Officials cancelled the opening round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) after adverse weather conditions made racing unsafe at the Nürburgring. Snowfall and freezing temperatures plaguing the 2026 opener forced organisers to call off the four-hour race, the 71st ADAC Westfalenfahrt (NLS1). The race was scheduled to start at midday local time.
Low temperatures and snow had already delayed the start of qualifying earlier in the day. Although track conditions gradually improved, the freezing temperatures continued to pose safety concerns for teams, drivers and tyre suppliers.
More than 130 cars had entered the race, highlighting the scale of the event set to launch the new season.
Teams and tyre manufacturers raise safety concerns amid poor weather conditions
Race officials held two meetings with team managers during the morning to assess the evolving conditions and gather feedback from competitors. The first meeting took place at 8:30 a.m., followed by another at 10:00 a.m., as organisers considered whether it would be possible to safely proceed with the event.
Christian Vormann explained that the organisers had sought input from teams before making the final decision.
“Even though the final decision rests with us, it was important to us to discuss the situation with the participants,” said Christian Vormann, VLN Sports Director. “After an inspection lap, race control decided that the track was drivable. The shoulders were clear of snow and it was slowly drying out. Opinions among the teams were mixed. A vote resulted in a slim majority in favor of holding the event. In the end, the warning from the tire industry tipped the scales in favor of cancellation.”
Despite race control determining that the circuit itself was technically drivable after an inspection lap, tyre manufacturers involved in the championship advised against running the race due to the extremely low temperatures. Their warning ultimately proved decisive in the final decision.
Early withdrawals before official 2026 NLS1 cancellation
Even before the Race Control announced the official cancellation at 10:45 a.m., several teams had already decided not to participate due to safety concerns. Among those opting out was Verstappen Racing. The team had been scheduled to compete but withdrew before organisers confirmed the cancellation.
The decision reflected the uncertainty surrounding the conditions and the potential risks associated with running a race in freezing weather.
Attention turns to next weekend’s event
With the opening round cancelled, the next event on the calendar will now effectively serve as the season opener. The 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis will take place next weekend. Organisers expect it to attract significant attention.
Among the drivers set to participate is Max Verstappen, who will return to the Nürburgring’s famous Nordschleife as part of his preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring later this year. Verstappen will use the appearance to prepare for his anticipated debut in the iconic endurance race, scheduled for May.
With winter conditions disrupting the season opener, teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming round, hoping for more favourable weather at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife.
