24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 -hour race at the Nürburgring ( official spelling: ADAC Zurich 24h Race ) is a 24 -hour race for touring cars and Gran Turismo vehicles (mainly " 24 Special" race car according to special regulations of the DMSB ). The race has been held since 1970 on different variants of the Nürburgring since 1984 in the total price, which is used since 2005 variant 25.378 km long.
The initial discharge was in 1970 for an affordable complement to the more popular sports professional sports car racing 1000 km Nürburgring. In contrast to this, which moved to the newly built Grand Prix track of the Nürburgring since 1984, was and always finds the 24 -hour race on the Nordschleife instead. A similar event is the 24 -hour race in Spa- Francorchamps, which has been held since 1924.
As part of the 24 -hour race normally lead RCN and other series due to their race. By 1993, the DTM was with two runs as a guest. The organizer is the ADAC Nordrhein title sponsor since 2000, the Zurich Group Germany.
- 3.1 1999-2002
- 3.2 2003
- 3.3 2004
- 3.4 2005
- 3.5 2006
- 3.6 2007
- 3.7 2008 3.7.1 Training time
- 3.7.2 race
- 3.7.3 Result
- 3.8.1 Training time
- 3.8.2 race
- 3.8.3 Result
- 3.9.1 Result
- 3.10.1 Result
- 3.11.1 qualifying
- 3.11.2 race
- 3.11.3 Result
- 3.12.1 Result
Uniqueness
Its uniqueness acquired the race in the first place by the currently 25.378 km long route, the flexible regulations and the grassroots character. The Nürburgring Nordschleife, anyway known to be extremely strict with drivers and material ( "Green Hell" ), provides through its route length space for the enormous starting field of in the past up to 220 vehicles, which is currently limited to 190 vehicles. Around 700 riders take turns during the 24 hours at the wheel of the vehicles. In addition to pure amateurs on production-based touring cars take increasingly since the 2000s, even professional drivers and teams with Gran Turismo vehicles part.
Since 1999, the regulations almost any vehicle again allowed a start, provided it meets the safety requirements. For example, launched a Dodge Viper and a Opel Corsa in the same race, of course, in separate votes divided.
During the event (usually from Monday to Sunday) normal fields or open spaces are released for camping around the track. The majority of spectators camped right on the track, without the comfort of a traditional camping, such as electricity or running water. This situation is handled with much ingenuity and plenty of improvisation. Especially at night the camping areas are more reminiscent of a fun fair, which contributes to the special atmosphere of the 24- hour race.
Over the years the attendances of 50,000 rose to over 200,000. Currently, the 24 -hour race at the Nürburgring is one loud Sport1 the largest motorsports events in the world and is temporarily transferred in up to 150 countries.
Regulations 2013
The size of track and field starter lead to some peculiarities in the course of the event.
Routing and pits
The event will be held on the Grand Prix circuit in conjunction with the North Loop of the Nürburgring. On the Grand Prix circuit, the Mercedes Arena is omitted and ride the motorbike variant in the NGK chicane. The round length is 25.378 km. The section is traversed clockwise. On the route, there are no sectors. Time intervals are measured only at the end of each round.
In the pit lane to a speed restriction of 60 km / h Maximum of seven vehicles will be accommodated per box.
Prerequisites
Entrance requirements for drivers is an International Driving License Level C drivers who want to participate for the first time or have not taken more than five years, three additional results must demonstrate at VLN races in the last two years and attend the compulsory course. A maximum of one race can be replaced by the part in the compulsory course. This course is offered during the week immediately prior to the race, so the time of the administrative and technical scrutineering.
On a vehicle, at least two and maximum of four riders will be called. A driver may restart a maximum of two vehicles.
Eligible Vehicles
For training and race a maximum of 190 vehicles are registered.
Are permitted only vehicles whose production period ended 1996 at the earliest. It does this on a production period of the production model of, not the year of the vehicle used in the race. Vehicle models of years of production from 1990 to 1995 may be approved on an individual application.
