Samwise Sportscar & Endurance Newsletter
Sunday, May 17, 2026
ROWE Racing BMW Wins Nürburgring 24 Hours in Stunning Comeback from 17th
ROWE Racing secured BMW’s 21st overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Raffaele Marciello, and Kelvin van der Linde steering the sole BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the field from 17th on the grid to the top step of the podium. The team executed a flawless race strategy over the 24-hour endurance classic on the 25-kilometer Nordschleife combination layout, capitalizing on attrition among the frontrunners — including the retirement of race leader Max Verstappen’s Mercedes — and maintaining consistent pace through changing conditions. A record crowd of over 300,000 spectators witnessed the triumph.
Sources: The Race
Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours Debut Ends in Heartbreak After Driveshaft Failure
Max Verstappen’s bid for victory in his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut ended in devastating fashion when his No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 suffered a right-rear driveshaft failure with approximately three hours remaining. The four-time Formula 1 champion had led the race for much of the second half, pulling over 30 seconds clear of the field during a stunning night stint that showcased his exceptional car control on the treacherous Nordschleife. Co-driver Daniel Juncadella was at the wheel when the failure struck, reporting ABS problems and rear-axle damage that proved terminal. The team could not return to competitive running.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Former F1 Driver Timo Glock Disqualified from N24 and Loses Racing Licence
Former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock was disqualified from the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours and had his DMSB racing licence revoked after exceeding the speed limit in a Code 60 slow zone. Glock, driving the No. 69 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, was clocked at 112 km/h in a zone restricted to 60 km/h. Having already accumulated two penalty points during qualifying, the additional infraction triggered an automatic disqualification and licence withdrawal under German motorsport regulations. Two other drivers also received disqualifications for similar Code 60 violations during a dramatic overnight period that saw stewards issue multiple penalties across the field.
Sources: Crash.net
Abt Lamborghini Locks Out Nürburgring 24 Hours Front Row with Engstler on Pole
Red Bull Team Abt locked out the front row for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours as Luca Engstler claimed pole position with an 8:11.123 lap in the No. 84 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. Teammate Marco Mapelli secured second in the No. 130 sister car, giving Lamborghini a commanding qualifying result at the Nordschleife. Max Verstappen qualified fourth in the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 after reaching the Top Qualifying 3 shootout. However, neither Lamborghini converted its qualifying advantage into victory, with Mapelli receiving a 32-second penalty for jumping the rolling start and the No. 84 encountering problems during the race.
Sources: Daily Sportscar
Opening-Lap Contact Between Verstappen Team and Polesitter Sets Tone for Chaotic N24
The 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours began with immediate drama as pole-sitting Mirko Bortolotti in the No. 84 Red Bull Team Abt Lamborghini suffered a puncture following contact with Daniel Juncadella’s No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes at the opening corner. Marco Mapelli in the sister No. 130 Lamborghini initially grabbed the lead from second on the grid but earned a 32-second penalty for jumping the rolling start. The incidents set the tone for a chaotic race that saw multiple safety car periods, Code 60 zone controversies, and three driver disqualifications during the overnight hours as teams navigated constantly changing conditions on the Nordschleife.
Sources: The Race
Ford Mustang GT3 Fields Three-Car Lineup at Nürburgring 24 Hours
Ford entered three Mustang GT3 machines in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, marking a significant GT3 endurance commitment for the manufacturer. The No. 64 entry featured drivers Arjun Maini, Fabio Scherer, Frank Stippler, and David Schumacher — son of former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The race represented an important development opportunity for the Mustang GT3 platform ahead of its expanding global racing program. Ford is simultaneously preparing for its 2027 WEC Hypercar debut with a new LMDh prototype, making this weekend’s N24 endurance running a valuable data-gathering exercise for the American manufacturer’s broader motorsport ambitions across categories.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Le Mans 2026 Complete Driver Lineups Finalized for 62-Car, 186-Driver Field
The complete 186-driver lineup for the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans has been confirmed, with 62 cars set to take to the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 13–14. Genesis Magma Racing headlines the newcomers, fielding two GMR-001 Hypercars with three-time Le Mans winner André Lotterer leading the No. 17 alongside Luis Felipe Derani and Mathys Jaubert. The No. 19 pairs Mathieu Jaminet with Paul-Loup Chatin and Daniel Juncadella. The Hypercar class features 18 entries from eight manufacturers, while cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish is confirmed to wave the start flag at 16:00 on race day in front of an expected record crowd.
Sources: 24h-lemans.com
Record Crowd of 300,000 Witnesses Most-Watched Nürburgring 24 Hours in Over a Decade
The 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours attracted a record crowd of over 300,000 spectators, making it the biggest attendance in over a decade at the legendary German circuit. The presence of four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under his own Verstappen Racing banner, drew massive global attention to endurance racing’s Nordschleife showcase. Millions followed the event through online live streams as broadcasters worldwide carried the race. The record numbers underscore the growing crossover appeal between Formula 1 and GT endurance racing, with high-profile drivers increasingly competing across disciplines during gaps in the F1 calendar, boosting the sport’s commercial profile.
Sources: Motorsport.com
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Rast / Frijns / van der Linde — 35 pts
2. Hartley / Hirakawa / Buemi — 26 pts
3. Magnussen / Marciello / Vanthoor — 25 pts
4. Bortolotti / Ilott / Kubica — 22 pts
5. Fuoco / Molina / Nielsen — 20 pts
WEC Hypercar — Teams
1. BMW — 59 pts
2. Toyota — 52 pts
3. Ferrari — 42 pts
4. Aston Martin — 14 pts
5. Alpine — 14 pts
6. Peugeot — 9 pts
7. Cadillac — 8 pts
8. Genesis — 6 pts
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Andlauer / Nasr — 1061 pts
2. Heinrich — 1026 pts
3. Aitken / Vesti — 1023 pts
4. Estre — 977 pts
5. Bamber / Lynn — 950 pts
IMSA GTP — Teams
1. Porsche Penske Motorsport — 2087 pts
2. Cadillac Racing — 2035 pts
3. Acura Meyer Shank Racing — 1967 pts
4. JDC-Miller MotorSports — 1026 pts
5. BMW M Team RLL — 975 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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