The 2026 season of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie was set to begin with the 71st ADAC Westfalenfahrt on Saturday, March 14. Instead of four hours of racing around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, teams, drivers, and thousands of fans were met with typical Eifel weather: snow, freezing temperatures, and ultimately the cancellation of the event.
Winter Conditions Disrupt the Schedule
Overnight snowfall and near-freezing temperatures covered parts of the circuit early Saturday morning. Initially, race control attempted to delay the schedule in hopes that conditions would improve. Qualifying was postponed as officials monitored track temperatures and safety conditions.
Although the track surface slowly began to dry and the snow cleared from the run-off areas, the ambient temperature remained too low for safe racing. After discussions with teams and tire manufacturers, organizers ultimately decided that the risk was too high to run the race.
At approximately 10:45 a.m. local time, race control officially cancelled the event.
A Huge Entry List Left Waiting
The season opener had attracted a massive field of around 133 cars, including 24 GT3 entries and numerous factory drivers preparing for the endurance season ahead on the Nordschleife.
NLS races traditionally serve as a key preparation ground for teams targeting the Nürburgring 24 Hours, making the opening round an important opportunity to collect early-season data and mileage. With the cancellation, teams leave the Eifel without turning a competitive lap.
Eyes Already on Next Weekend
Fortunately for teams and fans, the wait for racing action at the Nürburgring may not be long. The second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is scheduled for next weekend, and it could attract even more attention from the motorsport world.
One of the biggest expected names is Max Verstappen, who is planning to compete on the Nordschleife as part of his preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring later this year. The four-time Formula 1 world champion is set to drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered by Verstappen Racing in cooperation with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.
Verstappen is expected to share the car with experienced GT drivers such as Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella, forming a strong driver lineup for the upcoming endurance campaign.
Even without today’s race taking place, the entry list already showed the strength of the field, with 24 GT3 cars and over 130 entries expected throughout the paddock.
If the Eifel weather finally cooperates, next weekend’s race could therefore deliver a highly anticipated start to the NLS season, and possibly one of the most talked-about appearances on the Nordschleife this year.
Courtesy of Elias at Motiv Creative Agency
