Luca Engstler claimed pole position for the 2026 Nürburgring 24h after a superb final lap in Top Qualifying 3, giving the #84 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 the prime starting spot for the race. Engstler produced an 8:11.123 to beat Marco Mapelli in the #130 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. As a result, Lamborghini locked out the front row after a tense 12-car shootout on the Nordschleife.
Top Qualifying 3 marked the climax of the 24h Nürburgring Qualifying format. After a random draw set the running order, 12 drivers prepared to fight for pole position, with the field made up of cars that progressed through Top Qualifying 1 and Top Qualifying 2, as well as entries that secured direct places through pre-qualification.
Vervisch leads the field away for Top Qualifying 3 of the 2026 4h Nürburgring
The pit lights turned green at 13:35 local time and allowed the 12 cars to head towards the starting grid. However, the timed action began at 13:45, when Frédéric Vervisch took the #67 HRT Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 EVO onto his first flying lap.
The format gave each driver a clearer track than a normal Qualifying session, with gaps between the cars designed to reduce the risk of traffic ruining a lap. Nevertheless, the Nordschleife still demanded precision from the opening metres. Drivers had to bring cold tyres and brakes up to temperature while also burning fuel from full tanks before their fastest attempts.
Although the session began smoothly, the order changed before the first timed lap even started. Thomas Preining overtook Vervisch before the line in the #911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R and became the first driver to start a flying lap. Several other drivers also closed on the cars ahead, which added pressure to the final pole fight.
Preining sets the first benchmark
Preining crossed the line first and set the early reference time with an 8:21.391. Vervisch followed in the #67 Ford but fell more than seven seconds short with an 8:28.535.
However, the times soon tumbled. Mapelli, Max Paul, Engstler, Raffaele Marciello, Thomas Neubauer, Nicki Thiim, Daniel Juncadella and David Pittard all moved ahead of Preining’s opening benchmark as the first runs unfolded.
Mapelli emerged from the first flying laps on provisional pole with an 8:11.668 in the #130 Lamborghini. Paul placed second with an 8:13.407 in the #7 Konrad Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, while Frank Stippler briefly took third in the #64 HRT Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 EVO with an 8:14.358.
Christopher Haase then completed the opening sequence in the #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II. As the final driver to cross the line, he posted an 8:13.953 and moved into third, pushing Stippler down a place.
Final laps raise the pace
With every driver holding one timed lap, the field turned its attention to the final fast attempts. The cars had burned fuel by that stage, so the lighter weight offered more potential for improvement.
Preining improved to an 8:13.939, but he still sat 2.271 seconds away from Mapelli’s first-lap benchmark. Vervisch also improved, although his 8:16.144 left him near the foot of the order. Juncadella then raised the standard in the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. He produced an 8:12.005, but the time still left him short of pole.
Engstler then delivered the decisive lap. He took the #84 Lamborghini to a stunning 8:11.123 and moved onto provisional pole. Mapelli responded with an improvement of his own, but his 8:11.468 kept him behind his Lamborghini stablemate.
Engstler secures pole as Lamborghini dominates
Engstler held on to pole position, while Mapelli completed a Lamborghini one-two. The result gave Red Bull Team ABT control of the front row and delivered a major statement before the start of the 24h Nürburgring.
Haase completed the top three for Audi with an 8:11.984, narrowly ahead of Juncadella, who took fourth for Mercedes-AMG with his 8:12.005. Neubauer followed in fifth in the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo26 after setting an 8:12.221.
Paul secured sixth in the #7 Lamborghini with an 8:12.256, giving the manufacturer three cars inside the top six. Stippler placed seventh in the #64 Ford with an 8:13.676.
Preining finished eighth in the #911 Porsche after improving on his final run. Marciello took ninth in the #1 ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, while Pittard completed the top 10 in the #47 KCMG Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Thiim placed 11th in the #34 natural elements by Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO. Vervisch completed the order in 12th with the #67 HRT Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 EVO after his improved 8:16.144.
Top Qualifying 3 delivered a sharp, high-pressure finish to the 24h Nürburgring Qualifying process. Mapelli set the early standard, but Engstler found the decisive margin on the final lap and turned Lamborghini’s pace into pole position.
Lamborghini takes momentum into the 2026 24h Nürburgring race
The result gave Lamborghini the front row, placed Audi and Mercedes-AMG within striking distance, and left Ferrari, Ford, Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin chasing from behind. As a result, the front of the grid now promises an intense opening phase when the 2026 Nürburgring 24h begins.
Results: Top Qualifying 3 at the 2026 24h Nürburgring (Provisional)
- #84 Engstler / Bortolotti / Niederhauser — Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
Luca Engstler: 8:11.123 - #130 Mapelli / Catsburg / Yelloly — Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
Marco Mapelli: 8:11468 - #16 Haase / Sims / Green — Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II
Christopher Haase: 8:11.984 - #3 Verstappen / Auer / Gounon / Juncadella — Mercedes-AMG GT3
Daniel Juncadella – 8:12.005 - #45 Perel / Marschall / Vermeulen / Neubauer — Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo26
Thomas Neubauer – 8:12.221 - #7 Stalidzane / Paul / Engelhart / Lefterov — Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
Max Paul – 8:12.256 - #64 Maini / Scherer / Schumacher / Stippler — Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026)
Frank Stippler – 8:13.676 - #911 Estre / Güven / Preining / Campbell — Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26
Thomas Preining – 8:19.939 - #1 Farfus / Marciello / Pepper / van der Linde — BMW M4 GT3 EVO
Raffaele Marciello – 8:14.256 - #47 Fukuzumi / Gamou / Krohn / Pittard — Mercedes-AMG GT3
David Pittard – 8:14.627 - #34 Krognes / Drudi / Thiim / Fernadez Laser — Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO
Nicki Thiim – 8:15.250 - #67 Olsen / Mies / Vervisch / Stippler — Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026)
Frédéric Vervisch – 8:16.144
