The 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring once again highlighted the unique demands of the legendary German circuit. Held in extremely changeable weather conditions, the 54th edition of the Eifel endurance classic confirmed the full technical complexity of the Nordschleife and the strategic importance of tyres on one of the most challenging circuits in the world.

After 24 hours of racing, Michelin achieved a remarkable one-two finish with victory for the No.80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO entered by Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol and driven by Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Luca Stolz and Fabian Schiller, ahead of the No.84 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 of Red Bull Team ABT.

From qualifying onwards, held on Thursday and Friday in particularly tricky conditions combining localised rain, fog, damp sections and cool temperatures, Michelin had already demonstrated the versatility of its tyres across the full range of conditions encountered on the Nordschleife.

Friday’s Top Qualifying session notably saw Lamborghini lock out the front row with the Huracán GT3 EVO2 cars run by ABT Sportsline, while Mercedes-AMG, Audi and BMW also confirmed their potential in an extremely close competitive order.

As soon as the race started on Saturday at 3:00 p.m., the Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars quickly took control of proceedings.

The No.3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car and the No.80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol entry occupied the leading positions for much of the race, benefiting from excellent pace and perfectly controlled tyre management.

True to Nürburgring tradition, the weather evolved continuously throughout the 24 hours with several rain showers, significant temperature variations and changing grip conditions depending on the sector of the circuit.

In this extremely demanding context, Michelin-equipped teams made use of the three specifications developed specifically for the event: Cold, Medium and Hot. The victorious No.80 Mercedes-AMG notably used Medium tyres during the opening stages before switching to Cold tyres overnight, then returning to Medium tyres at dawn as temperatures began to rise again.

Having long led the race alongside the sister No.3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car, Mercedes-AMG appeared on course for a controlled one-two finish before the No.3 suffered transmission problems with 3 hours and 22 minutes remaining while still holding the lead.

The No.80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol car then definitively took command of the race and managed its advantage all the way to the chequered flag despite rain returning during the final hour.

Behind the two leading cars, the No.84 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 of Red Bull Team ABT delivered an impressive comeback after a very difficult start to the race marked by several incidents and penalties. Thanks to particularly strong pace and very aggressive use of Michelin tyres, the crew managed to secure second place overall.

Throughout the weekend, Michelin also demonstrated the competitiveness of its intermediate tyres in the light rain conditions encountered on the Nordschleife. In these very specific conditions, Michelin-equipped cars regularly gained ground on the competition thanks to the tyres’ efficiency in damp and low-grip sections.

Pierre Alves, Endurance Programme Manager at Michelin Motorsport:

“This 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring perfectly illustrated the full complexity of this event. Weather conditions constantly evolved throughout the weekend with dry sections, damp areas, highly variable temperatures and several periods of rain. In such a context, tyres play an absolutely central role.

“Mercedes-AMG very quickly took control of the race with the No.3 and No.80 cars, which occupied the top two positions for a large part of the event. The No.80 perfectly managed its tyre strategy by successively using Medium tyres and then Cold tyres overnight before switching back to Medium tyres at dawn.

“The drivers’ feedback was extremely positive throughout the weekend. Max Verstappen notably explained that he was able to push without having to manage his tyres, with a very high level of confidence lap after lap. When switching from Cold to Medium tyres, he did not notice any major difference in grip, only different behaviour linked to operating temperatures.

“The No.84 Lamborghini also demonstrated the full potential of Michelin tyres by producing a spectacular recovery despite several penalties and incidents early in the race. Finally, our intermediate tyres made a real difference during the light rain conditions encountered throughout the event. In these very particular conditions, Michelin-equipped cars clearly gained performance and competitiveness over their rivals.

“Securing the top two positions in such a competitive environment, with several manufacturers competing at the highest GT3 level, is a tremendous satisfaction for Michelin and all of our partners.”

A propos de Michelin

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 122,600 people.