GT drivers hail Verstappen's impact: 'Hope we can show this internationally'

Speaking to GPblog, the South African already said he’s pleased that the participation of, among others, Max Verstappen is bringing so much attention to the GT world. More than 300,000 people are expected, which would be a record after the 2025 record of 280,000. Van der Linde is driving one of the favourites: the ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 Evo, which won last year’s race after a fierce battle with the Grello.

BMW arrives as the “defending champion” and hopes to extend its record of victories to 22. “I think this is a great event, a great opportunity for the GT3 world and for the Nordschleife as a venue to showcase the best racing,” Van der Linde says in the presence of GPblog at the press conference. “I think we have the best drivers here, the best teams, and the best manufacturers, and for every driver it’s something to be proud of to be part of this.”

There are 161 cars on the entry list, divided across 23 classes. In total, there are 41 GT3 cars. The manufacturers have really pulled out all the stops for this edition. “I think we have the best drivers here, the best teams, and the best manufacturers, and for every driver it’s something to be proud of to be part of this,” Van der Linde praises. “And I really hope we have the chance this weekend to show internationally what makes these races special.”

The Nürburgring expects a huge number of people this year who will be traveling to the Nordschleife for the first time. That gives the Nordschleife and the Intercontinental GT Challenge—of which the 24-hour race is a part—the chance to show how beautiful GT racing can be. “Hopefully there won’t be many accidents and everyone makes it safely to the finish, because I think that’s the most important thing: that we put on a good show and can enjoy what we love most. That’s ultimately the most important thing here,” says Van der Linde.

Finally, Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Maro Engel, who won the 2016 edition, adds that he fully agrees. “I’m looking forward to a great sporting festival. I think it’s fantastic to once again see what’s happening here with GT3 racing on the Nordschleife. On Thursday evening I had the chance to go to Brünnchen and have a drink with the fans there. It was truly amazing. The atmosphere is just fantastic,” he laughs.