Max Verstappen Claims GT3 Win on Nürburgring Debut

Maranello, Italy – Max Verstappen made a successful debut in GT3 racing by winning the 57th edition of the 4 Hours of Barbarossapreis, part of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, on September 29, 2025. The four-time Formula 1 World Champion partnered with Chris Lulham, driving the Emil Frey Racing‘s Ferrari 296 GT3.

Starting from third position in a race interrupted by heavy fog, Verstappen quickly took the lead within the first half hour of the competition. After two hours of racing, he created a significant 1-minute 2-second lead before making a pit stop and transferring control to Lulham, who finished the race strong. The pair celebrated a victory margin of 24.5 seconds over their nearest rivals, the Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3.

The event saw a total of 100 cars registered, highlighting a robust field of competitors at the renowned Nordschleife. The second-place Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Klaus Abbelen from Frikadelli Racing, finished 13th overall in the SP9 class.

Earlier, in the 24H Series, Scuderia Praha faced challenges as their title contention slipped away, finishing the Barcelona round in 13th place overall. Team members included Josef Kràl, Miroslav Vyboh, and Dennis Waszek, who had led the race at certain points but suffered mechanical issues.

In the Italian GT Championship at Imola, the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 stayed in the hunt for the national title with key performances from teammates Leonardo Colavita and Ibrahim Badawi, who secured podium finishes in their respective races.

With this win, Verstappen, 27, reaffirmed his enthusiasm for endurance racing. He expressed his desire to eventually participate in the prestigious 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. “I can’t wait to drive more GT3 races,” Verstappen said. “Every lap on the Nordschleife is special and thrilling.” The next challenging round for the Nürburgring will be on October 11.