Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie Season Opener: Key Insights and Results
Nürburgring, Germany — The 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) kicked off this weekend with an intriguing mix of veteran teams and fresh ambitions. Despite Schnabl Engineering’s significant rebranding from Falken to Dunlop for one of its entries, two GT3 cars still competed on Falken tires.
Max Kruse Racing debuted its Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in AT1 class, alongside Schnabl’s Falken Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. Leveraging a six-year partnership with Falken, Max Kruse Racing is emerging as a leader in alternative fuel classes.
Dominik and Marcel Fugel, who drove the #75 Audi, were joined by team co-founder Benjamin Leuchter. Leuchter’s experience as a Nürburgring specialist culminated last season when he first raced GT3 machinery for Falken. In qualifying for the first race of the event, Leuchter secured a commendable P3 in a challenging wet session.
Performance Overview:
- Qualifying Results: #75 Audi secured P3 on the grid.
- Race Results: Leuchter and co-drivers delivered two second-place finishes. A puncture in the Sunday race hindered a potential victory.
Leuchter reflected on his GT3 debut, stating, “I was quite happy as I put the car P3 in Qualifying… I could see the improvement in my performance.” He emphasized his adaptation to the GT3’s aerodynamics compared to the previous Porsche Cup car, where mechanical grip was more prominent.
Max Kruse Racing’s move to GT3 proves advantageous not only for the team but also for its tire partner. Leuchter noted, “It’s important to give [Falken] as much data as we can collect… Looking lap time-wise, I was quicker than in the Porsche.”
Future Outlook:
The #75 Audi will form part of a diverse multi-car program, joining other entries, including three Volkswagen Golfs in the upcoming races of the NLS season. As teams gather data for tire development, performance trends indicate a positive trajectory for both Max Kruse Racing and Falken, promising an exciting season ahead.
The 2026 NLS continues with its next round scheduled for next weekend.
