Motorsport: Max Verstappen Returns to the Nurburgring for GT3 Debut

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Max Verstappen will return to the Nordschleife on Saturday, where he will make his GT3 race debut driving an Emil Frey Racing-prepared Ferrari. Fresh from winning September's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Verstappen headed to the Nurburgring to take part in the 64th ADAC ACAS Cup.

There, Verstappen returned to being a rookie, completing several tests, including laps behind an instructor, before getting his permit to race, sharing a detuned Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 with Chris Lulham. Despite the power disadvantage, Verstappen kept his nose clean and completed over 14 laps to secure an A permit, eventually finishing 27th overall, securing a top-10 finish in class.

The popularity of Verstappen's debut was immense, with over a million viewers watching the race on YouTube, while 50,000 fans made the trip to the Nurburgring to see the reigning world champion in action. There is also a possibility Verstappen could make his debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, held next May, after obtaining permission from his Red Bull bosses to compete in the German classic.

Fresh from his weekend at the Nurburgring, Verstappen returned to his regular office for last Sunday's

Azerbaijan GP held on the streets of Baku. There, Verstappen crushed the competition, taking his fourth win of 2025 from George Russell and Carlos Sainz, bringing him within 69 points of championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Once Verstappen's weekend in Germany is over, the reigning world champion will travel to Asia for next Sunday's Singapore GP, held at the Marina Bay circuit. Singapore is the only race Verstappen has never won, and with his title aspirations returning to life, he will look to put that right and secure a hat-trick of wins.

Verstappen's new chariot

For his second outing at the Nurburgring, the 57th running of the Barbarossapreis on Saturday, Verstappen has upgraded to a Ferrari 296 GT3, where he will once again team up with Lulham. Verstappen previously tested the 296 GT3 at the Nurburgring in May, setting the unofficial GT3 lap record under the alias of Franz Hermann to avoid detection from fans and press.

Verstappen and Lulham will face a tough task to win on Saturday with many of the Nordschleife regulars taking part the fight to the pair. Among those on the 110-car entry list are the number six Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang of Frank Stippler and Vincent Kolb, winners of the previous round of the NLS, the 64th ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen. Haupt Racing will have two Mustangs in the race, with the sister number nine car, driven by Fabio Scherer, Dennis Fetzer, and Jann Mardenborough, expected to be at the front of the pack.

Also among the favourites for overall victory include the number 34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage, whose line-up features the official lap recorder at the Nurburgring, Christian Krognes. Verstappen and Lulham's Ferrari are listed as number 31 on the official entry list.

Fans who can't be present at the Nurburgring on Saturday can watch the action on Auto Addiction's YouTube channel, with the six-hour race getting underway at 12:00 p.m. local time.