100 days after the triumph: The winners of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in interview

Exactly 100 days after their historic victory at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the winning quartet of Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL — Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz — sat down for an exclusive interview to relive the defining moments of their 24-hour endurance triumph. On the afternoon of 17 May 2026, Engel crossed the Nürburgring’s finish line in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #80 after 156 laps, sealing the third overall win for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport in the legendary German classic. The victory came ten years after the brand’s previous success and marked the culmination of a relentless recovery drive orchestrated by Winward Racing. Speaking with raw emotion, the drivers recounted the race’s pivotal junctures, from the opening stint’s climb from 25th on the grid to the rain-soaked strategic masterstroke that catapulted them into the lead. Engel recalled the final flag-to-flag pass as the most euphoric instant, while Martin highlighted the early-phase charge through the field. Schiller and Stolz underscored the surreal image of both Mercedes-AMG GT3s streaking in parallel across the Nordschleife in the closing stages, backed by a commanding cushion. Behind the wheel, Stolz admitted a pre-race gut feeling had anchored his confidence, while Schiller singled out the mechanics’ overnight resurrection of the #80 after a heavy Friday impact as the silent hero of the weekend. The drivers also paid tribute to Phuc, whose precision welding after Engel’s qualifying shunt, and the entire crew’s tireless preparation, turned strategy into silverware. With Verstappen’s participation drawing global attention and congratulations pouring in from Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris, the victory underscored the unifying power of GT racing and the relentless pursuit of perfection.