Max Verstappen's Nurburgring GT3 Race: Start Time and Schedule

Max Verstappen will compete in a four-hour GT3 race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife this Saturday, March 21st, as part of his preparation for the upcoming 24-hour endurance classic. The reigning F1 World Champion will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Team GetSpeed, with the main race starting at 12:00 CET (11:00 UK time).

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation highlights the growing trend of top-tier F1 drivers seeking competitive racing outside the championship calendar to stay sharp and fulfill personal passion projects. His run at the notoriously demanding Nordschleife circuit, especially in a GT3 car, provides a unique test of versatility and endurance that contrasts sharply with the precision of a Grand Prix weekend, offering fans a rare glimpse of his skills in a different racing discipline.

The details:

• Event: The race is Round 2 of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS), formerly known as the VLN.
• Schedule: The action begins with qualifying at 08:30 CET (07:30 UK time) on Saturday, March 21st.
• Race Start: The four-hour main event gets underway at 12:00 midday CET (11:00 UK time).
• Car & Team: Verstappen will share the #130 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with team owner and fellow Dutch driver Jan Seyffarth for Team GetSpeed.

The big picture:

This outing serves as crucial seat time for Verstappen ahead of his primary goal: the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nurburgring in May, where he is slated to drive a BMW M4 GT3 for Team BMW M Motorsport. Success in the NLS requires mastering the 25-kilometer Nordschleife layout and navigating intense multi-class traffic, skills that are directly transferable to the twice-around-the-clock challenge. For Verstappen, it's a serious commitment to a legendary race outside his day job, underscoring his pure enthusiasm for motorsport in all its forms.