GetSpeed Team JR286 claimed its first outright Michelin 24H SERIES European Series victory with a commanding performance in the inaugural Michelin 12H Nürburgring in 2026.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO crew of Tanner Harvey, Patrick Liddy, Jonathan Hirshberg and Steve Jans came into their own during Sunday’s concluding six hours. They secured both the overall win and GT3-AM victory, finishing a full lap clear after a controlled run through changing conditions, Code 60 interruptions and late-race pressure.
The result also carried extra significance for the American-linked squad on Independence Day weekend. Moreover, it moved GetSpeed Team JR286 into the lead of the outright GT3 standings with one round remaining.
GetSpeed Team JR286 turns Sunday pace into victory
GetSpeed Team JR286 had sat sixth overnight after Saturday’s opening segment, while Up2Race led a Porsche one-two ahead of Proton Competition and Viper Niza Racing.
However, Sunday’s cooler conditions helped reshape the order. As brief rain showers arrived and disappeared, the race demanded clean execution and careful tyre decisions. GetSpeed Team JR286 managed that phase well, avoided the trouble that affected several rivals, and gradually built a decisive advantage.
By the closing hours, the Mercedes-AMG crew had turned its bid into the strongest overall package. With the car in strong condition and the gap under control, Harvey completed the run to the flag and sealed the team’s breakthrough victory.
Up2Race beats Viper Niza in thrilling fight for second
Although GetSpeed Team JR286 controlled the victory battle, the fight for second delivered a dramatic finish.
Up2Race, making its debut with the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO, faced intense pressure from Viper Niza Racing’s Mercedes-AMG in the final minutes. Fabio Grosse had to defend on 53-lap-old tyres, while Dominic Ang attacked on fresh Michelin rubber.
Despite that tyre disadvantage, Grosse held firm. He crossed the line just 0.4 seconds ahead, securing second overall alongside Tim Heinemann and Oleksiy Kikireshko.
Ang pushed until the chequered flag, but Viper Niza Racing still celebrated a strong outright podium with Melvin Moh and Douglas Khoo. Their third-place finish confirmed another competitive GT3 showing after they remained in podium contention across both parts of the race.
Proton Competition takes PRO-AM honours
Proton Competition finished fourth overall and claimed the PRO-AM class win with its Porsche. Manuel Lauck, Jörg Dreisow, Constantin Dressler and Joel Sturm had featured strongly throughout the race, including during the opening six hours on Saturday.
Sturm moved into second at Turn Two on the opening lap, passing Pierre Kaffer’s Saintéloc Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, while Mikaël Grenier initially led from pole in the GetSpeed Team PCX Racing Mercedes. The early GT3 pace remained close, with Grenier, Sturm, Heinemann, Kaffer and Jake Hill all involved in a sprint-style battle despite the endurance format.
However, trouble struck several contenders. Jordan Boisson crashed the No.28 Mercedes at a Code 60 restart, and Ajith Kumar later hit the Turn Three barriers in the No.93 Ajith RedAnt Racing Mercedes. Proton also lost time through a team miscommunication when Lauck pitted twice in quick succession before the six-hour mark.
Even so, the team stayed in contention and ultimately converted its pace into PRO-AM victory.
Early incidents shape the GT3 contest
The opening part of the race packed in constant action. GetSpeed Team PCX Racing led from pole early on, while Proton, Up2Race, Saintéloc and Era Motorsport all stayed close.
However, incidents gradually changed the shape of the GT3 battle. Boisson’s impact on the pit straight cost the No.28 Mercedes eight laps, while Kumar’s crash triggered another Code 60. Later, a heavy collision for Joshua Bednarski in the 992-leading Mühlner Motorsport Porsche brought out the red flag at Turn One.
That interruption locked in the overnight order, with Up2Race ahead of Proton and Viper Niza. Yet, once Sunday’s running began, rain showers and pit cycles opened the door for GetSpeed Team JR286 to move forward.
Continental Racing by Simpson Motorsport also impressed on Sunday. Alex Aka surged from seventh to fourth early in the session, and the Audi crew of Aka, Vasily Vladykin, Miguel Maria Garcia and Paul Scheuschner eventually finished fifth overall.
Red Camel-Jordans.nl wins 992 class
Red Camel-Jordans.nl claimed its second consecutive 992 class victory and moved to the top of the 992 championship. Luc Breukers, Rik Breukers, Ivo Breukers and Fabian Danz delivered a hard-earned win after a tense and dramatic race.
The class had produced fierce action from the beginning. Martin Rump led from pole for Mühlner Motorsport, but a small error on lap four allowed HRT Performance’s James Kellett to move ahead. Red Camel also stayed firmly in the fight, and the lead changed hands several times across the opening hours.
Mühlner Motorsport then suffered a major setback when Bednarski crashed heavily at Turn One before the Saturday halt. He climbed out safely and received further hospital checks, but the team’s bid for a third win of the season ended there.
Red Camel then started Sunday from the class lead, although drama followed in the pit lane when Danz pulled away before the right-rear wheel had attached correctly. Rival crews helped the team recover the situation, and Red Camel soon resumed its charge.
From there, the Dutch squad controlled the remainder of the race and secured a valuable championship-leading result.
HRT Performance claims 992-AM victory
HRT Performance added another strong result by finishing second in 992 and winning 992-AM. Kellett, Steven Gambrell, Jonathan Kearney and Igor Sorokin kept the car consistently in the fight and avoided the costly errors that affected others.
Chazel Technologie Course completed the 992 podium with Antoni de Barn, Jean-Paul Dominichi and Jean-Mathieu Leandri. Their run added another strong class performance in a race where reliability and clean execution mattered as much as outright pace.
Not Only Motorsport dominates TCE-TCX
Not Only Motorsport delivered its best race of the season in TCE-TCX. The Ligier JS2 R crew of Gino Rocchio, Filippo Tornaghi and Nathan Huet built an early lead on Saturday and continued to control the class on Sunday.
The team did face late scares when the car stopped on track with technical issues. However, the Ligier restarted each time, allowing the crew to protect its advantage and win by four laps.
asBest Racing finished second in class with its Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. Cesar Fonseca, Silas Passos and Alexandre Dante produced a solid run to secure the runner-up position.
KEO Racing and Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport take class wins
KEO Racing won GTX on debut with its Ligier JS2 RS, driven by Adrian Kunzle and Kevin Madsen. The team lost several laps on Saturday due to gearing and electrical issues, but it returned from the pit lane on Sunday and brought the car to the finish.
Meanwhile, Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport claimed GT4 honours with its BMW M4 GT4 EVO. Michael Bonk, Martin Kroll, Claudia Hürtgen and Elia Weiss completed a strong 12-hour performance in the single-car GT4 class.
Barcelona finale awaits after Nürburgring breakthrough
The inaugural Michelin 12H Nürburgring delivered close GT3 battles, dramatic class fights and a breakthrough overall winner.
GetSpeed Team JR286 now heads to the final round with momentum and the GT3 standings lead. However, the championship remains alive as the Michelin 24H SERIES European Series prepares for its biggest race of the season.
The campaign concludes with the Michelin 24H Barcelona on 18–20 September, where the European Series titles will reach their final chapter.
