This year's AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix will be a showcase for legendary sportscars. Now that the entry deadline has expired, the starting fields for the twelve different racing classes that can be seen in 20 races and regularity tests (GLP) at the Nürburgring from August 9 to 11 have been determined.
In addition to the fantastic touring car and GT fields and great formula races, it is not least the sports car races of the weekend that offer a unique blend of motorsport history and automotive fascination.
For example, there are the beefy Group 4 and Le Mans cars from 1962 to 1964 in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship. Or the sensational sports prototypes and GTs from more recent WRC and Le Mans history in races of the Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends, whose vehicles cover the years 1995 to 2012.
The showpiece, however, is the race of the two-seater racing cars and GTs up to 1960/61, which is packed with 50 participants: hardly any other class combines such elegance and performance and also stands for an important era of automobile construction. The Porsche 904, 718 and 356 compete here against the legendary models from Lister, Maserati, Bizzarini and Co. The first race in this category on Saturday evening is also the atmospheric highlight of the weekend: Starting at 8:30 pm, the race continues for 65 minutes into the twilight and after crossing the finish line, the participants are welcomed with fireworks in the Hatzenbachbogen.
Two-seater racing cars and GTs up to 1960/61
Behind this race title, the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix hides a real treasure trove of beautiful models. These are the sports cars and GTs that competed in Le Mans, the 1000-km race at the Nürburgring, the World Sportscar Championship and other endurance classics in the 1950s. This year's field is extremely strong and offers a representative cross-section of the endurance classics of the 50s.
Three Maserati A6GCSs battle it out with two Porsche RSK 718s or five Lister models from the late 50s. There are two of the rare Bizzarrini on the road - and of course other important vehicles from this period are not missing either. The legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL will be battling it out with the no less elegant Ferrari 250 GT in the "short" Berlinetta SWB sports version.
Also at the start: the early Lotus (founded in 1952) and Lola (1958) or, of course, the "original" Porsche 356: this first production model not only marked the beginning of the Stuttgart-based brand's rise to legendary status among sports car manufacturers, but also the history of the Carrera models named after the "Carrera Panamericana": The organizers were able to accept entries for 50 cars, and even had to cancel some great cars with a heavy heart!
However, this may have resulted in the most spectacular field that has been seen in this "classic" race at the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix in recent years.
Pure historic sports car fascination: power, power, power
The FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship provides a seamless historical continuation of the field of 50s racing cars. The sports cars and prototypes of the 60s and 70s can be seen here - and they also reflect important milestones in motorsport. The first McLaren models are among the sports cars, for example, and the Porsche 911, which took over from the 356 models in the early 1960s, now also appears among the GTs. They are true powerhouses at work here, with engines of up to 5.7 liters at work under their beautifully curved chassis.
However, the Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends go one better: Up to six-liter engines are installed in the latest sports cars of the weekend. Here you can see the cars that recently competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship. In terms of driving performance, they are the most powerful models of the entire weekend. But in a way, they also bring us full circle - for the time being! - the circle. For example, the Aston Martin GTs and sports cars of the early 2000s can be seen here - the grandchildren of those vehicles from the field of 1950s sports cars.
In this way, entire company histories are highlighted: The Lola Mk1 from this starting field of the 50s is followed by the Lola T70 in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship field and the Lola Aston BDR1-2 (from 2009) or Lola B12/60 (2012) in the Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends. The Porsche evolution can also be found: with the 356 (evening race), 911 (Historic Sports Cars) and the Porsche 996 GT3, which competes here in the Endurance Legends against models such as the Ferrari 458 or the Aston Martin Vantage.
Time travel through motorsport history
What applies to the sports cars can also be experienced by visitors to the Nürburgring in the other races: for example, the journey through time goes back to the beginnings of Formula 1 (Historic Grand Prix Cars) and extends to the era of the legendary Cosworth engines (FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship).
The FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior cars is also an important highlight in monoposto racing. A colorful mix of GTs and sports cars is also on offer this year in the German Racing Championship revival race, which will be held in conjunction with the FHR 100-Mile Trophy. Touring cars and GTs from the fifties to the eighties can also be seen in several strong races - and the FCD RacingSeries presents over 30 Ferrari racing cars from the most recent era.
Not to be forgotten: The pre-war cars, which will start from the Historic Paddock for their outings and regularity tests.
There is also plenty to see in other areas. In the paddock, to which admission is already included in every ticket, many manufacturers, teams and partners will be exhibiting other historically valuable road and racing cars. There will also be information and merchandising offers.
Catering awaits visitors in the beer garden with live music, among other things. The youngest guests can look forward to the children's world in the Mercedes Arena right next to the Porsche Classic area. A further contribution to the family-friendliness of the event, where admission is free for children and young people up to the age of 17 (accompanied by an adult). There is literally something going on at every corner, and experts get their money's worth just as much as families with children.
Current information, download documents and much more about the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix can be found on the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix website.
