Christian Krognes claimed pole position for the sixth round of the 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS6) after producing a decisive late Qualifying run in the No.35 Walkenhorst Aston Martin.
The 90-minute Qualifying session featured repeated yellow flags and Code 60 periods, which restricted competitive running across the 110-car field. However, the Nordschleife finally returned to full green conditions during the closing minutes, allowing Krognes to establish a 2.8-second advantage over the No.47 KCMG Mercedes.
Yellow flags and Code 60s limit competitive running
The NLS field returned to the Nordschleife five weeks after the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Although the drivers avoided any major accidents, several stranded and damaged cars disrupted the session.
The No.477 asBest Racing Volkswagen Scirocco caused the first interruption when it stopped at Brünnchen. The team encountered another problem later when its No.966 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS came to a halt at Kesselchen.
Meanwhile, the No.495 MSC Dhünn e.V. Volkswagen Golf suffered the most visible damage of the session. Apparent barrier contact lifted its bonnet and smashed its windscreen. Nevertheless, the driver returned the car safely to the pits, giving the team an opportunity to complete repairs before the race.
The repeated incidents prevented many competitors from completing representative laps. Consequently, the final minutes carried even greater importance once race control removed the remaining restrictions.
Krognes strikes as the Nordschleife turns fully green
Krognes immediately found the required pace when the circuit returned to green conditions. He initially moved the No.35 Aston Martin to the top of the order by less than one tenth of a second.
However, the Walkenhorst driver found considerably more time on his second attempt. His improvement extended the margin to 2.8 seconds over the KCMG Mercedes and secured pole position. The performance gave Walkenhorst the leading grid position for the race, which starts at 12:00 local time. Krognes also praised the Aston Martin’s performance in conditions that differed significantly from the earlier rounds.
“Its really hot today, much hotter than we’ve had in the previous races of the series. The car is mega and the package is great.”
The heat will intensify as the day progresses, placing additional strain on the cars and drivers. Teams could face reliability concerns as they encounter temperatures that the championship has not experienced during previous rounds this year.
Fetzer withdraws from Walkenhorst line-up
Although Krognes delivered pole, Walkenhorst will enter the race without Dennis Fetzer. Krognes confirmed after Qualifying that his team-mate had felt unwell and would not compete.
The withdrawal places greater responsibility on the remaining Walkenhorst line-up during the race. Nevertheless, Krognes’ Qualifying pace suggests that the Aston Martin possesses the performance required to challenge at the front. Managing the heat, traffic and tyre degradation will now become crucial as Walkenhorst attempts to convert its strong starting position into victory.
Gamou places KCMG Mercedes on the front row after 2026 NLS6 Qualifying
Naoya Gamou secured second place for the No.47 KCMG Mercedes. He delivered the car’s fastest lap and placed it alongside Krognes on the front row. However, much of the attention will fall on his team-mate Kamui Kobayashi. The Japanese driver arrived at the Nürburgring after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans the previous weekend.
Kobayashi explained that he uses Nordschleife appearances to maintain his familiarity with GT3 machinery and the demanding circuit.
“When I need to drive in a GT3, I want to be ready. That’s why when I have the opportunity, I come here to drive round and enjoy the Nordschleife. I always enjoy being here and driving here.”
Despite Gamou’s front-row result, Kobayashi played down the team’s expectations when discussing the possibility of a podium.
“No, we are just coming to get the mileage.”
Nevertheless, only five SP9 Pro cars will start the race. KCMG therefore holds a realistic opportunity to collect silverware, particularly after Gamou placed the Mercedes second on the grid.
Falken takes third as Hill secures Pro-Am pole
The No.44 Falken Motorsports Porsche qualified third overall and will begin the race from the second row.
Jake Hill placed the No.26 PROsport Mercedes fourth and claimed the SP9 Pro-Am pole position. The 2024 British Touring Car Championship winner has continued expanding his GT3 experience since securing his maiden BTCC title.
The No.23 Gamota Racing BMW completed the top five. The team had led the session before the circuit returned to full green conditions, but Krognes and the other leading runners capitalised on the late opportunity to improve.
The No.48 Losch Motorsport by Black Falcon Porsche secured sixth. Meanwhile, the remaining SP9 Pro entries completed the next two positions, with the No.77 Schubert Motorsport BMW seventh and the No.17 Dunlop Porsche eighth.
Heat and reliability set to shape 2026 NLS6 after competitive Qualifying
Krognes enters the race from the strongest possible position after producing the defining lap once the Nordschleife finally offered uninterrupted running. However, Qualifying pace will represent only one part of the challenge. The rising temperatures could test cooling systems, tyres and driver endurance, while traffic from the 110-car field will create further complications around the circuit.
The race begins at 12:00 CEST, or 11:00 BST, with Walkenhorst leading KCMG, Falken Motorsports and the Pro-Am pole-winning PROsport Mercedes to the start. It can be viewed on YouTube.
