| With its entry in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, Car Collection Motorsport is set to face the highlight of the 2026 season. Months of intensive preparation have come to an end; for Car Collection Motorsport, the highlight of this year’s racing season is just around the corner. Under the banner of “Goroyan RT by Car Collection”, the Walluf-based team will compete in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The team, which will race under the Armenian flag, will field a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the SP9 Pro-Am class. Alongside Car Collection’s regular driver Alex Fontana and former Audi works driver Nathanaël Berthon, Artur Goroyan, the reigning TCR champion in the Nürburgring Endurance Series, and Oleg Kvitka will be at the wheel. Only Fontana has previously contested the race in a GT3 car, though all drivers have demonstrated good pace in their preparatory races. The team’s objective is clear: in the SP9 Pro-Am class, the team aims to fight for a top result. This year, a very special edition of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring awaits the participants. 161 cars have been entered – the highest number since 2014. No fewer than 41 cars will line up in the top SP9 class – a new record! Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will be making his debut in the race. Furthermore, fan interest is extremely high, so many observers – despite an unfavourable weather forecast – are expecting a new spectator record. “This year’s edition of the race will be very special for everyone involved! We have been preparing intensively for the race over the last few months and will give it our all to put in a strong performance. We are looking forward to our first start at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring after a two-year break!” said team manager Romina Schmidt. “I’m looking forward to returning to the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which I already took part in back in 2021. Ideally, I should have completed more test races this year, but due to a very busy schedule, that wasn’t possible. Nevertheless, I know the car very well, and last year we had a number of races in all sorts of conditions. On a dry track, I set the second-fastest lap time of the race on Sunday during the double-header, whilst on a wet track I secured pole position. “That doesn’t make me an expert on the Ring by any means, but it keeps my motivation high and gives me the confidence that, together with Car Collection, Artur, Oleg and Nathanaël, we have everything we need to do well,” explains Swiss driver Alex Fontana. Artur Goroyan adds: “Every driver aspires to make the leap into the GT3 class at some point, so this is a very special moment for me. It reflects the work that has been done behind the scenes, but also sets new standards for what lies ahead. I’m looking forward to the challenge and to working my way up to this level step by step.” “I’m really looking forward to being part of the Car Collection team again for this 24-hour race. It’s always something special to be part of such a legendary event, especially on one of the most demanding circuits in the world,” explains the experienced French racing professional Berthon. “I’m also very much looking forward to sharing the car with Artur Goroyan, and I’d like to thank him for his trust. I’m confident that we’ll have a great time together and put in a strong performance over the course of the race. It’s also a pleasure for me to compete alongside Alex and Oleg in a car sporting the colours of Armenia. For me personally, this is the first time I’ll be driving a GT3 in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. We had a solid preparatory race a few weeks ago, which gave us a good foundation, and it’s always a real pleasure to drive a Porsche in these conditions. The race will be tough, as it always is here, so our main goal is to drive cleanly, avoid problems and find our rhythm. If we manage that, we’ll definitely try to fight for a podium place in the Pro-Am category.” Oleg Kvitka is also looking forward to his first GT3 start at the endurance classic: “For me, it’s something very special to be competing in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in a GT3 car for the first time. What makes it even more special is this year’s field: the largest GT3 field ever, plus the participation of Max Verstappen. Racing against one of the best drivers is very special for all of us! Our aim is to fight for a podium finish in the SP9 Pro-Am class.” This year’s ADAC RAVENOL 24 Hours of Nürburgring takes place from 14 to 17 May. The entire race will be broadcast live on German free-to-air TV on Nitro, and interested fans can also follow all practice sessions and the race via the official livestream on YouTube. The race starts on Saturday at 3 pm. |
