Motor sport has always and will always be defined by matters of opinion.

The Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Bathurst 12 Hours, the Isle of Man TT, Indy 500 and Spa Classic. Each revered by legions, who, pre-pandemic, turned gruelling events into annual world class must-sees. For me, it’s the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring, and this year brings not only the 50th Anniversary Edition of this spectacular day and night race through the Eifel, but also the return of the quarter of a million fans who have helped to turn this into the greatest weekend of all.

With 150 or so starters (in multiple classes), racing 2,500 miles around the most challenging circuit in the world, where a single lap is almost 16 miles long, it’s more than a test of endurance, stamina, bravery and skill; it’s a distillation of everything we love about our sport.

The impact of COVID-19 meant that for 2020 and 2021, only a small number of fans and media were allowed to attend the race (restricted to the stadium section, socially distanced), but for 2022, the gates, campsites and forests will be reopened and the once familiar sights, smells and sounds of fireworks, barbecues and quirky Euro-disco will linger across the Green Hell as some of the world’s finest cars and drivers race nose-to-tail and wheel-to-wheel, seeking that all-important place in future history books.

The 50th Edition of the ADAC Total Energies 24H Nürburgring will take place between May 25th – 29th 2022. Full ticket and event information can be found here on the official website:

 

Here’s a look back to 2019 and Kevin Mc Glone’s original race report, when the sun shone, and Audi reigned supreme:

This year’s 47th running of the Nürburgring 24 hours was memorable for reasons that had little to do with the weather (for a change), unless of course you conclude that the warm dry conditions encouraged even more bravery and commitment from the more than 150 drivers taking part.

It was won by the number-4 car of Team Phoenix racing, driven by Frédéric Vervisch, Dries Vanthoor, Pierre Kaffer and Frank Stippler, the latter of whom won it with Audi in 2012.

But the folks from Ingolstadt didn’t have it all their own way. Despite the number-4 car leading the final 16 laps, three other makes held the top spot throughout an action-packed 24 hours including the pole-sitting Black Falcon AMG-Mercedes GT and the Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R which led for 14 hours straight.

Vervisch crossed the line in exactly 24 hours 8 minutes and 14.647 seconds, at an average speed of 165.1km/h (102.6mph) and completed 157 laps, just short of the absolute distance record of 159 laps set by, yes you guessed it – and Audi R8 – in 2014.

As always, we were there and have chosen 20 of our favourite images to share with you. Enjoy..

(L) Roman Dumas takes the record setting all electric ID.R on a demonstration lap before the start of the 47th ADAC TOTAL 24H Race. (R) With 158 cars in the race it takes a staggered rolling start to manage them all. Maro Engel leads the opening lap closely followed by the Mann Filter HTP Motorsport AMG and the Manthey Racing Porsche.

(L) With so many BMW M2s taking part they get their own class (K1.KUP) The total number of M240i Racing cars was 13. (R) This is the famous Kesling Motorsport Opel Manta “foxtail” named after the foxtail adorning its aerial. This car has raced in every race since 1998 and is loved by all followers of the N24. The Foxtail even has its own twitter account!!

(L) The Team from Hyundai Motorsports made their presence felt even more so this year with a track sponsorship for two TCR class entries including this Hyundai Motorsport N Veloster aimed at an American audience. (R) In a league of its own was the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG0003C running in a single class of SP X. This car was no slouch and managed to rise to third during the race. It would finish in 9th following extensive rebuild after an accident. After the race Jim Glickenhaus threw on some plates and drove it to the Red Bull ring to take part in the parade lap at this weekend’s F1 race!!

(L) As night falls there’s still no letting up. The number-38 Nissan GTR of KCMG lifts a wheel upon exiting the Karussell. (R) Good lights are a god-send for any driver. And a curse for a trackside Photographer as demonstrated here by the Manthey Porsche.

(L) Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Nothing is left to chance in the Manthey garage. Instructions and procedures are clearly laid out. (R) As night falls there’s no rest for the drivers or team managers analysing data and watching live feeds being broadcast from the cars.

(L) Some however will take sleep in any form that’s on offer. Here we see the “turtle” manoeuvre favoured by those not familiar with being 24 hours without sleep. (R) Meanwhile the rest of the Mann Filter team perform a full service including wash and wax on their AMG powered GT3 GTR.

(L) Dawn breaks in the pitlane as one of the many Porsche Cayman GT4s exits the pits to battle on for another 10 (yes 10!!) hours. (R) The Wochenspiegel Team Monschau Ferrari 488 GT3 stops by the pits for a complete brake change.

(L) This is made all the more easier on some cars by changing the complete brake setup (caliper pad and disc) as one complete unit. (R) Englishman David Drinkwater jumps into the number 91 Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing Golf GTI for his last stint.

(L) Following a serious crash which all but finished the Manta’s chances of completing the race, it finally manages to exit its garage for the last time. As this might be the last time we see the Foxtail race, it receives a standing ovation from all in the pitlane. ‘Everyone’ stopped what they were doing to show their appreciation. (R) Just seconds before taking the lead (after 1st place was given a 5 minute penalty) the Audi Sport Team Land R8 suffered a blowout effectively preventing its change of position and taking it completely out of the race.

(L) Team Phoenix take an unexpected win following the dramas for both the Team Land Audi R8 and Team Manthey Porsche. Racing can be a cruel mistress. (R) The true spirit of racing. The number-164 Team MSC pushes the number-118 Opel Calibra across the line.

Original words and images: © Kevin Mc Glone (Red Square Images).

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