The revival of sports prototypes and Group 5 vehicles as part of the traditional ADAC 1000 km race at the Nürburgring proved to be a huge success. Without an overloaded supporting programme, but with a clear concept, it became clear that sustainable events are not created by size, but by substance. On the legendary Nordschleife – one of the most demanding race tracks in the world at over 20 kilometres – the focus was once again on motorsport itself.
Hands-on motorsport in the Green Hell
In perfect weather conditions, the historic racing cars transformed the Nordschleife into a rolling time machine. Fans along the track and in the paddock experienced motorsport as it was once intended: loud, accessible and emotional. It was precisely this combination of legendary vehicles, authentic atmosphere and the unique backdrop of the "Green Hell" that made the weekend so appealing and brought back memories of the heyday of endurance racing, when the ADAC 1000 km race was one of the highlights of the international calendar.
A moment of silence in memory of Jochen Mass
At the same time, the weekend was marked by tributes to Jochen Mass, who passed away on 4 May. Particularly memorable was his legendary performance at the Nürburgring in 1976, when he was the only driver to opt for slicks in his McLaren and pulled away from all his rivals on the drying track – until the race was stopped following Niki Lauda's accident. A piece of motorsport history that was brought back to life this weekend.
