Nordschleife legend Timo Bernhard was left "emotional" while
discussing Max Verstappen's debut GT3 victory, highlighting that
endurance racing "has so much to offer". Bernhard is a five-time
winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, but also the current lap record
holder of the full 20.8 kilometre circuit. In 2018, Bernhard
became the first driver in 35 years to break the track record,
clocking a staggering 5m 19.546 in a derestricted Porsche 919 Evo –
the record still stands today. On Saturday, Verstappen entered his
first GT3 endurance race at the Nordschleife, and claimed a
comfortable victory at the end of the four-hour event. It marked
the latest step of the Dutchman's journey towards competing in the
24-hour race, something he dreams of doing. Verstappen became the
latest F1 driver to feature in endurance racing, something Bernhard
is a huge supporter of with the exposure it brings to the
discipline. "Hats off to Max Verstappen to tackle the
Nordschleife, and I like this" Bernhard said during the official
WEC broadcast of the Six Hours of Fuji. "Actually, the platform
which gets the most attention, is Formula 1, for sure. When they
try other disciplines, you mentioned Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando
Alonso, Mark Webber, we shared the car for three years. "We had
great fun. These are great race car drivers, and they like to
experience other things. And endurance racing, it has so much to
offer. So you see, I'm emotional, it's great racing, I love it."
Verstappen's Nordschleife respect To compete in Saturday's race,
Verstappen raced a GT4 car at the Nordschleife ahead of the
Azerbaijan GP, in order to gain the required license. The
27-year-old has followed the rules to the book in order to compete
in endurance racing, with Bernhard praising the respect Verstappen
has shown to the German circuit. "It's great," added Bernhard. "I
don't know him personally, but hearing things about him, for sure,
he's a racer. "And I liked it, the way he tackled [the race]. He
has a huge talent, as we know. Nordschleife is something special,
and he really honours the place also, that's something I cherish, I
like."
discussing Max Verstappen's debut GT3 victory, highlighting that
endurance racing "has so much to offer". Bernhard is a five-time
winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, but also the current lap record
holder of the full 20.8 kilometre circuit. In 2018, Bernhard
became the first driver in 35 years to break the track record,
clocking a staggering 5m 19.546 in a derestricted Porsche 919 Evo –
the record still stands today. On Saturday, Verstappen entered his
first GT3 endurance race at the Nordschleife, and claimed a
comfortable victory at the end of the four-hour event. It marked
the latest step of the Dutchman's journey towards competing in the
24-hour race, something he dreams of doing. Verstappen became the
latest F1 driver to feature in endurance racing, something Bernhard
is a huge supporter of with the exposure it brings to the
discipline. "Hats off to Max Verstappen to tackle the
Nordschleife, and I like this" Bernhard said during the official
WEC broadcast of the Six Hours of Fuji. "Actually, the platform
which gets the most attention, is Formula 1, for sure. When they
try other disciplines, you mentioned Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando
Alonso, Mark Webber, we shared the car for three years. "We had
great fun. These are great race car drivers, and they like to
experience other things. And endurance racing, it has so much to
offer. So you see, I'm emotional, it's great racing, I love it."
Verstappen's Nordschleife respect To compete in Saturday's race,
Verstappen raced a GT4 car at the Nordschleife ahead of the
Azerbaijan GP, in order to gain the required license. The
27-year-old has followed the rules to the book in order to compete
in endurance racing, with Bernhard praising the respect Verstappen
has shown to the German circuit. "It's great," added Bernhard. "I
don't know him personally, but hearing things about him, for sure,
he's a racer. "And I liked it, the way he tackled [the race]. He
has a huge talent, as we know. Nordschleife is something special,
and he really honours the place also, that's something I cherish, I
like."
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