Defending winner BMW has confirmed its factory entries for this year’s ADAC 24H Nürburgring, with a return to entering three cars in the top SP-9 category after last year’s reduced one-car effort.
Rowe Racing will field a pair of M4 GT3 Evos, whilst Schubert Motorsport has entered a single car.
The #1 Rowe M4 GT3 Evo features three of last year’s winning drivers – Augusto Farfus, Kelvin van der Linde and Raffaele Marciello – as well as Jordan Pepper. Pepper, who raced for Lamborghini squad Red Bull Team Abt last year, has replaced Jesse Krohn, who left BMW at the end of 2025.
“Returning to the Nürburgring as champion is something very special,” Farfus said.
“The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is the biggest and toughest race on the planet. It’s great to have more cars on the grid than last year. We return with a very strong line-up, and I hope we can once again represent BMW M Motorsport in the best possible way.”
Rowe’s second entry, #99, will be piloted by Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Max Hesse and Dan Harper, who all return to the race after a year away. Last season, the quartet were all victims of a clash between the 24H Nürburgring and IMSA’s Six Hours of The Glen, which saw them miss the race, and was a major contributing factor to BMW fielding only one entry.
In 2024, Hesse and Harper finished on the overall podium with BMW M Team RMG, whilst van der Linde and two-time winner Vanthoor raced for ROWE.
“I’m incredibly happy to be racing at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this year – and for the first time with ROWE Racing,” Hesse said. “In 2024 I secured pole position, in 2025 ROWE Racing won. So our ambitions are pretty clear. Our line-up is very strong, I’m very happy, and we’ll work together extremely well.
“Preparation won’t be easy due to some scheduling overlaps, but we’ll manage it as best as possible. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring with BMW M Motorsport in front of so many fans is always the coolest event of the year. I’m really excited to get started with the team and the guys.”
Marco Wittmann, Charles Weerts, Philipp Eng and 2022 winner Robin Frijns will share Schubert Motorsport’s #77 BMW, which will run on Yokohama tyres and feature a Yokohama livery. Schubert Motorsport, which has focused on the DTM in recent years, last competed in SP9 at the 24H Nürburgring in 2022.
“Returning to the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is not entirely new territory for us, but it remains a very special challenge, and I am very pleased to be back,” said Schubert Motorsport Team Principal Torsten Schubert.
“Together with Yokohama, we are advancing tyre development for the Nordschleife and hope to guide the BMW M4 GT3 EVO successfully through the Eifel once again. I am confident we can be successful. Since December, we have been preparing everything, building structures and completing numerous test sessions. We are very much looking forward to it and hope many fans will support us.
In preparation for the race, Schubert Motorsport will contest all pre-N24 rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, starting with NLS1 on 14th March 2026, whilst Rowe Racing will contest NLS1, NLS2 and the 24H Qualifiers.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, commented: “We are very much looking forward to the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The race has always been a strong event for BMW M Motorsport, not least last year. Our three 2025 champions are highly motivated to defend their title.
“With ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport, we have not only two top teams but also twelve outstanding works drivers on the grid. That gives us the best possible foundation to secure BMW’s 22nd overall victory in the ‘Green Hell’ in front of this impressive backdrop. We are also delighted to see, in addition to our winning combination of ROWE Racing and Michelin, Team Schubert Motorsport competing on Yokohama tyres with a special livery.
“We want to put on a great show for our many fans at the Nordschleife – not only during the 24-hour race but already at the Nürburgring Endurance Series rounds. The private BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers also contribute to making racing on the Nordschleife truly unique.”
The 2026 ADAC 24H Nürburgring will be held on the weekend of 14th to 17th May 2026.
Images courtesy of BMW M Motorsport
