Just one week after clinching its 28th consecutive victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, Michelin once again asserted its dominance in another legendary race: the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Alongside partner ROWE Racing, the French brand won this 53rd edition thanks to the BMW M4 GT3 EVO No. 98, victorious after a thrilling battle. Equipped with Michelin tires, the German car—driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Raffaele Marciello, Jesse Krohn and Augusto Farfus—secured victory on Sunday following an intense duel and a decisive sporting ruling in the final moments of the race.
Initially classified second under the checkered flag behind the Porsche 911 GT3 R No. 911 – Manthey EMA (also a Michelin partner), the BMW No. 98 was ultimately declared the winner after a 1-minute and 40-second penalty was applied to the leading Porsche, following contact between Kévin Estre and an Aston Martin GT4. Manthey EMA’s appeal was rejected, confirming the Munich brand’s victory.
A triumph of teamwork and technology
This victory marks BMW’s 21st win at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, and the second for ROWE Racing following its 2020 success. It is even more impressive considering that the M4 GT3 EVO No. 98 was BMW’s sole GT3 entry this year. This success also showcases the key role played by Michelin tires, delivering consistent performance and reliability on a circuit renowned for its extreme demands.
“We are extremely proud of this victory, which rewards the collective effort between the ROWE Racing team, the drivers, and Michelin’s technical expertise,” said Pierre Alves, Endurance Program Manager at Michelin Motorsport. “Winning at the Nürburgring means succeeding in unique conditions—with shifting temperatures, dense traffic, and a notoriously challenging track. Our tires were designed to meet these challenges. For the first time this year, weather conditions allowed our partners to fully exploit the MICHELIN Pilot Sport High Temperature range. Thanks to their versatility from 30°C track temperatures and their consistent performance, these tires notably enabled the No. 911 Porsche and the No. 98 BMW to engage in an intense battle at the front. I would like to salute all our partners for their commitment in what was an especially demanding edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.”
A podium showcasing manufacturer diversity
Second place went to the Porsche 911 GT3 R No. 911 – Manthey EMA, nicknamed “Grello,” driven by Kévin Estre, Ayhançan Güven, and Thomas Preining. The team had led the race for many hours before the decisive incident shifted the outcome.
Another Michelin-equipped car, the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 No. 28 from the ABT team, also ran strongly at the front of the pack and finished fourth after a lengthy pit stop late in the race.
A race defined by consistency and strategy
After a relatively calm night at the front of the field, dawn brought a strategic showdown between Porsche and BMW, with every stint proving critical. Thanks to precise tire and pit stop management, ROWE Racing seized every opportunity.
In the Cup 2 category, victory went to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup No. 948 – Losch Motorsport by Black Falcon, which finished an impressive 11th overall—further underlining the importance of consistency and reliability, hallmarks of Michelin.
Michelin, partner to the world’s toughest endurance challenges
As a historic partner of the world’s greatest endurance races, Michelin further strengthens its position as a leader in motorsport with this latest win. The lessons learned from such a demanding event as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring directly feed into the innovations developed for production vehicles. This 2025 victory adds to an already exceptional track record for the French brand.
