Multiple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi may still want to obtain his Nordschleife licence after Max Verstappen also accepted the rules. The licensing system at the Nürburgring had previously been criticised by the Italian. The NLS organisation told GPblog that Rossi was not very enthusiastic about having to go through several steps to obtain his licence. On the Nordschleife, you must first obtain a Permit B, with a course day and a faultless stint in a lower-powered car, before you can obtain a Permit A for GT3 cars.
On this Friday of NLS2, word spread that after Verstappen, Rossi is now interested in obtaining his permit, even if that means he must first drive a different car before being allowed to take a GT3 car onto the Nordschleife. According to rumours, he wants to take part in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in 2027.
GPblog understands that the iconic race remains on Rossi’s bucket list, although no concrete plans have been finalised. The Italian has long expressed an interest in tackling the ‘Green Hell’, but both the challenge of obtaining the licence and his demanding schedule continue to pose obstacles.
Has Rossi changed his mind?
Rossi has been racing in GT3 machinery for several years and was previously reluctant to drop down to a detuned car to obtain his Nordschleife ‘driver’s licence’. However this, and his criticism on the system, has not been confirmed.
By contrast, Verstappen obtained his licence last year and fully accepted the process. He completed all the required steps without raising any complaints.
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