24h Nürburgring: title defense, BMW M3 Touring 24H and numerous activities for fans and guests – a full programme for BMW M Motorsport in the “Green Hell”.

Munich. One of the absolute highlights of the season awaits BMW M Motorsport next weekend with the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER). Three BMW M4 GT3 EVOs will be battling for their second overall victory in a row after the 2025 triumph. The BMW M3 Touring 24H, which proved to be a great fan favourite in the preparatory races, will enter the race in a new design. The BMW M and BMW M Motorsport support programme will feature numerous activities for fans and guests .

As defending champions, ROWE Racing is sending two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs into the race. Car #1, shared by last year's winners Augusto Farfus (BRA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Kelvin van der Linde (RSA) with Jordan Pepper (RSA), has already qualified for Top Qualifying 3, the shootout for the first twelve grid positions, based on the results of the preparatory races. The ROWE Racing #99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, with drivers Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and the Schubert Motorsport #77, with Philipp Eng (AUT), Robin Frijns (NED), Charles Weerts (BEL) and Marco Wittmann (GER) at the wheel, still have to secure one of the remaining seven places in the shootout in the course of Top Qualifying 1 and 2. In preparation for the 24-hour race, both ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport have each won a round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS).

The BMW M3 Touring 24H is the big fan favourite in the BMW line-up of 38 cars. The car, which evolved from an April Fool's joke, has won the SPX class in all the preparatory races in which it has taken part, proving that it can keep up with the GT3 cars in terms of speed. The cockpit of the BMW M3 Touring 24H, which will contest the 24-hour race in a new design, will be shared by Connor De Phillippi (USA), Ugo de Wilde (BEL), Jens Klingmann (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA).

The BMW M3 Touring 24H, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO and numerous other BMW race cars will make their first major appearance for the fans on Wednesday at the Adenauer Racing Day. BMW M and BMW M Motorsport will offer an extensive support programme for their numerous guests in a large hospitality area in the paddock. A highlight this year will once again be the BMW M Corso around the Nordschleife on Saturday before the race. A public viewing of the race action will take place at BMW Welt in Munich (GER) over the weekend. This will be accompanied by a sim racing challenge (Saturday, 15:00-20:00) and talks and autograph sessions (Sunday, from 12:00pm) with BMW M works driver Tim Tramnitz (GER) and Automotive Gaming driver Gregor Schill (GER). It is therefore well worth paying a visit to BMW Welt.

Quotes ahead of the 24h Nürburgring:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): "The 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours will be a spectacle – both for the fans and for us from a sporting perspective. We have a huge grid with extremely strong cars and some great projects like our BMW M3 Touring 24H. Under the motto 'By the fans – for the fans', the car has already caused quite a stir in the run-up to the race. In the battle for overall victory, we have three very strong BMW M4 GT3 EVOs on the grid. We will start the race as defending champions with starting number one. This is an honour and at the same time a great incentive to be on the top step of the podium again. I can hardly wait to drive to the Nürburgring and keep my fingers crossed for all BMW participants. I also wish that the weather plays along to some extent for the incredible number of fans."

Raffaele Marciello (#1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, ROWE Racing): "This is one of the biggest races in the world, and I was lucky enough to win it last year. That was one of the best days of my life as a racing driver. We have almost the same line-up as last year, and Jordan is a very strong fourth driver. Together with the great ROWE Racing team, we will do everything we can to defend the number one on the car. We know that the competition is very strong, but we have every chance of finishing at the front again."

Sheldon van der Linde (#99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, ROWE Racing): "I'm delighted to be back in the cockpit of the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. I last drove in NLS1 on the Friday, but the race was then cancelled due to snow. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to collect any race kilometres this year, but my driver colleagues and the team have done a great job and prepared the car perfectly. I think we have a very good chance of playing a major role in the fight for the podium and hopefully also for victory. Our driver line-up is extremely strong. This is my first time driving a car with Dan and Max, and I know Dries very well. After my first FIA WEC victory last weekend, my motivation is all the greater to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time at the Nürburgring."

Robin Frijns (#77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Schubert Motorsport): "I'm really looking forward to driving on this spectacular track. It's always a pleasure to race at the highest level on the Nordschleife. We were able to win a race in preparation, which was very positive. Our development project with our tyre partner Yokohama is still relatively new, but we were still able to show that we can win when everything fits. It looks like the weather conditions will be difficult and changeable next weekend. That could be a challenge for us, but we will do everything we can to make the most of our opportunities."

Jens Klingmann (#81 BMW M3 Touring 24H, BMW M Motorsport): "I'm expecting a terrific event and absolute top-class sport next weekend. The starting field with great projects like our BMW M3 Touring 24H or the Mercedes in our SPX class, with a superstar like Max Verstappen and more than 40 GT3 cars in the top category promises one of the best 24-hour races for many years. Racing on the Nordschleife has certainly reached a peak with the 2026 edition. We are very well prepared with our BMW M3 Touring 24H. We had no technical issues and a strong pace in the run-up to the race. We enjoy the fact that we will be one of the fan favourites of the weekend, but we also have the sporting ambition to achieve the best possible result. However, our top priority is to complete the 24 hours and present our car to the fans over the full distance on the track."