NEWS: New ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24-Hour 2014 Qualifying mini-race

The 2014 ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24h-Race will feature a brand new “Little brother” for the 24h-Race – with a short qualifying race in April, described by Race Director Walter Hornung, as an “optimum testing opportunity in racing conditions but without championship pressure.”
The bold, new idea was unveiled today along with the news there will be several practice sessions (some in evening hours) on the original 24-hour race track, Nürburgring Nordschleife & GP Circuits. 

The new format offers the media and the motor-racing enthusiasts the chance of getting a first overview of the top-class field of the 24h-Race that will be contested in June.

From the function test at the Grand Prix circuit through the practice sessions held at the Nordschleife up to the evening hours to the two-hour qualifying session and a six-hour race in the Green Hell on Sunday, the new event format provides anything helping the teams preparing for the main event held on the Corpus Christi weekend.

Naturally, the new qualifying format will make the fight for the top 30 qualifying ranking places – and the flashing strobe lights that go with that accolade – more fierce than ever.
“To make sure that the teams will be able to complete as many laps as possible even in the case of technical problems or minor accidents, we will interrupt the practice sessions by short breaks that will be used to tow damaged cars back to the paddock,” adds Hornung. “And they also can practice driving in the dark, on this weekend – a move underlining our efforts to increase the safety for the 24h-Race competitors.” 

“This also might increase the motivation for teams from abroad with limited Nordschleife experience to regard the qualifying race as a must. After all, having contested the evening practice session and two stints in the six-hour qualifying race will result in the permission to contest the 24h-Race even for drivers who have got a lot of motor-racing experience under their belts – but not so when it comes to racing at the Nordschleife," a spokesman added.