Max Verstappen headlines a massive 161-car entry for the grueling 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours, transforming the legendary Nordschleife endurance race into a must-watch spectacle. While the F1 world champion’s presence with Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing guarantees intense attention, a clutch of standout machines across 23 categories promises a weekend packed with drama, speed, and heritage from May 14 to 17.
Among the star vehicles, seven iconic cars demand your focus. The BMW Z4 GT3, a beloved classic absent since 2019, makes a surprising double entry thanks to a viral social media campaign by German driver Peter Posavac. After promising to race if he hit 5,000 Facebook likes, Posavac secured a spot alongside teammates Michael Funke, Frank Nikolaus, and 1984 DTM champion Volker Strycek under Koopman Racing. The Z4’s P65B44 V8 engine remains a legendary soundtrack for GT racing aficionados.
Dörr Motorsport honors Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher with a McLaren 720S GT3 donning the 1995 Benetton livery that marked Schumacher’s second world title. Driven by Ben Dörr, ex-F1 racer Timo Glock, factory driver Marvin Kirchhöfer, and two-time DTM champ Timo Scheider, this tribute car supports the Keep Fighting Foundation through an auction of race gear, extending Schumacher’s charitable legacy.
In the SP 2T class, a heavily modified Opel Corsa competes under the Bitter brand, a nod to the German tuning firm founded by Erich Bitter in the 1970s. Markus Bitter, Erich’s nephew, is hands-on with this project, linking back to a Nürburgring history that includes the famed ‘Black Widow’ Opel Rekord and even Niki Lauda’s stint behind the wheel.
HWA’s entry stands out with a retro-inspired Mercedes-Benz 190E restomod, blending nostalgia with modern GT3 tech. This €700,000 machine celebrates HWA’s DTM dominance, fielding three EVO.R race cars painted in vintage liveries. The driver lineup packs pedigree with ADAC GT Masters champ Luca Ludwig, DTM star Bruno Spengler, Markus Winkelhock, and Renger van der Zande.
Subaru returns to the Nordschleife with its factory WRX NBR Challenge 2026 in the SP 4T class, marking its 17th appearance since 2008. The car boasts a 6.5% power boost over last year and doubles as a testbed for production technologies like advanced ABS and aerodynamic mirrors. Dutch driver Carlo van Dam leads the squad, joined by Japanese racers Takuto Iguchi, Rintaro Kubo, and Kota Sasaki.
A jaw-dropping twist emerged from an April Fools’ prank turned reality: BMW’s M3 Touring 24H. Initially teased as a joke, the station wagon-bodied M4 GT3 Evo stirred such fan excitement that BMW built the car for real. Schubert Motorsport fields this unique contender in the SP-X class, alongside the HWA EVO.R, with factory drivers Jens Klingmann, Connor De Phillippi, Neil Verhagen, and Ugo de Wilde behind the wheel.
This year’s Nurburgring 24 Hours isn’t just a battle of speed and endurance—it’s a showcase of racing heritage, fan passion, and technical innovation. Keep a close watch on these iconic cars as they carve their stories into the infamous Nordschleife asphalt.
