Disqualification Shakes Up NLS2 Results: Verstappen Racing’s Triumph Invalidated
In a dramatic turn of events at the NLS2 4 Hour race, the #3 Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo, driven by Max Verstappen, Dani Juncadella, and Jules Gounon, has been disqualified after post-race technical inspections revealed a breach of tire regulations. The team initially celebrated a decisive victory but was later found to have used seven sets of tires, exceeding the limit of six permitted.
As a result, the win has been awarded to the ROWE Racing BMW, featuring Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper, who now claim the top spot in the race standings.
The NLS issued a statement clarifying the situation: “During the technical commission’s routine review of the so-called Tyre App, it was discovered that the team had used seven sets of tires on race day instead of the permitted six. The stewards were thus forced to disqualify the car.”
Christian Hohenadel, Team Principal of Winward Racing, expressed regret over the incident: “The disqualification hurts. Unfortunately, a mistake was made within the team that forced race control to retroactively disqualify the winning car. For us, this was our first outing as a Mercedes-AMG Performance team on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. We will now thoroughly analyze the day and prepare for the remaining races.”
The disqualification highlights the stringent nature of competition in the NLS and the critical importance of compliance with technical regulations as teams gear up for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring later this season.
