Verstappen โto Navigate Nรผrburgring Qualification Hurdle in NLS Debut
Nรผrburgring, โคGermany – Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen is set to make his debut in theโข Nรผrburgring Langstrecken Series โ(NLS) thisโค weekend, but will first need to complete a specific qualifying โprocedure to earn โฃfull โracing privileges. Verstappen willโค share driving โduties inโ two Lionspeed cayman cars โฃtoโฃ fulfill requirements for a permit allowing him to compete in the higher GT3 category.
The NLS employsโข a permit system designed to promote respect on the track by requiring drivers to experience racing from โฃthe outlook of a slower car before movingโ to faster machinery. โขTo qualify, Verstappenโ must achieve two classified race results โ- achievableโค within a single race by switching cars – and complete โa โminimum of โ14 laps and 20% of the race distance โขinโค each Cayman. The Cayman’s typical lap count of 25-26 in aโค four-hour โคrace suggests two seven-lap stints per car will suffice.
Introduced in 2015, the system has proven controversial, with some, like MotoGP legend Valentinoโค Rossi, refusing to โrace atโข the Nรผrburgring due to it. Critics label it an unneeded obstacle, while supporters, including the Nรผrburgring pilot working group, maintain it has โimproved race flow.
Verstappen’s ultimateโ goal is โคto compete โin the GT3 class, perhaps โeven with his own team.โ This weekend’s 65th ADAC Cup ACAS race, and the following day’s round, will be live-streamed for free on Motorsport.tv, with coverageโข beginning at 8:15 local time for qualifying and race retransmission starting at 11:15 localโ time โคbefore the 12:00 race start.