Is Verstappen racing in GT3 class today after securing Nordschleife permit?

Unfortunately for fans of the four-time world champion and the tens of thousands of supporters who flocked to Germany to watch him race on the legendary circuit, the answer is no.

After racing on Saturday, Verstappen went back home once he learned that he had received the DBSM permit, the license allowing him to take part in Nordschleife races in the GT3 class.

Earlier this year, he drove the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the Emil Frey Racing team under the pseudonym Franz Hermann, also setting the unofficial lap record.

The four-time world champion entered the Nordschleife weekend with one clear objective: to earn the coveted A permit, the prerequisite for competing in the GT3 class.

On Saturday, he lined up in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, running in the familiar Verstappen.com colors. From the outset, Verstappen made his presence felt. In qualifying, he topped the timesheets in the CUP 3 (G) category by a comfortable margin and even managed to outpace several entries that were not subject to the 130-horsepower cap applied to his car.

Despite carrying extra ballast and being down on power compared to his rivals, he still placed sixth in class and 27th overall.

Together with Chris Lulham, he went on to bring the car home seventh in the four-hour contest, after the Durchman completed his 14-lap stint before handing the wheel to his teammate. The English driver, like Verstappen, also obtained the license required to compete in GT3.

“I’m happy it all went smooth, and I got my DMSB Permit Nordschleife,'' the Dutchman said via his website Verstappen.com.