Scherer Sport PHX Claims Victory in 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
In a thrilling fifth race of the 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Scherer Sport PHX triumphed, securing victory in the second ADAC 24H Qualifier. The race, marked by an intense contest between Christopher Haase and Max Verstappen, highlighted the competitive depth of the field.
Qualifying Highlights
Realize Kondo Racing with Rinaldi set the pace in Top Qualifying, with Thierry Vermeulen clinching pole position in a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, clocking a blazing lap of 8:10.275—just one thousandth of a second faster than the Gamota Racing BMW M4 GT3.
Race Summary
The race began with Dennis Marschall maintaining the lead for Realize Kondo Racing until a collision while lapping another car sent the Ferrari into a gravel trap. This incident opened the door for a resurgence from Haase in the #16 Scherer Audi and Verstappen in the Winward Racing #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, who reignited their earlier season rivalry.
Although leading for 90 minutes, Verstappen was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop due to front splitter damage. Team manager Steve Buschmann stated, “We brought the car in as a precaution to prevent anything worse from happening,” allowing Lucas Auer to gain valuable experience in traffic.
Ultimately, Haase, alongside teammates Alexander Sims and Ben Green, crossed the finish line 28 seconds ahead of the Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, driven by Luca Engstler, Mirko Bortolotti, and Patric Niederhauser.
Haase remarked, “The most important thing today was the feedback for the 24-hour race. Finishing on top is a nice bonus but the focus was on working on the setup.” Ben Green echoed this sentiment, noting the car’s consistent performance throughout.
Dramatic Podium Battles
The race’s final stages featured an exhilarating duel for third place between Manthey’s Thomas Preining and Winward Racing’s Fabian Schiller. Preining ultimately secured the position, finishing just under three seconds ahead of Schiller, stating, “It was racing at the absolute limit, but always fair.”
Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol and ROWE Racing’s #99 BMW completed the top five places. In a standout performance, the BMW M3 Touring (Car #81) captured the SP-X class victory and achieved an impressive seventh overall.
Class Victories
In the SP 9 Pro-Am class, Team Schnitzelalm Racing’s #11 Mercedes-AMG GT3 finished eighth overall, while Team BLACK FALCON Team EAE took top honors in the SP 9 Am category, with impressive consistency evident from their #5 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Drivers’ Standings
With two events cancelled, joint leaders in the drivers’ standings are Sven Markert, Edoardo Bugané, and Benjamin Albers of Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhattan Wheels, alongside Oskar Sandberg and Alexander Fielenbach of Smyrlis Racing.
Community Reflection
The race weekend was overshadowed by the tragic loss of Finnish driver Juha Miettinen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a multi-car incident. A poignant moment of silence was observed, emphasizing unity within the motorsport community.
Upcoming Events
This event served as a precursor to the ADAC 24H Nürburgring, scheduled for May 14-17, 2026, with the next NLS event, the 1st ADAC Eifel Trophy, set for June 20.
This report distills the key outcomes and insights from the race, aiming to keep the motorsport community informed with precise, factual updates.