The vehicles are classified according to their degree of modification or after their fuel into different groups. Within these groups, the vehicles are divided into different classes according to size of their displacement. The groups and classes are as follows:
If in any of the advertised capacity classes less than five vehicles to be named, the displacement class can be combined with the next higher in the same group.
Different technical provisions apply to the vehicles in the different classes.
For all vehicles in categories SP10, SP9, E1 - XP, SP8 SP7 and the organizer takes up to race start Nachhomologationen ago, called the " Balance of Performance ". This should bring all potential victory contenders for a uniform level of performance. It specifies doing the minimum weight, the maximum tank volume, the Tankdurchflussrestriktor, dimensions of the rear wing and the maximum engine performance. The latter is limited by the diameter of the air restrictor and the rev.
Zeittraining/Top-40-Qualifying
In qualifying, the connection to the GP circuit ( Coca -Cola Curve) may be used, lest a full round must be run before the time recording. For admission to the race all drivers must drive with any car on which they are mentioned, in qualifying at least two timed laps. For race only cars will be admitted who have reached at least the qualifying time of 120 % of the respective best in class. The fastest qualifying round of a vehicle which has not reached the top 40 qualifying, will determine the starting position in his starting group in the race.
Following the training period, the top 40 qualifying takes place. Eligible are the ten top ranked cars from the qualifying of the respective VLN events leading up to the 24- hour race. The remaining 40 of the total seats are filled up with the fastest vehicles from the qualifying of the 24- hour race. In the top 40 qualifying the vehicles start in the drawn order at intervals of 10 seconds each in the warm-up lap. The connection to the GP circuit ( Coca -Cola curve) shall not be used. Following the warm-up lap, each vehicle must complete two timed laps. The fastest lap of the Top 40 qualifying will determine the starting position of each vehicle in its starting group in the race.
Race
The field starts in three start groups with a maximum of 70 vehicles. The starting groups are accompanied by a separate safety car on lap one to which a flying start follows. All vehicles that have participated in the top-40 qualifying must start at least three dry tires that were used in the top-40 qualifying, if the race is not declared as a " Wet Race". You need to install blue LEDs in the race behind the windshield which serve especially at night the better identification of fast-moving vehicles.
Each driver is allowed to drive in the race up to three hours without detachment. After the driver change who quit the driver must take a minimum rest break of two hours.
For all vehicles of classes SP6, SP7, SP8, SP8T, SP9 ( FIA GT3 ), E1 - XP1 and XP2 E1 minimum boxes times are required. This increase in size with increasing number of laps of the stint, which was started with the last leaving the pit lane and finished with the entrance to the pit lane. The minimum Boxes times are measured between the pit entry line and the pit exit line. In the final 90 minutes of the race, the control is overridden.
Repairs to a broken-down vehicle may only be performed off the track and only of its driver and using only the on-vehicle tools and spare parts. Helpers are permitted to operate only in the paddock or on the boxes on the vehicle. Lying at heart vehicles can be transported back by a towing vehicle of the organizer or by the team there and repaired there. The race may then be resumed.
To hedge against accidents and danger spots intervention -Cars will be sent with yellow flashing lights there. In switched- yellow flashing lights at the accident and danger points for the participants themselves overtaking and the duty to pass with pace applies. Safety Car periods there is not it. For serious incidents and severe weather, the race director may interrupt the race at the start and finish line. During a break, there are no Parc fermé conditions, that is, on the vehicles may service and repair work is carried out.
Rating
After the 24 hours, all vehicles are checkered, regardless of their position in the race after crossing the finish line. Placing on the number of laps completed. With the same number of laps, the order of the last date of passage over the finish line vote. It will be placed in each class for the vehicles a general classification and class ratings.
For the special overall and in each class rating, the participants must have crossed the finish line within 20 minutes after the end of the 24 hours; whether they went through in the meantime, has no meaning. In addition, participants will only be considered if they have achieved at least half the distance number of rounds the overall winner.
