the Nordschleife, the event offers a stage for every facet of racing ().
Racing Premiere: HWA EVO.R Comes to Life
A highly emotional moment at NLS3 is the worldwide racing premiere of a vehicle that bridges the gap between glorious motorsport tradition and state-of-the-art high-end technology: the HWA EVO.R. In the SP-X class, the team from Affalterbach is sending two prototypes (start numbers 61 and 62) into the “Green Hell”.
The entry marks a milestone for HWA: the first proprietary model in the company’s history faces the world’s toughest racetrack under competitive conditions for the first time. The HWA EVO is a modern homage to the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, a style icon of the early 1990s.
But beneath the striking silhouette, which is limited to 100 units, lies a completely new development. The car with start number 61 will be piloted by Evald Holstad, Christian Gebhardt, and Sebastian Asch. The sister car with start number 66 is shared by Luca Ludwig, Jamie Green, and Lance David Arnold.
HWA CEO Martin Marx describes the significance of the project as follows: “We are delighted that NLS3 is getting underway. For us, the series is the ideal platform to bring in our many years of experience under extreme conditions. At the same time, this entry has a special meaning for us because, as a team, we are working on a project that drives us. With the HWA EVO.R, we are using this environment to specifically further develop the vehicle and prepare it optimally.”
Return of the “old lady”: Emotional Reincarnation of the BMW Z4 GT3
A special highlight of the 57. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy is the return of an absolute fan favorite. Peter Posavac is bringing the legendary BMW Z4 GT3 (start number 40) back to the asphalt of the Nürburgring, ensuring goosebump moments in the pit lane.
The project is a pure labor of love, fueled by the overwhelming response from the motorsport community. “This is highly emotional and shows what motorsport makes possible,” Posavac describes the wave of support from fans and former companions.
After previous entries in 2018 and 2019 ended prematurely, the team still has unfinished business with the Nordschleife. Nevertheless, the team is proceeding prudently. At NLS3, the focus is initially on tire homologation and important test laps to be optimally prepared for the year’s big highlight.
Posavac emphasizes with great anticipation: “I am incredibly happy to bring the old lady to the start once again.” Together with Michael Funke, he will bring the V8 sound of the “Zetti” back to life in the SP9 AM class.
Promotion to the Top Class: Kamui Kobayashi in the KCMG GT3
A familiar face in a new role is the Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi. The former Formula 1 driver, World Endurance Champion, and Le Mans winner remains loyal to Team KCMG but steps up to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with start number 47 for the 57. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy.
Already in 2024, Kobayashi completed his mandatory laps for the DMSB Nordschleife Permit on a Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2. This entry now marks his next step into the SP9 Pro class. To efficiently manage the transition to the significantly more powerful GT3 vehicle in the dense race traffic of the NLS, Kobayashi will be flanked by an experienced lineup. He shares the cockpit with Jesse Krohn, Edoardo Liberati, and David Pittard, who have extensive endurance experience on the Nordschleife.
Read more World champion stumbles: Lando Norris doesn’t feel comfortable in the McLaren
Kobayashi assesses his first GT3 entry in the Green Hell as follows: “It will be an incredible experience to drive a GT3 at the Nürburgring. Before my DPN entries in 2024, I had never been to the Nordschleife. Therefore, it was impressive to see it in reality, completely without expectations. This racetrack is among the most demanding and exciting in the world, and I can’t wait to make my SP9 debut with KCMG at NLS3.”
Global Horsepower Festival: The Giants of the Entry List
The internationality of the Nordschleife is clearly reflected in the provisional entry list, which includes around 350 drivers from 37 nations. The largest entry in terms of quantity is provided by SRS Team Sorg Rennsport with ten vehicles, followed by Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, which is represented by nine cars. Black Falcon is also arriving with a strong fleet of seven cars.
AsBest Racing, Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing, and W&S Motorsport are each bringing five vehicles to the start, with the spectrum ranging from TCR racers and Porsche Cup models to BMW Cup vehicles. The field of major teams is rounded off by squads such as Max Kruse Racing and Prosport Racing, which contribute to the high number of participants with four vehicles each, totaling 139 registered cars.
Youth Development: Season Start of the NLS Kart Slalom Championship
Following the great success of the previous year, the 2026 NLS Youth Kart Championship is entering its second round. Under the trend-setting motto “From Kart Slalom Sport to Circuit Racing on the Nordschleife,” MSC Adenau and the VLN pursue the common goal of promoting young talent early on and providing them with a long-term perspective in motorsport.
The first of a total of three season rounds will take place on Saturday in the Historic Paddock. In a total of six age groups, young drivers born between 2005 and 2019 will compete to prove themselves in the slalom kart. The competition starts at 10:00 AM with Class 1. The ceremonial conclusion of the first race day will be the award ceremony at 5:30 PM in the Nürburgring Media Center, where the five top-placed drivers in each age group will be honored.
Bridging the Gap to the Virtual World: Honoring the DNLS Champions
A special sign of the close connection between real and digital motorsport will be set during the break between practice and the race. In the spotlight are the champions of the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series (DNLS) for the 2025/2026 winter season, as well as the winners of the 2025 Community Cup, who will receive their official honors on Saturday.
The past season marked a milestone, as participants were able to have racing experience credited toward the DMSB Nordschleife Permit for the first time. Among those celebrated is Team BS+COMPETITION, which confidently secured the overall cross-class title with a perfect record of four wins in four races.
In the premier SP9 class, the Falken Simracing team will be honored, having secured the championship after a dramatic finale. Also called to the podium will be the new champions of the Porsche Cup class (PEETN) from Team EMM Esports, as well as the titleholders of the SP10 class from Team SimRC.
Tickets for the third event of the anniversary season, the 57. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, cost 25 Euro (children up to and including 14 years old are free) and are available at VLN.de/tickets as well as at the box offices. This provides access to the open grandstands at the Grand Prix circuit, the exclusive spectator areas of Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, as well as the paddock, the pit lane, and the starting grid.
Qualifying for the best positions on the starting grid takes place between 8:30 and 10 AM. The race start for the four-hour endurance race is at 12 PM. The livestream on Motorsport-Total.com begins at 08:15 AM.
Read more New Geely E5 (2026): Electric SUV starts from 37.990 Euro
