Walkenhorst Motorsport has confirmed its driver line-ups for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with a trio of Aston Martin factory drivers returning for another attempt at victory in the endurance classic.
Nicki Thiim, Mattia Drudi and Christian Krognes will once again share a Walkenhorst-entered Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at the Nordschleife. The three works drivers previously competed together in last year’s race alongside David Pittard, although their challenge ended prematurely when the car failed to finish.
Now, the trio returns determined to deliver Aston Martin’s first overall victory at the Nürburgring 24.
Aston Martin factory drivers target redemption as Walkenhorst reduces GT3 entry to two cars for 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
The reunion of Thiim, Drudi and Krognes represents a renewed push for success following the disappointment of last year’s race.
Despite strong expectations in 2025, mechanical issues ultimately prevented the Walkenhorst-run Aston Martin from reaching the finish. As a result, the factory-backed crew now aims to convert its potential into a breakthrough result for the British marque at one of endurance racing’s most demanding events. Their effort will form the centrepiece of Walkenhorst’s Nürburgring 24 campaign.
However, unlike last year, Walkenhorst will run a reduced GT3 programme at the event. The team fielded three entries in the top SP9 class during the 2025 edition. However, it will scale back to two cars for this year’s race, focusing resources on a pair of competitive line-ups. This strategic shift allows the team to concentrate on maximising performance across both entries.
Pro-Am entry features diverse experience
Walkenhorst’s second Aston Martin Vantage GT3 will compete in the SP9 Pro-Am category.
The team has assembled a varied driver line-up for the car. GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS competitor Mateo Villagomez will join forces with Felipe Fernandez Laser, who claimed overall victory in the 2023 Nürburgring 24 while driving a Frikadelli Ferrari 296 GT3.
Dennis Fetzer will complete the quartet, marking a return to Walkenhorst Motorsport. Fetzer also begins a new chapter with Aston Martin machinery after previously racing Ford, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Audi GT cars in German competition.
Together, the drivers combine Nürburgring experience with diverse GT3 backgrounds.
NLS campaign planned for Krognes
In addition to the Nürburgring 24, Walkenhorst Motorsport plans to compete in most rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie this season.
Christian Krognes will take the wheel of a Vantage GT3 in that programme as the team builds experience ahead of the main endurance event. However, Walkenhorst has not yet confirmed his team-mates for the NLS campaign. Through this preparation, the team aims to sharpen its performance and strengthen its chances of delivering a standout result at the Nürburgring 24.
