Walkenhorst Motorsport will start with a strong line-up of Aston Martin factory drivers at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring

The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring has been an absolute highlight on Walkenhorst Motorsport's annual race calendar for many years. This year, the team from Melle will once again be competing with a strong line-up. The team's top car will be driven by no fewer than four official Aston Martin factory drivers.

‘For many years we have been chasing victory at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring,’ says team founder Henry Walkenhorst. ’This year we are starting with one of our strongest line-ups ever. I am confident that we can be in contention at the front of the field and I'm already looking forward to the race!’

The driver line-up for the top car consists of Aston Martin factory drivers, some of whom have been part of Walkenhorst Motorsport for many years. All four drivers have plenty of experience on the Nordschleife and are among the fastest drivers on the legendary track. Mattia Drudi, Christian Krognes, David Pittard and Nicki Thiim will share the wheel of the car during the 24-hour race in the Eifel.

Thiim from Denmark has already won the race in 2013. Since joining Aston Martin, he has taken a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and has twice been crowned champion in the GTE Pro class of the FIA WEC. Pittard triumphed at the Eifel classic in 2023 with a Ferrari before returning to Walkenhorst Motorsport. Christian Krognes won the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie in 2012. The Norwegian has been driving for Walkenhorst Motorsport since 2016 and won the 2018 Spa 24 Hours with the team. In 2023, he won five NLS races with the team from Lower Saxony. Mattia Drudi became GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup champion with an Audi in 2023.

‘After a year of development for the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO, I'm very happy to be back on the Nordschleife and tackling the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Walkenhorst Motorsport,’ said David Pittard. ‘Last year, the car and the team proved to be competitive right from the start, and with four AMR drivers in the line-up, each with a wealth of experience on the Nordschleife, I am very confident that we will be among the frontrunners again!’

Nicki Thiim, son of 1986 DTM champion Kurt Thiim, is also looking forward to competing with the team on the Nordschleife again: ‘Of course I'm really looking forward to the task with Walkenhorst Motorsport and Aston Martin! We now all have a year of experience with the car. Last year was a bit disappointing, of course, but that's in the past. But now we're looking ahead. We have an incredibly strong line-up of drivers and I have great confidence in our chances. It's always a pleasure to work with the Walkenhorst family and I'm really looking forward to this year!"

‘The Nürburgring 24-hour race is always a personal highlight of the year and I'm very happy to be competing again with an incredibly strong team at Walkenhorst Motorsport. Our goal is clear and simple: we want to take our beautiful Vantage to our first victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours!’ says newly-appointed Aston Martin works driver Christian Krognes, brimming with confidence.

‘I'm looking forward to returning to the Green Hell, especially for the 24-hour race. I believe that the Aston Martin Vantage is very well suited to this racetrack, and with such an experienced team and team-mate, I'm confident that we can put in a strong race,’ said Mattia Drudi ahead of his first start with Aston Martin in the endurance classic.

In preparation for the endurance classic, Walkenhorst Motorsport will contest the NLS races two and three with a changing line-up of drivers from their pro drivers, and will also compete in both ADAC 24h Qualifier races.

In addition to the works-supported pro car, Walkenhorst Motorsport will also field an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the SP9 Pro-Am class and the SP9 Am class. The line-up of the team from Melle is rounded off by an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and a Hyundai i30N.

"For many years we have been chasing a top result in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring – we want to change that this year! Our Pro car has an incredibly strong line-up, including long-standing Walkenhorst Motorsport drivers and ultra-fast Aston Martin factory drivers. We will also use the Pro car to compete in the remaining preparation races to ensure we are as well prepared as possible for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring,’ says Managing Director Jörg Breuer confidently.