History
Even before 1970, there were several marathon events at the Nürburgring, including three over 24 hours, but these were more rallies, regularity or reliability testing. The premiere event as a real race was won by Hans -Joachim Stuck together with Clemens Schickentanz. 1971 Stuck scored on a two-liter BMW in qualifying with an average speed of about 145 km / h and the average was racing at 119 km / h In the following year the cuts rose to 148.5 km / h or 137.8 km / h
1973 Niki Lauda won the 24 -hour race, which this year at night an eight-hour rest break is inserted. His fastest lap of the race on a three-liter BMW corresponded with 8:39,6 minutes approximately to the lap time of a four-liter Porsche in 2009; but his average was at 158 km / h almost 20 km / h lower than that enable today's realities on the longer version of the circuit.
Due to the oil crisis fell from two 24- hour race. After initially remained the amateurs among themselves; the performance were in 1978 below those of 1972. was not until the early 1980s, the works and professionals interested in again for the 24- hour race, so also Klaus Ludwig, who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1982 Nurburgring should be rebuilt immediately after the 24 -hour race in the fall. The organizers sought for this farewell to famous drivers that should start with Nürburgring specialists and journalists such as Norbert Haug on some identical Ford Capri. Niki Lauda has prohibited the participation of his Formula 1 team boss Ron Dennis, but the new Formula 1 World Champion Keke Rosberg took part, at least during the day, at night drove the reigning World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen. Manfred Winkelhock training was fastest. 1983 took place no 24 -hour race, because it was only the shortened Nordschleife present, which was equipped with temporary pit facilities at the grandstand 13. Thus, the counting for the World Cup six-hour 1000 km race, although could be performed with a few dozen participants, but not a 24 -hour race with over 100 participants. From 1984, were much more spacious garages as pit area also available, and one right behind it located new paddock. Including the new Grand Prix circuit, the total lap length grew to 25.3 km.
1989 was the TV station 3sat live for 24 hours. Mid -1990s, after the DTM race fought out no more frames and the rules only allowed near-standard Group N touring car, the amateurs were low largely among themselves and the public interest again. 1996 and 1997, won with the Nürburgerin Sabine Reck first woman to a 24 -hour race in 1998 and also the VLN championship.
1998 occurred at two stations with diesel vehicles, the victory of the BMW 320d was a world premiere for stucco it was after 28 years of the second victory.
1999-2002
A clear cut, there were 1999. Were, even in the VLN, now approved stronger and spectacular cars, especially the Chrysler Viper GTS - R, the ORECA had developed for use in the FIA GT Championship and now with Zakspeed am Ring dominated, as the Porsche 993 had less than half the displacement, but turbocharging such as the FIA GT2 race car Porsche 993 GT2 was not allowed or only with restrictions. The Viper won the race in 1999 with a clear lead. However, in the following year, the Viper had to compete with significantly higher weight, so that the new, factory-supported Porsche 996 GT3 RS could win. In the years 2001 and 2002, again taking off with less weight Viper won again relatively unthreatened.
As an attraction for spectators took part at this time, among other things, a Citroën taxi presentation or a VW bus in the race, also a Lamborghini Diablo or a former DTM Calibra were moved for a few rounds.
2003
2003, brought together a high-quality starter box with vehicles of several works. Already in 2002, Volker Strycek was isolated road with a year - DTM Opel in VLN races. This meant that in 2003, competed with Phoenix Opel and Abt- Audi two factory teams with modified DTM cars and BMW M3 GTR V8 reactivated from the ALMS in 2001. In addition, two strong turbo Porsche Manthey and Alzen occurred which, although drove qualifying times, but this -bought high consumption. The large-volume Chrysler Viper was forced through a small tank to relatively frequent refueling stops what Zakspeed wanted to avoid by reference Dodge Viper. For the slow formation lap, at the time still traditionally, but illicitly fans were on the track, the Schnitzer team dry ice was placed in front of the transmission cooler, causing defects. Upon repair, the factory BMW launched a fightback. The race was won by an Opel Astra V8 Coupé before an Abt- Audi TT- R and the Manthey - Turbo.
2004
2004, it came for revenge. BMW scored a double victory in changing weather conditions; Stuck won the 24 -hour race for the third time. Even the factory-supported Sucker Porsche Manthey referred the DTM teams on the courts.
