Qualifying for the 2026 NLS4, which doubles as Round 1 of the 24H Nürburgring Qualifiers, delivered an unexpected result, as the #23 BMW stunned the field to secure pole position.
From the outset, teams pushed hard around the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife. However, it was David Jahn who made the decisive impact, setting an 8:09.488 lap early in the session. Crucially, despite a subsequent interruption, no rival managed to beat his benchmark.
Early benchmark proves untouchable
Jahn’s lap immediately put pressure on the field. Although several strong contenders attempted to respond, changing track conditions and limited running time prevented any improvement.
As a result, the BMW crew of Anzal Zsigo, Moritz Kranz and Jahn secured a surprise pole position, finishing comfortably ahead of the competition. Notably, their margin extended to several seconds over key rivals, underlining the strength of their performance.
Pro-Am contenders steal the spotlight
Beyond BMW’s headline result, the session featured several unexpected performances. The #11 Schnitzelalm Mercedes secured second place, marking a standout achievement for a Pro-Am entry not typically expected to fight at the front.
Similarly, the #48 Black Falcon Porsche claimed fourth, further highlighting the competitiveness of Pro-Am teams. Meanwhile, the #47 KCMG Mercedes continued its strong recent form by finishing third, building on momentum from the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Together, these results disrupted the usual hierarchy and emphasised the unpredictable nature of endurance racing at the Nordschleife.
Verstappen entry suffers costly setback
In contrast, the #3 Mercedes featuring Max Verstappen and Lucas Auer endured a frustrating session. Initially, the car qualified sixth after Auer set a competitive 8:13.012 lap. However, the stewards later imposed a three-place grid penalty, dropping the entry to ninth.
The penalty followed an incident with a Porsche Cayman GT4 in the Hohe Acht section. Auer attempted an inside move at a right-hand corner but misjudged the gap. Consequently, contact occurred at the apex, sending the Porsche into a spin.
Although Auer immediately apologised, the stewards ruled him responsible. Their decision reflected the importance of caution when navigating multi-class traffic on such a challenging circuit.
“The driver of car #941 stated that he stayed on the racing line and did not notice the approaching faster car #03.
“The driver of car #03 stated that he saw the gap and misjuged the situation. Furthermore, he directly apologized to #941 after his stint. The Stewards felt that a drop of 3 grid positions for the next race the car will participate is the appropriate penalty.”
Red Flag halts momentum
The session’s rhythm changed dramatically after a red flag halted proceedings 16 minutes in. Anders Buchardt crashed heavily at Adenauer Forst after hitting a kerb and losing control of his Aston Martin.
While Buchardt escaped uninjured, the incident caused significant barrier damage. Therefore, race control suspended the session for approximately 50 minutes to allow repairs.
This interruption proved pivotal. It prevented many drivers from completing their planned runs and ultimately ensured that Jahn’s early lap remained unbeaten.
Competitive depth across the field
Despite the disruptions, the overall competitiveness of the GT3 field remained evident. The #80 Winward Mercedes secured fifth, followed by the #84 Abt Lamborghini and the #16 Scherer-Phx Audi.
Further down the order, the #7 Konrad Lamborghini, penalised #3 Mercedes and #134 Porsche completed the top ten. Notably, the iconic Manthey Porsche “Grello” narrowly missed out, finishing 12th and highlighting just how tight the competition remains.
Full Top 10 Classification
- Zsigo / Kranz / Jahn – BMW #23
- Heyer / Mo Hartling / Fittje – Mercedes #11
- Fukuzumi / Gamo / Krohn / Pittard – Mercedes #47
- Assenheimer / Mueller / Pereira – Porsche #48
- Engel / Stolz / Schiller – Mercedes #80
- Engstler / Bortolotti / Niederhauser – Lamborghini #84
- Haase / Sims / Green – Audi #16
- Paul / Lefterov / Stalidzane – Lamborghini #7
- Verstappen / Auer – Mercedes #3
- Rump / Buennagel – Porsche #123
Focus shifts to race day
With Qualifying complete, attention now turns to the four-hour race, set to begin later today. Teams will need to balance outright speed with consistency on one of the world’s most demanding circuits.
Given the unpredictable nature of the session, the race promises further drama. While BMW holds the advantage from pole, strong contenders remain close behind, ensuring an intense battle lies ahead at the Nürburgring.
