ROWE RACING carries momentum into the dress rehearsal for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring

All eight BMW M works drivers in action for the first time in the 24h Qualifiers / New format for former 24h qualification race, with two races and two Top Qualifyings

St. Ingbert, 3^rd May 2022

– Fresh from a morale‑boosting first victory on the Nordschleife for the new BMW M4 GT3, ROWE RACING now competes this weekend at the dress rehearsal for the highlight of the season – the 50^th staging of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring on 28^th/29^th May. What used to be the 24h qualification race has been given a new format and a new name, the 24h Qualifiers. Instead of the familiar six‑hour race, two three‑hour races will be held on Saturday and Sunday (7^th and 8^th May). There will also be two Top Qualifyings, in the individual time trial format, in which all the participants can prepare for the pursuit of pole position at the iconic ‘Eifel marathon’.

The 24h Qualifiers will see ROWE RACING field all eight BMW M works drivers, who will also be at the wheel of the two BMW M4 GT3s for the St. Ingbert team at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring, for the first time this season. Connor De Phillippi from the USA and Brazilian Augusto Farfus, who recently showed nerves of steel to clinch victory in the final few kilometres of round three of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), will be joined in the #99 BMW M4 GT3 by Britain’s Nick Yelloly and ROWE RACING institution Philipp Eng. Nick Yelloly was a member of the crew that won the ‘Eifel marathon’ in 2020, while Philipp Eng took victory at the 24 Hours of Spa with ROWE RACING in 2016.

Last time out, the #98 car finished fifth in round three of the NLS with two‑time German DTM champion Marco Wittmann, John Edwards from the USA and South African Sheldon van der Linde alternating at the wheel. They are joined this weekend Nick Catsburg. Like Nick Yelloly, the Dutchman was part of the winning team in 2020. Last year, Marco Wittmann and Sheldon van der Linde missed out on victory by just 8.8 seconds, finishing runner‑up in the #98 car. Back then, they were ably assisted by Connor De Phillippi and former DTM champion Martin Tomczyk from Germany, who has since retired from racing.

Friday (6^th May) is when ROWE RACING will start amassing kilometres on the 25.378‑kilometre combination of the legendary Nordschleife and the Grand Prix Circuit, which all the drivers and experts regard as the most challenging racetrack in the world. Qualifying for race one begins at 12:15, before qualifying for race two at 15:15. Both sessions will each last two hours. The grid positions for race one will then be determined between 18:00 and 19:00 in the Top 30 Qualifying, which consists of two individual flying laps.

Saturday (7^th May) starts at 12:15 with a 45‑minute warm‑up, before the first of the two three‑hour races gets underway at 18:30. The schedule for Sunday (8^th May) includes another 45‑minute warm‑up at 08:15 and a second Top Qualifying for all participants from 09:15 to 12:15. The second race then begins at 14:00.

Hans-Peter Naundorf, Team Principal ROWE RACING:

“The new qualifying event is very important to us in the context of our preparations for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring. The victory last time out, in round three of the NLS, has given us an extra boost of motivation. However, we have not yet amassed enough kilometres and experience with our new BMW M4 GT3s on the Nordschleife. We will try out some different things this weekend, and will have all eighth of our drivers on the track for the first time this season. The new format offers even more opportunities to get to know the car better. It will be an intensive weekend, with little time for a breather, but that makes it good preparation for the 24‑hour race. We have two qualifying sessions, two Top Qualifyings, and two races – plenty of opportunity to test different set‑ups.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#98 ROWE RACING BMW M4 GT3):

“For me, it was good to be involved in our first NLS race of the year. That was my first outing on the Nordschleife this year, and I am really looking forward to driving there. Every lap at this circuit is just awesome, and I immediately noticed how excellent this racetrack is on my first lap. Ten months without driving there was a long time. I really missed it. There is a huge difference between the BMW M6 GT3 and the new BMW M4 GT3, which is another big step forward. Every lap is important to familiarise ourselves with the new car. Furthermore, we have all four drivers in our car for the first time this year. The most important thing this weekend are the preparations for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring. However, if we could finish on the podium, that would also be a nice way to warm up for the big event.”

Philipp Eng (#99 ROWE RACING BMW M4 GT3):

“I am hugely looking forward to the Nordschleife season really getting going at last. I was involved in the third round of the NLS, when I drove the new BMW M4 GT4 for development purposes. That was great fun, however, every time I was overtaken by a BMW M4 GT3, I wished I was in that car. That wait is finally over. Last year, I twice did some development driving on the Nordschleife, but this is my first time at the circuit with ROWE RACING in preparation for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring. I hope we can prepare well for it.”

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