2005
2005 DTM teams stayed away, Opel pulled even all the way back from the DTM. BMW won again a double victory, this time in front of the Viper. BMW had Pedro Lamy set to both cars and so helped him to expected victory; Stuck this time was only on the second-placed car in use. The BMW E46 model based on the spout then came to the museum.
2006
Thanks to good weather conditions and strong competition to similar vehicles of Porsche scored 911 GT3 -MR (Model 996 ) of the winning team of Olaf Manthey with Porsche works drivers Lucas Luhr, Timo Bernhard and Mike Rockenfeller, backed by Marcel Tiemann, a new distance record with 3835 miles in 151 rounds.
2007
Due to heavy rains and partially flooded roadway, the race was started almost two hours late and ended later accordingly. In addition, it has been interrupted due to fog at night for six hours, so it only took 18 hours. The team was allowed to use the rest for repairs. The new Porsche 997 Manthey, whose transmission was seen as problematic, benefited from and won the victory.
2008
Training time
For 2008, over 270 vehicles were listed, of which according to acceptance protocol route 230 could participate in the training in order to qualify for one of the 220 starting positions. For the first time given the rapid team opportunity at the start of the first qualifying session on Friday afternoon without the many other vehicles to complete a fast lap. The starting position has indeed fought but almost no importance for the final outcome, is among professionals for reasons of prestige and media presence for a 24 - hour race. The pole position for the 24- hour race in 2008 could rely to secure the winning team of the previous year, Manthey Racing, with a time of 8:26,730 minutes, as well as the second, with 235 minutes much longer time workout in the night from Friday to Saturday no team drove faster. Manthey Racing Porsche had a 2008 more, but the clear favorite was the car that won the previous year, the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR with starting number 1, piloted by the pros Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Marcel Tiemann.
The second starting position with 8:29,838 minutes and 3.108 seconds behind occupied the team Jürgen Alzen Motorsport with a newly built Porsche 997 Turbo. The Alzen team had indeed 2003-2005 already used a fast 996 Turbo, but then tries to be successful with a Porsche Cayman. The turbo Porsche was piloted with the number 4 but not by Uwe Alzen, but by Jürgen Alzen, Markus Gedlich, Christian Abt and Christian Menzel.
The third starting position went with 8:31,132 minutes on the Dodge Viper GTS -R Team Zakspeed. The Viper was piloted with the number 2, the V10 engine rule conditionally on eight cylinders and 6.2 liter capacity had been reduced by Sascha Bert, Christophe Bouchut, Tom Coronel and Duncan Huisman.
The fourth place went to the Porsche 911 GT3 Land Motorsport with 8:39.495 minutes. Dangers was the car with starting number 3 of Basseng, Patrick Simon and Johannes Stuck, son of Hans -Joachim Stuck.
Race
The race was started on May 24 by 15 clock CEST in sunny weather. Immediately after the launch, a smoke development of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Manthey Racing with start number 1 was noticeable. The winning car of the previous year fell back quickly and turned yet at the end of the GP track in the pit lane. A cooling tube was taken out of the posture and stewed on the engine. During the repair, the competitor two rounds of the Porsche 997 Turbo completed with the number 4 had taken the lead. However, it was already obsolete in round three of the Zakspeed Viper with the number 2, but still gave the lead in the same round by an unscheduled pit stop again. In the following hours the relatively weak motorized, but frugal BMW Z4 M by Schubert Motorsport extended period of time could take the lead, but retired in the night by accident.
The winner was the Manthey Racing team with two cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the winning car from 2007, in front of the Porsche 911 GT3 -MR in 2006. Sabine Schmitz in a Porsche GT3 of Frikadelli Racing was third, her biggest success since the overall victories. Hans -Joachim Stuck was active as a new representative of Volkswagen on two new VW Scirocco GT24, was 11 and 15 and thus won the victory in the class, had set out in, inter alia, the Opel OPC Race Camp with the. The innovative hybrid race car by Heinz -Harald Frentzen on the basis of a Gumpert Apollo was not in the rating because of two defects on the transmission.
