Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen is to return to the Nurburgring for another sports car outing, this time at the wheel of a Ferrari GT3.
The Red Bull driver recently competed in the Nurburging Endurance Series [NLS] at the infamous Nordschleife, driving a Porsche Cayman.
In the race, he obtained a permit to compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring at the ‘green hell’, fulfilling an ambition to take part in the event.
His participation was preceded by a private test in a Ferrari 296 GT3 under the pseudonym Franz Hermann, in which he apparently set an unofficial new lap record.
Now Verstappen will take to the exact same car in the same series on Saturday, alongside the same team-mate – Britain’s Chris Lulham – to compete for a shot at victory.
Verstappen states other racing is ‘my passion’ ahead of GT3 race
Speaking at last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which he won, Verstappen explained his keen interest in sports car racing and his desire to compete at other levels of motor racing.
“My passion is to also do these kind of races,” he said.
“I knew that taking my licence needed to be done in a certain way and I have to say that they were all very helpful and supportive when I got there. But rules are rules and I get that.
“The down-tuned car was quite interesting to drive but honestly, very good collaboration. I got to do it in one race where sometimes you need to do it in two. They gave the option to do it in two different cars, so they were very thoughtful, helpful. Supportive as well because for them I think it was great to see.
“I enjoyed it, even though the car was super slow I still had a very useful day because I managed to drive in the wet, I managed to drive in the dry afterwards, do a start, getting to know all the flag rules because they are a little bit different to F1.
“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive around the Nordschleife, it’s always going to be fun when you push it.”
Verstappen added: “I like racing in general also outside of F1. I knew that if I wanted to get my permit I needed to do that race and we just went about, it was all organised very well, they were all very helpful as well from the organisation side.
“Every lap that you do around there is a different kind of experience so for me it was still very useful even though people say the car is down-tuned and it must be very boring. Of course the car is not the most exciting to drive but I look at it in a different way.
“You try to then focus on other things that might be useful in the future when you go there with a proper car. I had fun, it’s a nice environment to be in, a bit different to F1.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen recalls big differences in GT racing after ‘fun’ Nurburgring race
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