Two fast cars, eight top drivers: ROWE RACING is ready for battle in the “Green Hell”

Team from St. Ingbert is one of the favourites at the 50th edition of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring / Third podium in a row would be a dream result

St. Ingbert, 24^th May 2022

– Dreaming is allowed. On the back of some impressive performances in the preparatory races, ROWE RACING is one of the favourites to do well at the 50^th staging of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring. The team from St. Ingbert competes in the ‘Eifel marathon’ this weekend (28^th/29^th May) with two new BMW M4 GT3s and eight high‑class BMW M works drivers. After victory in 2020 and second place last year, the team has its sights set on its third podium in a row. This feat was last achieved by the Phoenix team ten years ago, underlining just how demanding the iconic race in the ‘Green Hell’ is for all involved.

After the successful era of the BMW M6 GT3, ROWE RACING and BMW M Motorsport will this year put their faith in the new BMW M4 GT3, which showed its great potential several times in the races leading up to the season highlight. ROWE RACING fielded the brand‑new car at round three of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and the 24h Qualifiers, and already has two pole positions, one victory and a second place to its name. The BMW M4 GT3 will now take on the ultimate endurance test for the first time on the 25.378‑kilometre combination of the legendary Nordschleife and the Grand Prix Circuit, which drivers and experts regard as the best and most difficult racetrack in the world.

At the wheel will be eight high‑class BMW M works drivers, who can look back on a total of four victories and ten podiums between them at the ‘Eifel marathon’. Augusto Farfus will be making his 24h debut for the St. Ingbert team, who finished as runner-up in 2017 and third place in 2013 and 2014, as well as a successful past two years. The former DTM driver became the first Brazilian to win at the Nürburgring in 2010, and recently showed what a class act he is with two pole laps in the warm‑up races and a flawless performance to secure victory in race three of the NLS. He shares the driving duties in the #99 BMW M4 GT3 with Britain’s Nick Yelloly, who won in the Eifel mountains with ROWE RACING in 2020, Connor De Phillippi from the USA, a winner in 2017, and Austrian Philipp Eng, who tasted victory with ROWE RACING at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2016.

While Connor De Phillippi switches to the #99 car, his compatriot John Edwards and Dutchman Nick Catsburg, like Yelloly a member of the winning crew from 2020, move in the opposite direction to the #98 BMW M4 GT3, where they join two‑time German DTM champion Marco Wittmann and South African Sheldon van der Linde. Both finished runner‑up in 2021, just 8.8 seconds behind the winning car, and are dreaming of going one better this year.

The action at the 50^th edition of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring kicks off on Thursday afternoon (26^th May) with the 90‑minute opening qualifying session from 12:30 to 14:00. Qualifying 2, which lasts three hours, follows from 20:30 to 23:30 that evening. First on Friday (27^th May) is a 60‑minute third qualifying session from 14:10 to 15:10. The individual Top Qualifying session begins at 17:50, when each car will have two flying laps to secure the prestigious pole position and the Glickenhaus Trophy, which was first presented in 2016. Nick Yelloly claimed the coveted trophy for ROWE RACING for the first time last year. Saturday (28^th May) begins with the formation lap at 15:40, before the race gets underway at 16:00. The whole race, which finishes at around 16:00 on Sunday (29^th May), will be broadcast live on television by NITRO and can also be watched via livestream on the

organiser’s homepage. In addition, fans of ROWE RACING can get up close and personal with the team on its social media channels –

Facebook, Instagram, YouTubeand Twitter.

Hans-Peter Naundorf, Team Principal ROWE RACING:

“The 24 hours at the Nürburgring this weekend are the most exciting and intensive of the year for all of us. We will be fielding our new BMW M4 GT3 over the marathon distance for the first time, and are obviously dreaming of a third podium in a row. The last few races have shown that the BMW M4 GT3 has the necessary performance. The balance, handling and speed of the new car are impressive and have justifiably made us one of the big favourites. However, we have also seen in recent weeks that there are still a few things to sort out with the new car, and there have been a few teething problems and retirements. We could still do with a few more kilometres of racing under our belt. We are working on achieving the reliability required for the most demanding race in the world. However, without any opportunities to test, this is a big task. Our drive line‑up in both cars is absolute quality. BMW M Motorsport has pulled out all the stops there, and we see that as a great privilege. We will do everything we can to repay that faith and, two years after its 20^th overall victory, give BMW M something to celebrate on its 50^th anniversary.”

Nick Catsburg (#98 ROWE RACING BMW M4 GT3): ”This year will obviously be quite different for us compared to the last couple of years, with winning the race in 2020. In 2022, we have already done some racing with the new car, but we are definitely not as far as we were with the BMW M6 GT3. I do believe that this new car is better already, but I think there is still some hidden potential. We still need to use the practices to get the car exactly where we want, and I believe that we will have a chance to fight for the victory with this team which has shown in the past that it can win big races like this. Also with this driver line-up we can definitely compete. We have to wait and see what the competition is going to do. I don’t think we have seen their true performance yet; we will see. I cannot wait for this race, the favourite event of the year with a lot of spectators back around the track. Honestly, I am really looking forward to it. Let’s hope that the weather gods are nice to us and that we have a nice and sunny weekend at the Nordschleife.”

Augusto Farfus (#99 ROWE RACING BMW M4 GT3):

“I think we show up for the 24 hours well prepared. We have shown a very good performance. BMW has shown that all the cars are very strong. ROWE RACING has a lot of experience in this race. Of course we need some luck, we need speed, we also need the teamwork to fall in place, but I am sure we are on a good path. Having seen how well we performed in the last NLS race and the first race at the 24h Qualifiers, I have high hopes that we can definitely have a very strong ADAC 24h Nürburgring.”

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