Result
2009
For 2009, the speed differences should be reduced. For this purpose, the performance of the fastest classes was ( up to and over 4000 cc ) limited and no class below 2000 cm ³ advertised, although these go very quickly often in curved sections or downhill. In contrast, back -volume vehicles were registered, which were very slow in previous years. It welcomed the extension of the regulations to allow vehicles according to FIA GT3 and GT4 rules of the SRO to participate without major modifications, but did not have the restrictions on vehicles that have been built according to the rules previously in force and are now being rebuilt. The extensive measures to facilitate equal opportunities and chances to win the FIA GT3 cars were controversial. So far, normal petrol pumps were used, the refueling of up to 120 liter tank lasts sufficiently long, what economical cars zugutekam. Now special tank canister had to be purchased and used, with which the basis of predetermined different flow rates economical cars as long need to refuel as those with high consumption. Due to new rules and the economic crisis did not take part, inter alia, with the Zakspeed Viper, as well as in the VLN often winning team from Wolfgang country, even Mamerow had to cancel first.
The development towards expensive cars illustrates the fact that with eight representatives of the luxury brand Aston Martin as many were named as the large-volume producers Opel and Ford, taken together, because of these two brands, each with four cars with a maximum of 2500 cm ³ were at the start ( to the Ford GT).
Training time
Somewhat surprisingly achieved Dirk Adorf in the Ford GT by Raeder Motorsport qualifying time of 8:36,536 minutes ( average 176.87 km / h ), thanks to Audi's slipstream on the straight. Manthey and the factory Audis were just three other Porsche and a BMW Alpina up to ten seconds behind. As the times rule conditionally were significantly slower than last year and the organizers had reserved the right to make yet further measures to power approximation to race start was questionable whether the teams had revealed their cards. The times in the race, however, were at a similar level.
Race
In the race, the first Ford was able to assert against the defending champion, but then fell back, as well as two of the factory Audi. Until the 19th hour, two Audi and two Manthey - Porsche delivered such a close race, that a new distance record was to be expected, especially as the number of participants was quite low and the weather is good. The defending champion was in between fined for Yellow violation with three minute time penalty, but this was withdrawn after data records had the alleged violation refuted. Damage to the Audi with start number 99 took a preliminary decision, because the other Audi with start number 97 ( Christian Abt, Jean -Francois Hemroulle, Pierre Kaffer, Lucas Luhr ) at the time was only third, but could after a short repair on the second Manthey GT3 ( Emmanuel Collard, Wolf Henzler, Richard Lietz, Dirk Werner) to capture its second place. VW Scirocco achieved with several that were powered by gasoline or natural gas, again good results in the first 20 BMW was uncharacteristically weak represented, only one vehicle was among the first 25 BMW had indeed four touring cars on offer (Z4, 3 WTCC, M3 ALMS and GT4 ), but for the FIA GT3 class yet developed a vehicle itself. Only the two BMW Alpina B6 GT3 were represented.
A new record was the distance of 3933.6 km (155 laps to 25,378 m ), which were completed in 24:05 hours with an average speed of 163.3 km / h. Manthey now won for the fourth time in a row, for Marcel Tiemann it was the fifth victory, which he was the sole record winner and the two victories of his father clearly outperformed.
Result
2010
The race was held 38 to 16 May 2010 from 13. In qualifying, four Audi R8 LMS had taken the lead, with a record time of 8:24 & nbspMinuten, which corresponds to an average speed of 181 km / h.
Immediately after the start, which as usual was on Saturday at 15:00 clock, the defending Manthey Porsche 997 GT3 R (start 1) took over with the five -time winner Marcel Tiemann at the wheel already on the Grand Prix circuit of first round of the lead, which he had only a short time, leave in the first three hours of the hybrid Porsche, which was also supervised by Manthey. However, the car that won the past four years fell during the night of no fault after another vehicle crashed into the guardrails and then collided with the Manthey Porsche.
During the early morning hours, other teams had to contend with problems such as BMW Team Schnitzer, the BMW was hit by a piece of wood lying on the second position, the cooler was destroyed. However, the Schnitzer crew repaired the damage quickly and was the car with the starting number 25 again send to the track.
