The ADAC 24 Hours race at the Nurburgring. The Green Hell. Acknowledged as the world’s longest and most challenging race track. It truly is an addictive experience. Like no other endurance race, over 200 cars take to the start grid with everything from works BMWs and Porsches VW Golfs and Opel Astras.
 In the build-up to the race, the question being asked by those in the know, was, could the Porsche GT3 R of the Manthey team really win for a unprecedented fifth consecutive time, or would it be the turn of the Audis of Team Abt Sportsline’s and Team Phoenix, or BMW Motorsport’s new M3 E92s. There was also interest about the Hankook Ferrari and the Black Falcon Audi R8 – it appeared that the main battle would be fought amongst these teams and cars.
For the first time this year there was the entry of a Hybrid Porsche GT3 R, supported by the Manthey team and a Porsche GT3 RS, supported by Porsche AG. The latter had been driven from the factory in Stuttgart and stuck on the start grid! One of the drivers in this car was the EVO journalist Chris Harris.
Following qualification, the two front rows of the grid were occupied by the Audi R8 LMS cars, with the Manthey Porsche GT3 R back in 7th.
Saturday arrived and following cold and indifferent weather all week, the teams awoke to another overcast and cloudy day. However, by midday the overcast conditions had given way to sunshine and so it stayed for the whole weekend.
Following the amazing grid-walk prior to the race, where you get to see and touch the cars, the grid is cleared and the cars start the formation lap at around 14.40 and another amazing experience ensues. As is tradition at ‘The Ring’ the spectators are allowed over the Armco as the drivers wind their way around the Nordschleife and back up through the Dottinger Hohe, before rejoining the GP circuit and crossing the start line. And so commences 24hrs of motor racing mayhem!
As the cars exited the first corner, amazingly the Manthey Porsche began to make significant progress and by the time the cars exited on to the Nordschleife it led the field! 7th to 1st, literally in a blink of the eye! Within an hour of the start, the top three places were all occupied by Porsche GT3 Rs.
However, needless to say things changed and before long the Team Abt Audi was back in third and showing good speed.
At around 22.30, just as the Manthey Porsche was stretching its lead and beginning to show all the attributes required of a winner it was unfortunately involved in an accident in the Pflanzgarten, where it was hit ‘broadside’ by an out of control MKIII Golf! Where else would these cars be sharing the same circuit in the middle of the night!
 This incident clearly opened the door for the other competitors, with the Audis, Porsches and BMWs all eagerly competing. At just before 23.00, the Hybrid Porsche took the lead for the first time. Clearly the advantage of being able to run 10 rather than 8 laps of this incredible circuit between pit stops was beginning to pay dividends.
Night proved to be eventful throughout the field of racers, with the most astonishing being at 20.55 when the Lotus Exige driven by British driver Roger Green, caught fire and he finally threw himself out of the flaming Lotus after a few minutes of trying to slow it down! The vehicle and their dream ended in a wreck!
All through the night the Hybrid Porsche led the field, consistently increasing its lead, to the point where with less than two hours to go it was a clear two laps ahead of the second place BMW. Then disaster struck. The Hybrid Porsche’s engine blew up and left the car stranded in the Breidscheid area. BMW now led the race.
And so it would remain. BMW managed to hold on to the lead, finishing ahead of the Hankook Ferrari and the Phoenix Audi. Fourth was the Need for Speed Team BMW Z4 and fifth went to the Black Falcon Audi R8 LMS.
The Porsche that was driven from the factory ended a very respectable 13th, showing the world that factory Porsche’s really are world class racing cars.
Why not go and see this spectacular event for yourself ?
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