Audi wins NLS5 at the 24h Qualifiers

Audi wins dramatic Race 2 at the 24h Qualifiers

The second race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers delivered everything endurance racing fans could hope for: a fierce opening duel, strategic twists, mechanical heartbreak and a late‑race charge that reshuffled the fight at the front. What unfolded over four hours on the Nordschleife was more than a dress rehearsal, it was a clear preview of the intensity awaiting in May’s 24‑hour classic.

Early fight: Verstappen vs. Haase sets the tone

The opening phase belonged to the headline battle between the #16 Scherer Sport PHX Audi and the #3 Mercedes‑AMG of Verstappen and Auer. Max Verstappen carved his way forward with trademark aggression, first clearing the Ferrari of Marschall and Vermeulen, then launching a clean but forceful move on Christopher Haase to take the lead. His 8:10.453 lap, the fastest of the race at that moment, underlined the pace the Mercedes had in hand.

But the momentum shifted abruptly. After an earlier routine stop, Verstappen returned to the pits with a front‑end issue. The car was pushed into the box, where the team discovered a damaged splitter. While the mechanics worked to repair the Mercedes, the race continued to evolve at the front.

Audi takes control as rivals falter

Haase handed the #16 Audi to Alexander Sims, who inherited the lead as the Verstappen car remained stationary. From there, the Audi trio, Haase, Sims and Green, executed a clean, controlled run to the finish. Green brought the car home to secure victory at 17:06, capping a weekend that Haase later described as “up and down,” marked by changing weather, balance struggles and even a light brush with the tyre stacks. Yet when it mattered, the Audi squad delivered.

Behind them, the #84 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 of Engstler, Bortolotti and Niederhauser maintained strong pace to stay in podium contention, while the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) of Preining and Campbell fought hard in the lead group before slipping back as the race unfolded.

Elsewhere in the field, the four‑hour contest produced its share of setbacks. The #7 Lamborghini suffered tyre issues and later retired after a puncture. The #4 Porsche slowed at Brünnchen, and the #8 Audi required a late stop for a right‑front tyre change. But the overall tone of the race was clear: the pace is rising, the competition is tightening, and the 24h Nürburgring in May is shaping up to be a thriller.

For the winners, Race 2 was more than a result, it was a statement. For the rest of the field, it was a reminder that on the Nordschleife, every lap writes a new story.

Follow the rest of the season on our NLS 2026 hub: full calendar, every race report and the guides that explain how the Nürburgring works.