There, said Schnitzer BMW supplied with one of the Abt- Audi and Hybrid Porsche GT3 -R an exciting fight, which went through many rounds until the Audi was forced to retire with a technical defect. In the further course of the race a few vehicles for the overall victory only came into question. These included, inter alia, the Farnbacher Ferrari F430 GTC, who had fought his way through consistent lap times and a few faults up to third place. Quite a feat also provided one of the Audi R8 LMS used by Phoenix, which was on the 4th place overall to date.
Less than two hours before the race of lying in leadership hybrid Porsche Manthey lay there with an engine failure in the field Breidscheid and thus handed the reins to the Schnitzer team, which had to contend with a gearbox problem. However, the position of the tip is no longer gave the Team Schnitzer and thus drove the 19th overall victory for the BMW brand one since 1970.
The BMW Team Schnitzer was the fifth overall victory even the most successful team in the history of the 24- hour race at the Nürburgring. Pedro Lamy, who drove the winning car, with its fifth straight win, next to also successful five times Marcel Tiemann, the most successful driver in the history of the race.
The team Schubert Motorsport secured with a new BMW Z4 GT3 fourth overall. Dörr Motorsport with the same model are in ninth place, even though the vehicle was not completed until two weeks before the start of the race and thus only a few kilometers of testing could be completed.
Result
2011
Since 2011 Corpus Christi fell to the relatively late June 23, the 39th 24 -hour race was held two weeks after the Le Mans weekend until 26 June 2011.
In the first five VLN race 2011 won with factory BMW, Mercedes SLS, Ferrari 458 Hybrid Porsche GT3 and Audi R8 five different brands of four different classes. Sieglos however remained accustomed to success in previous years, regular Porsche without hybrid technology. This was also valid since 2009 rules with the " Balance of Performance " by which all potential winners will be brought to a similar level of performance possible. This concerns in particular the GT2 class vehicles that are allowed to start in Le Mans, as well as the imaginary for private drivers GT3 class in which a large number of vehicles in service worldwide. Even after the qualifying session, the minimum weights of some vehicles were changed to 25 kg. While the Ferrari 458 was punished by extra weight, the fastest lap of the Nordschleife in 1983 graduated with over 181 km / h, but this performance had not shown in the preparatory race.
How thoroughly the performance has been aligned illustrates the unusual decision of the Manthey team, the 911 GT3 sent his four factory drivers Lieb, Luhr, Bernhard and Dumas at two similar Porsche in the race: on the current R model in the class SP9 ( GT3 ) and was allowed on the already repeatedly victorious RSR model in class SP7 to four liters of displacement, which was granted according to GT2 rules, although relatively little engine power (335 kW/465 hp ), but use more downforce and racing technology. Just two hours after the start of the race it was decided to turn off the R model and focus on the RSR. This strategy eventually led to the fifth overall victory in six years.
Due to the high power density of the top vehicles and their achievable speed made this race again " sprint race over 24 hours " is and it was a new distance record set.
Timo Bernhard, it was already the fifth triumph in the 24- hour race. He moved so that the same with his previous, verletztungsbedingt misfiring teammate Marcel Tiemann and last year's winner Pedro Lamy.
Hans -Joachim Stuck ended after the race at the age of 60 years, his active career in motorsport. He played the race in a Reiter Engineering built, 441 kW ( 600 hp) Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 his team Stuck ³ together with his two sons Johannes and Ferdinand and Dennis Rostek, who was baptized in the course of the race weekend " RoSTUCK ". The team was Fifteenth despite technical problems.
Result
2012
The 24 -hour race in 2012 took place from 17 to 20 May.
Since the 2012 DTM completed in parallel with the 24 -hour race, a race at Brands Hatch, the top favorites Audi and BMW were not represented with the previous works teams. As the official works team Phoenix competed for Audi and Schubert for BMW. The team leaders, led by Wolfgang Ullrich and Hans -Jürgen Abt Audi and Jens Marquardt and Charly Lamm by BMW, as well as some of the drivers from last year as Mattias Ekström, Timo Scheider, Dirk Werner, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus were at the DTM and could not attend the 24 - hour race.
