Two Class Victories and a Strong Team Performance – W&S Motorsport Makes History

W&S Motorsport delivered one of the most impressive performances in team history at the 24h race on the Nürburgring. Two class victories, a third-place class finish, and a fifth place – four cars crossing the finish line – and a week full of challenges that pushed the entire team to its limits and beyond. The Green Hell truly had everything to offer this year.

A Weekend Like No Other

The weather made life difficult for the team from the very beginning. Rain, snow, sleet, and sunshine – sometimes within just a few hours – posed extreme challenges for tyre selection and demanded constant attention and flexibility from drivers and engineers alike.

But even before the race started, W&S Motorsport had already been through more than many teams experience in an entire season.

Wednesday – Adenauer Racing Day

For the first time, W&S Motorsport took part in the Adenauer Racing Day – and the atmosphere, despite the poor weather, was simply breathtaking. Countless fans, a fantastic atmosphere, and an event that reminded the entire team once again why the 24h race is so special.

Thursday – Gearbox Failure on the Massivhaus Porsche #164

The first setback came quickly: the Massivhaus Porsche #164 suffered a gearbox failure. But the team refused to be deterred – working through the night, they repaired the gearbox and got the car back in shape in time. An impressive achievement that shows exactly what this team is made of.

Friday – Pole Position and Two Long Nights

Qualifying brought both a highlight and the next setback. The CMS Porsche #962 claimed pole position in the Cup3 class despite a technical gearbox defect – an extraordinary qualifying run. As defending class champions in Cup3, the team once again set the stage for further success. However, the gearbox had to be replaced. Since the spare gearbox from Thursday had already been fitted, the team faced a major problem. Everyone pulled together, and Porsche dispatched a new gearbox directly from their factory in Stuttgart to the paddock at 11 p.m. The team worked through a second consecutive night – before the actual race had even begun.

Also during Q3, the BMW M2 #899 was involved in an accident in the Flugplatz section. The car was repairable, but after a thorough assessment by all parties, the team and drivers jointly concluded that the conditions for a successful campaign were not in place. We will not be continuing the project beyond the 24h race.

Saturday – The Race

The 24h race got underway and W&S Motorsport was ready. Early in the race, the Massivhaus Porsche #164 struggled with a lambda sensor failure that reduced its top speed by 15 to 20 km/h. The team reacted quickly, resolved the issue, and sent the car back out onto the circuit.

What followed were many hours of concentration, teamwork, and passion. No serious accidents, only minor damage – the team worked with precision and focus, always with the goal of bringing all cars safely to the finish. And the fans? The atmosphere around the Nordschleife was simply unforgettable. With over 352,000 spectators, the Nürburgring once again transformed into a unique festival.

The Results

After several hard-fought laps, the result more than justified everything the preceding week had demanded:

The CMS Porsche #962, driven by Moritz Oberheim, Lorenz Stegmann, Philip Miemois, and Niclas Wiedmann, claimed the class victory in the Cup3-PRO category as defending champions, finishing 26th overall.

The Häberle Porsche #961, driven by Marius Rauer, Michal Makeš, Zhen Dong Zhang, and Chao Lu, rounded off the outstanding team result with a strong third-place class finish in the Cup3-PRO category, placing 31st overall – a class podium for two W&S cars simultaneously.

The CK Porsche #982, driven by Christoph Krombach, Oliver Kunz, Axel Duffner, and Leo-Livius Arne Weber, claimed the class victory in the Cup3-AM category with a margin of 2 minutes and 46 seconds over second place, finishing 34th overall. Notably, the entire AM podium completed the race in the same lap – a testament to how closely and fiercely contested this class was.

The Massivhaus Porsche #164, driven by Stephan Brodmerkel, Constantin Schöll, Jürgen Vöhringer, and Hendrik Still, delivered a fighting performance across all 24 hours despite the technical setbacks earlier in the week. Fifth place in the SP10-ProAm category and 44th overall was a well-earned result – a strong team effort after an exhausting week.

Quotes from the Weekend

Lorenz Stegmann (#962) beamed: “It was a challenging 24-hour race with unpredictable weather conditions and tough competition – but we’re absolutely delighted to have won the class again. Racing in a field with so many cars was hectic, but the atmosphere was incredible.”

Moritz Oberheim (#962) was overwhelmed: “The team is just phenomenal. Everyone pulled in the same direction, stuck together, and complemented each other perfectly. Thanks to CMS and the entire team – the car was perfectly prepared.”

Marius Rauer (#961) looked back with pride: “My second 24h race and we brought home P3. I’m extremely happy. It was enormous fun – the teamwork was outstanding and I clicked with my teammates right from the start.”

Oliver Kunz (#982) could hardly believe it: “This was my first 24-hour race – and to crown it with a class victory straight away is absolutely sensational. Our goal was to reach the finish line. The fact that we did it with a win on top makes us incredibly happy.”

Christoph Krombach (#982) added: “What an incredible weekend. We’ve won the class – we still can’t quite believe it. We didn’t expect this, but we’re naturally over the moon.”

Michal Makeš (#961) summed it up perfectly: “At the start of the week, we didn’t think P3 was possible. I’m super happy – and super tired. But that’s the 24h race.”

Hendrik Still (#164): “The 24h Nürburgring was an intense and at the same time incredibly special weekend for us as a team. Everyone did a strong job over the full distance and fought until the very end. We can definitely be satisfied with the result. Thank you to the entire team, our partners, and of course the fans along the circuit for their support throughout the whole weekend.”

Team principal Daniel Schellhaas concluded: “Mega job by the drivers – always focused, very few mistakes. The team functioned brilliantly, from the first night shift all the way to the chequered flag. A huge thank you goes to all the sponsors and partners who support us on our journey.”