Mercedes-AMG Motorsport announces Performance line-up for Nürburgring programme

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has named two Performance Teams for the 2026 Nürburgring programme: Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL and Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. Both teams will take on the challenge of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and compete in the top category, the SP9 class. The two Mercedes-AMG GT3, which will once again be running on MICHELIN tyres, will be fielded by Team Winward Racing. 

The programme for the two Performance Teams includes the NLS1 and NLS2 races of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. Even after the endurance classic, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL will continue to compete in selected races of the NLS. In addition to the two Performance Teams' commitments, further starts with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 are planned by AMG Customer Racing Teams with a view to the 24-hour race.

Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL with extensive Nordschleife programme

The Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL will compete in several events of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie in addition to the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The Performance Team will thus ensure an extensive presence for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport in the 2026 NLS season. For the 24-hour race, the team is relying on an experienced and proven driver line-up with Maro Engel (GER), Maxime Martin (BEL), Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz (both GER), who already competed together in 2025. 

Maro Engel has been part of the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport line-up for the 24-hour race since 2014 and was part of the quartet of drivers who celebrated the brand's last overall victory in this endurance classic to date in 2016. Maxime Martin is making his second appearance for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The Belgian has extensive experience on the Nordschleife and has proven his performance capabilities on numerous occasions, particularly in challenging weather conditions. Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz, both of whom grew up in the immediate vicinity of the Nürburgring, have been an integral part of the AMG line-up at the 24-hour race for years. Schiller made his first start in the endurance classic for Mercedes- AMG Motorsport in 2019 and finished second in 2022. Stolz will line up for the brand at the 24-hour race for the tenth time this year. The team's Mercedes-AMG GT3 bears the start number 80 – in reference to RAVENOL's 80th anniversary. The company has been an official partner of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport since 2023.

Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing also with a top-class line-up

Starting this year, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing is not only fielding a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe, but also in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, and selected NLS preparatory races. The Nürburgring entry is supported by Red Bull, which is also reflected in the striking vehicle livery. The driver line-up includes Mercedes-AMG Performance Drivers Lucas Auer (AUT) and Jules Gounon (AND), Daniel Juncadella (ESP) as well as Max Verstappen (NED). Auer has been part of the AMG line-up at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring since 2024. With one victory and two second places in races in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, he has established himself in the endurance programme. 

Gounon and Juncadella have extensive experience on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and also compete together for the team in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Juncadella also in the Sprint Cup. Max Verstappen made his Nordschleife debut last year and will compete in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring for the first time in 2026. Furthermore, Verstappen will also be part of the line-up for NLS2 on 21 March, which serves as an important preparation race. The race was originally scheduled for 28 March. Brought forward by one week, which Mercedes-AMG Motorsport had reviewed together with Max Verstappen’s management and which was ultimately implemented by the NLS series organiser, the Dutchman can now take part in NLS2. The team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 will carry the number 3.

Different vehicle line-ups in preparation for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring

The 24-hour race will be contested with the aforementioned driver line-ups. In preparation for the endurance classic, there will be changes to the line-ups within Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL and Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing for the NLS1 and NLS2 races and the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers due to scheduling conflicts with other international racing series.

Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport : “The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is the ultimate benchmark for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, both in terms of sport and technology. The Nordschleife is considered the toughest test in GT sport and is also a central part of our development DNA. Max Verstappen's participation in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 as part of the Nürburgring programme will generate a lot of attention. My thanks go to all parties involved, whose constructive cooperation has made this commitment possible. Together with our long-standing partner RAVENOL and Verstappen Racing, we are already sending a clear message: we are entering the race with the aim of competing for overall victory.”

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing : “With our Performance line-up, we are excellently positioned for the traditionally strong field of the 24h Nürburgring. Together with RAVENOL and Verstappen Racing, we put together a balanced driver pairing whose different strengths complement each other perfectly. We are very proud that Max Verstappen and his team are also part of the AMG line-up. Together with the operational team Winward Racing and tyre partner MICHELIN, we have analysed the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in detail once again to tap into further performance potential. With the start of an intensive test programme in southern Europe at the end of February, the foundation has been laid for a successful outing at the Nürburgring.”

Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80 : “The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is one of my favourite tracks and poses an enormous challenge for both man and machine. With all its ups and downs, it has shaped me both athletically and personally. To be successful on this track, you need a perfectly tuned vehicle, the right line-up, a strong team and, last but not least, a little bit of luck. We have had all of these things time and again in the past, but we have not achieved major success since 2016. We want to change that. The Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL is competing this year with a special design, and if the car is as fast as it looks with the cheetah, that is a good omen.“

Maxime Martin, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80 : “It’s my second time competing with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport in the 24-hour race. We’re starting with a different team, but the same line-up, which gives us a strong foundation. The operational team Winward Racing is one of the most experienced when it comes to the Mercedes-AMG GT3. The podium in Daytona and the victory in Bathurst have given me great confidence heading into this event. The 24h Nürburgring is one of the biggest races of the year, and I’m very proud to be part of this project. I hope we can put everything together and achieve a strong result.”

Fabian Schiller, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80 : “The Nürburgring programme always has a special meaning for me, as I grew up in the region. The 24-hour race is very different from other endurance races. With minimum pit stop times and no classic safety car phases, it's full throttle from start to finish. Every second lost has to be made up on the track – that's what makes this event so unique. Added to this are the extraordinary length of the track, its special characteristics and the changeable conditions. However, we are very well positioned with the versatile Mercedes-AMG GT3 and I hope that we can be right up there at the front again this year."

Luca Stolz, Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL #80 : “I'm much looking forward to the Nürburgring programme and hope to have a good and intensive preparation. It's not only my favourite track, but also my home track. I already raced there last year with Maro, Maxime and Fabi. It's a strong and well-coordinated line-up. Over the winter, a few adjustments were made to the track, including to the kerbs in Wippermann and Brünnchen. I'll take a closer look at that, as well as any new asphalt sections.”

Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing #3 : “Being able to compete for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife since 2024 naturally makes me proud. I am really looking forward to this year. What a line-up, what an event on this unique track. This year, we are in an excellent position with Dani, Jules and Max. I am a racing driver, my goal is clear. The key now is to prepare ourselves optimally and get the most out of our overall package.”

Jules Gounon, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing #3 : “It’s great to be back at the 24-hour race after a year away. Finishing on the podium in 2022, my ambition is clearly to go for an even stronger result this time. Since joining the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing in the GT World Challenge, it’s good to work with them as well at the Nordschleife. That continuity helps us build momentum and work efficiently together. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has proven to be a strong package at the Nürburgring, and with Luggi, Dani and Max we have a very competitive line-up. We all share the same mindset and approach. I already had two amazing test days with Max in Estoril, and I’m sure that we will prepare best.”

Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing #3 : “I am incredibly proud to have the opportunity to join Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. I love the 24h Nürburgring. I have been racing there for many years, and I am hoping to finally get a shot at winning this race. Our package is extremely strong. It’s a very competitive car with a very strong line-up. I know Max quite well from his simulator racing team. Also preparing for the 24h Nürburgring in the simulator is very valuable, and we have already done a lot of preparation work. I am very thankful to Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, as well as to Genesis Magma Racing, whom I represent in the Hypercar programme, for giving me the approval to pursue this GT3 project.”

Max Verstappen, Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing #3 : “The Nürburgring is a special place. There’s no other track like it. The 24h Nürburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now. Last year, I was able to get my DMSB Permit Nordschleife and participate in NLS9, that we won. That preparation is very valuable,as we have learned a lot that we can take into our programme this year with NLS2 and the 24-hour race. We’ve got a strong line-up with Dani, Jules and Lucas and great support from Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Now it’s about putting in the right preparations before the events, so we can maximise everything in the races.”