From the previous record winners Marcel Tiemann, Pedro Lamy and Timo Bernhard only Lamy was reported. Tiemann and Bernhard fell out because of injuries. Lamy had the chance to become the sole record holder. In contrast, consisted of Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas, who competed together in Wochenspiegel Manthey, the possibility also with five wins to catch up with the previous record winners.
A special feature there was in the distribution of start numbers. With the number 1 appeared to not last year's winner, but a prototype. Reason for this was that the previous year's winner, a Porsche factory used by the Team Manthey with the famous yellow- green Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, did not compete. The Manthey team used another vehicle, the week -Porsche, with the winners of the previous year and was the No. 11 the BMW Team Schubert were the starting number 19 for the number of previous overall victories and 20 of the possible 20 overall victory selected.
Qualifying
The 40th edition of the race was a new qualifying format, the so-called Top40, introduced and held on Friday evening from 18 clock. It should be the 40 fastest drivers the opportunity down out top times in two clear rounds, which ultimately starting positions 1-40 resulted.
For the top 40 could be the fastest of the three previous 10 each VLN qualifying, ie a maximum of 30 vehicles to pre-qualify. For the remaining places, the fastest cars of the two qualifying sessions could qualify under the 24 - hour race.
In the VLN races to qualified only 17 different vehicles for the Top40, so another 23 from the qualifying of the 24- hour race filled up the number of participants.
The qualified vehicles could graduate with a driver two timed laps of the full track. The starting order was drawn there. The respective driver had to pull his own placement.
At intervals of 10 seconds each, the vehicles were then sent to the time hunting. It was already in the warm-up lap on overtaking.
The Gemballa McLaren by Sascha Bert, Hendrik Vieth, Nick Heidfeld and Klaus Ludwig, who had qualified for the top 40, was unable to attend because of the third engine change of the weekend. Moreover, even the gearbox was changed. The vehicle started from 39th place
Excluded from the Top40 of the hawks - Porsche was for breaking a rule. The pre-qualified by the VLN rounds vehicles were allowed only a 20-minute contest the qualifying. The Falken Porsche with starting number 44 has already been sent before the end of this waiting time on the track. The driver Henzler / Dumbreck / Ragginger / Asch were placed on the grid 40.
Uwe Alzen placed the Schubert Z4 in a time of 8:18,382 minutes on the pole position. On the places 2 and 3 followed Chris Mamerow (Audi R8 LMS ultra) and Sean Edwards (Mercedes- Benz SLS AMG). Both vehicles were only slightly slower with residues of 1.3 and 1.6 seconds.
The best Porsche followed with a delay of 3 seconds 6th place with last year's winners Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas, Lucas Luhr and Richard Lietz.
The sons of the new DMSB President Hans -Joachim Stuck qualified in 16th place with an Aston Martin from Young Driver Team.
The Haribo Racing team used this time only a Porsche ( starting position 24), but further includes a gold-colored Corvette ( 18 ) a. Thomas Gottschalk watched the race as a special guest on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Golden Bears.
The 15 top-ranked vehicles in the top 40 were within 5 seconds. Between the pole sitter and the last driving team ( 38 ) were a total of only 28 seconds.
Race
The start of the race was largely quiet. After a short time, however, there were increasing accidents of vehicles, especially from the smaller classes. Through especially many small parts on the track several tire failures were recorded in the first hour of the race even at the Topfahrzeugen. So, for example, suffered the started from the third position Black Falcon SLS with Jeroen Bleekemolen at the Döttinger height of a tire failure and struck at high speed into the barriers a. Frank Stippler in the Audi R8 was driven directly in the slipstream, but still managed to avoid. In the aftermath crashed at the same place still in the first phase of a Yellow Porsche Cayman, after about 3.5 hours, a Porsche 911
Through the night there was until sunrise in the morning comparatively little loss of victorious capable team. The McLaren of Dörr Motorsport and Gemballa had been eliminated already in the evening, just as the Haribo Porsche. The long time lying in the lead and started from pole - position Z4 GT3 BMW Team Schubert ( No. 19) lost by changing the drive shaft a lot of time and dropped to 15th place back with a gap of five rounds. The same happened to the succeeding leadership in R8 of the team Phoenix (No. 2), who dropped to 14th after a collision with a slower vehicle and the subsequent repair. The week -Porsche last year's winner (No. 11) had an accident at night also, but did not lose so much time. With a gap of almost 4 minutes, the Manthey team was ranked sixth
Between 6 and 7 clock on Sunday morning began the expected rain. After 15.5 hours of SLS by Rowe (No. 22) graduated with the drivers Graf / hunter / Roloff / Seyffarth the 100th race lap. He was followed by the second vehicles of Phoenix (No. 3) and Schubert (No. 20). The top ten cars were within one round.
