Rain and cold on the menu for the 24 hours of the Nürburgring

The transition from Le Mans to the Nürburgring is brutal. Banish t-shirts, shorts and other summer outfits. Love coat, scarf, hood, raincoat and hat. The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring should be run almost entirely in the rain, with varying intensity.

Drizzle has already been falling since the beginning of the morning on the Eifel circuit and the showers should gradually strengthen by the middle of the night, before becoming rarer on Sunday morning. All under temperatures which will vary between five and ten degrees.

The weather forecast promises to be a spectacle on a route that is already dangerous in dry weather. Above all, it will cause a headache for the teams. Strategy will play a key role, especially if the rain is very variable.

The pole also came down to the choice of tires. “My lap was very good, but above all I must congratulate the team who did an exceptional job finding the right tires and the right settings,” explains pole sitter Maro Engel (Haupt Racing). “We had men scattered around the circuit to report the condition of the track. Some places were dry and others we suddenly found ourselves under the flood. For the race, we will really have to be very precise about the choice of mount. »

Maro Engel took four seconds from the second car on one lap in qualifying. In the race, the cost will be severe in the event of a bad choice on such a long circuit. Luck will also be part of the equation. 

“It will be a race of choice of tires which means a lot of cooperation between the drivers and the team, everyone has to be involved” confirms Matt Hawson, manager of KCMG. “We will also have to be good at refueling, which will surely be more numerous than usual. »

At least the teams shouldn't have any trouble staying awake. The start will be given at 15:30 p.m.