| Car Collection Motorsport will compete in both races of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie double-header with an Audi R8 LMS GT3. The double-header is set to be one of the major highlights of the season for the participants in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Car Collection Motorsport will contest the two four-hour races with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II. This marks the team’s first race outing with the Audi this season, but the Walluf-based team brings a wealth of experience with the car, having successfully fielded it in a variety of sprint and endurance races since 2016. For Car Collection Motorsport, this outing serves as a trial run of sorts for the 2027 season, as the team is currently working towards fielding the Audi R8 LMS GT3 for the full Nordschleife season. “The Audi remains an extremely competitive car for us, one with which we have a great deal of experience on the Nordschleife, and we would like to add another project on the Nürburgring Nordschleife to our racing programme next year,” said team principal Peter Schmidt. “We are currently working to ensure that next year – alongside our Porsche programmes – we can complete the full season on the Nordschleife with an Audi. What makes this particularly attractive is that the car is one of the most cost-effective GT3 cars, yet remains one of the fastest cars on the Nordschleife.” The driver line-up for the double-header will be led by Florian Spengler, who has previously competed with Car Collection Motorsport in the ADAC GT Masters and on the Nordschleife, amongst other series. Former Audi works driver Christer Joens and Nico Hantke, regarded as one of the greatest German talents in GT racing, complete the driver line-up. The Audi will compete in the SP9 Pro-Am class. “I drove my last race on the Nordschleife in 2024 with Car Collection; even then, it was just a one-off appearance. As I’m very busy with work, I’ve only been getting behind the wheel of a race car sporadically in recent years anyway. That makes it all the more exciting that I’ll be able to take on the Green Hell again at the upcoming NLS double-header!” explains Florian Spengler. “After a planned entry in the Italian GT3 Championship unfortunately fell through at short notice for our team, the timing is perfect. I can’t wait to showcase our new livery on the track and take to the race alongside Nico Hantke and Christer Joens. We’re hoping for a dry weekend, plenty of thrilling action and, above all, accident-free races. I’m really looking forward to it!” Christer Joens adds: “I’m really looking forward to racing with Car Collection Motorsport and the Audi R8 LMS GT3 at the NLS double-header. I know Florian Spengler from several seasons we spent together in the ADAC GT Masters, where we’ve also shared a car before. Together with Nico Hantke, we’re ideally placed to secure a top finish in our class.” “For me, this will be my first outing with Car Collection Motorsport, and I’m really looking forward to working with them and going on the attack alongside my team-mates!” concludes Nico Hantke, who has already competed this year in GT3 cars from Aston Martin, Audi and Mercedes-AMG, impressing with fast lap times in each. “The whole team is very much looking forward to Florian Spengler’s return. In our three years together in the ADAC GT Masters, he won the Bronze Drivers’ Trophy twice. We’ve also raced together on the Nordschleife before. With Christer and Nico, he’ll be competing alongside two fast and experienced drivers. “Our aim is to fight together for two top results in the SP9 Pro-Am class and to secure the best possible position in the overall standings,” said team manager Romina Schmidt. The two races of the double-header in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will start at 12:00 on 12 and 13 September respectively. The 90-minute qualifying session will begin at 08:30 on both days. The full race days can be watched in their entirety on YouTube. |