After three quarters of the race of the Rowe -SLS led No. 22 with 116 laps completed before the Bilstein R8 # 3 ( 0.3 seconds), Schubert Z4 No. 20 ( 2 minutes) and week -Porsche No. 11 ( 4 minutes). All other vehicles had round residue. Due to an unscheduled stop of the Rowe Team Phoenix took over on lap 118 the lead.
One hour before the end of the race led the Phoenix R8 with almost a lap ahead of the R8 Mamerow (No. 26). This was followed by the SLS from Hankook Team Heico (No. 65) and the week -Porsche. The previous leader of Team Rowe (No. 22) had fallen behind because of a damper damage. The same happened to the second-placed after 18 hours Schubert Z4 (No. 20), the No. 19 suffered damage to the drive shaft as the sister car. The Porsche Manthey (No. 10) fell after a collision with a slower vehicle in 5th place out lying.
13 minutes before the end of 24 hours was the 3rd place team lying Heico (No. 65), the driver Bernd Schneider, Kenneth Heyer, Lance David Arnold and Alexandros Margaritis from a radiator damage in the region Hohe Acht. In the previous year had lost by a failure just before the end of the SLS a top ranking. The week -Porsche took so 3rd place
The final round could leave the two lying in leadership R8 from Phoenix and Mamerow tackle leisurely. They had between each other and to the following vehicles, 5 minutes each distance.
In the final lying at No. 3 week -Porsche and the second SLS appointed by Heico team drove ( No. 66) slalom order to lapped cars and battled for the final podium place. Due to the time remaining Both vehicles had to complete another round.
Approximately 10 seconds before the time rolled the week -Porsche on the home straight for lack of fuel. The SLS Heico took place without a fight so that third addition was still driving a Renault Clio on the coasting Porsche Manthey on.
The race was won by leading since the 118th round of the Audi R8 LMS ultra of Phoenix with the drivers Basseng, Frank Stippler, Christopher Haase and Winkelhock before used by Mamerow Racing R8 with Chris Mamerow, Christian Abt, Michael Ammer Müller and Armin Hahne. The podium completes the Hankook Team Heico on a Mercedes -Benz SLS AMG with the drivers Christaan Frankenhout, Pierre Kaffer, Andreas Simonsen and Lance David Arnold.
For Audi, it was the first victory in this race. All four drivers also achieved its first overall victory. The Team Phoenix won after 2000 and 2003 for the third time.
Of the 169 launched vehicles 111 vehicles were included in the standings, had thus crossed the finish line after 24 hours and completed the required 50% of the number of laps of the winner. When not counted in the target were, among others, the week -Porsche No. 11 and the Renault Clio 169 that collided just a few seconds before the end of the race after crossing the finish line.
Result
2013
The race took place on Whit weekend and was first started on Sunday and ended on Monday.
Changes to the regulations were the classes SP6 SP8 SP8T, SP9 ( FIA GT3 ), E1 - XP1 and XP2 E1 minimum boxes times for Balance of Performance for all vehicles. This increased with increasing number of laps of the stint, which was started with the last leaving the pit lane and finished with the entrance to the pit lane. The minimum pit times were measured between the pit entry line and the pit exit line. In the final 90 minutes of the race the rules were overridden to allow splash and dash. Also new were code -60- zones where double yellow flags were waved and was a speed limit of 60 km / hr. Using GPS, the observance of speed limits was monitored in code -60- zones.
Result