Top Qualifying 2 added another layer of pressure to the 2026 24h Nürburgring qualifying battle, as the 20 cars that progressed from Top Qualifying 1 returned to the Nordschleife to fight for places in the final shootout.
At this stage, preparation no longer mattered. Instead, every team needed a clean lap, clear traffic, and enough pace to keep its pole-position hopes alive. The fastest cars from Top Qualifying 2 would move on to Top Qualifying 3, where they would join the pre-qualified entries to form the final 12-car field for pole.
With the stakes rising, the session got underway at 11:05 local time. Max Verstappen took over the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Lucas Auer, while several other PRO entries also completed mandatory driver changes before the next phase of the shootout.
Engel crash brings early disruption to Top Qualifying 2 at 2026 Nürburgring 24h
However, the session quickly took a dramatic turn. Maro Engel, driving the #80 Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL entry, ran wide and crashed heavily in the Hatzenbach section. The impact ended his session on the spot and left the car with significant rear-left suspension damage.
The crash also damaged the barriers, which meant officials had to slow the field while repairs took place. As a result, yellow flags and a Code 60 zone disrupted the rhythm of the session and compromised several drivers who had not yet completed representative laps.
That incident had a major impact on the competitive order. Verstappen had already passed through the affected section and had been setting purple sectors before the disruption. Therefore, the #3 Mercedes-AMG stood in a strong position once the session settled into its interrupted phase.
Verstappen sets the early benchmark
Verstappen soon established the first major reference time with an 8:14.459, putting himself at the top of the order. Christian Krognes also delivered a strong early lap in the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO, moving into second.
However, the Code 60 then changed the shape of the session. With much of the field unable to attack properly, Verstappen’s time looked likely to remain unbeaten for a significant part of the running.
After 17 minutes, and with many drivers still holding only one meaningful lap, Verstappen in the #3, Krognes in the #34, Dennis Olsen in the #67, Marco Wittmann in the #77, Arjun Maini in the #64, and Max Hesse in the #99 appeared to be in the strongest positions. Meanwhile, Tobias Müller held the bubble spot in the #48 Porsche.
Code 60 creates a late shootout
For several minutes, the session offered little meaningful action. Ayhancan Güven, sitting ninth in the #911 Manthey Racing Porsche, continued circulating as he burned off fuel, while the rest of the field waited for another chance to attack.
Eventually, officials ended the Code 60 with around three minutes remaining. That left the remaining cars with effectively one final opportunity to improve. Verstappen and Güven led the field back onto the circuit on fresh tyres, setting up a tense one-lap shootout.
Nicky Yelloly faced one of the most important final laps of the session. The #130 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 had shown strong pace earlier, but Yelloly lost time after running behind Engel and passing through the yellow-flag zone. Therefore, his final attempt carried extra importance.
Final laps transform the order of Top Qualifying 2 at the 2026 Nürburgring 24h
As the chequered flag flew, the order remained highly uncertain. The earlier classification did not fully reflect the pace of the field, as the yellow flags and Code 60 had affected several cars. However, not every driver had another chance to improve. Felipe Fernandez Laser abandoned his final attempt early in the #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin, leaving his previous time to stand.
Hesse then became the first driver to make a significant late improvement, lifting the #99 ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO to third. Yet that gain did not last long.
Moments later, Yelloly produced the lap that defined the session. The Briton delivered an 8:10.485 in the #130 Lamborghini to move to the top of the times. His lap immediately reshaped the fight for progression and placed Red Bull Team ABT in control of Top Qualifying 2.
Christian Engelhart also made a major late jump in the #7 Lamborghini, improving from 19th to second with an 8:11.937. That briefly put Maini at risk of missing out, but the Indian driver was already on a flying lap of his own and remained firmly in contention.
Yelloly leads as Verstappen secures progression
The order continued to change rapidly in the final moments. Güven improved to second in the #911 Porsche, while Verstappen dropped to third. Then Krognes and Olsen improved as well, pushing Verstappen further down the order.
Maini responded with a strong final lap in the #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang, climbing to fourth. That left Verstappen sixth in the final classification, behind Yelloly, Krognes, Güven, Maini and Olsen, but still safely through to the next phase.
Yelloly therefore ended Top Qualifying 2 fastest with his 8:10.485, just 0.139s ahead of Krognes. Güven secured third for Manthey Racing, while Maini and Olsen gave HRT Ford Racing two cars inside the top five. Verstappen completed the top six for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing.
Final Top Qualifying 2 order at the 2026 Nürburgring 24h
- #130 Nicky Yelloly – Red Bull Team ABT – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – 8:10.485
- #34 Christian Krognes – Walkenhorst Motorsport – Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO – 8:10.624
- #911 Ayhancan Güven – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R – 8:11.222
- #64 Arjun Maini – HRT Ford Racing – Ford Mustang GT3 EVO – 8:11.278
- #67 Dennis Olsen – HRT Ford Racing – Ford Mustang GT3 EVO – 8:11.423
- #3 Max Verstappen – Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – 8:11.614
- #7 Christian Engelhart – Franz Konrad – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – 8:11.937
Final shootout awaits
Top Qualifying 2 delivered both drama and uncertainty, with Engel’s crash shaping the rhythm of the session before a late flurry transformed the order. Yelloly emerged fastest after executing his final lap under intense pressure, while Verstappen survived the disruption and secured his place in the next stage.
With the leading runners now through to Top Qualifying 3, the battle for pole position at the 2026 24h Nürburgring moves into its decisive phase.
