Verstappen faces rain threat on Nurburgring 24 Hours opening day

Everything is now in place for one of the most highly anticipated motorsport events of the season, made even more special by the presence of a driver like Max Verstappen. It was around this time last year that the Dutchman began the long journey towards earning the A Permit required to compete in GT3 machinery, a path that has led him through several recent outings and ultimately to the Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers.

The Dutchman will be joined by Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer, with whom he has rotated throughout the previous rounds. The Nordschleife weekend gets underway today with Qualifying 1 at 12:55 local time (11:55 BST), followed by the second qualifying session later this evening, giving drivers the chance to familiarise themselves with the circuit in night-time condition.

Weather conditions could still play an important role over the opening stages of the Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend, especially during qualifying sessions. Thursday is expected to begin under cloudy skies, before scattered showers potentially arrive later in the afternoon, as per The Weather. Temperatures should peak at around 8°C, accompanied by south-westerly winds between 15 and 25 km/h, while the probability of rain currently sits at 30%.

Conditions are then forecast to remain overcast into the evening, with temperatures dropping to roughly 2°C as drivers head out for the night qualifying session. Winds should ease slightly to between 10 and 15 km/h from the northwest, with only a 20% chance of rain expected overnight.

Friday’s running, which will ultimately decide the pole position shootout line-up for Top Qualifying, could once again take place under mixed weather conditions around the Nordschleife. The day is expected to start with heavy cloud cover before clearer spells arrive later on, with temperatures climbing to around 10°C. Winds from the north-northwest are forecast between 10 and 15 km/h, while the chance of rain currently stands at 25%.

As evening falls and the final sessions get underway, considerable cloud cover is expected to remain over the circuit. Temperatures are set to drop to around 2°C, accompanied by west-northwesterly winds between 15 and 25 km/h. The probability of rain is also expected to remain unchanged at 25%.

Conditions should become slightly more stable on Saturday, with the risk of rain decreasing compared to the opening days of the event. Cloudy skies are forecast throughout the morning and early afternoon, with temperatures reaching approximately 11°C and light westerly winds between 10 and 15 km/h. Rain probability is currently estimated at 20%. During the evening and overnight hours, skies should partially clear around the Nürburgring, while temperatures fall to roughly 3°C. South-westerly winds between 10 and 15 km/h are expected, with rain chances slightly increasing to 25%.

Sunday currently appears to offer the most favourable conditions of the weekend. The day should begin with partial sunshine before cloudier conditions move in later during the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to peak at around 12°C, with south-westerly winds between 15 and 25 km/h and only a 20% chance of rain as the Nürburgring 24 Hours reaches its conclusion.

Markus Winkelhock believes winning a 24-hour race carries almost the same value as securing a championship title, especially because drivers only get a single opportunity each year to fight for victory in such iconic endurance events. The German driver, who has claimed four victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours during his career, sees races like the Nordschleife classic, Spa and Le Mans as major goals Verstappen is eager to tick off in the future.

Winkelhock also feels Verstappen could be a serious contender for victory this year if the Balance of Performance suits the Mercedes package. According to the Audi driver, Mercedes, Audi and Porsche have consistently proven to be among the strongest and most reliable manufacturers around the Nordschleife. Combined with a line-up featuring experienced Mercedes factory drivers, he believes Verstappen has all the ingredients needed to fight at the front.