This weekend, motorsport history is quietly being written in the Eifel. Max Verstappen, four-time Formula 1 World Champion, is set to make his racing debut on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife in the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).
But don’t expect to see his name on the official entry list. Verstappen’s participation comes wrapped in secrecy, hidden behind pseudonyms, licensing requirements, and the inevitable chaos that follows whenever the Dutch superstar shows up outside of Formula 1.
The permit problem
To even dream of racing the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2026, Verstappen first has to earn the DMSB Permit Nordschleife (DPN) – essentially a “Nordschleife driver’s license.” That means starting small. Instead of hopping straight into a GT3 Ferrari or Red Bull-liveried supercar, Verstappen will line up in a Porsche Cayman GT4 for Lionspeed GP in Saturday’s 65th ADAC ACAS Cup, sharing the car with Chris Lulham, Kyle Tilley, and Matisse Lismont.
It’s a humbling step for a driver of his stature – but also a reminder that the Nordschleife plays by its own rules. No exceptions, not even for Verstappen.
The Estre question
Beyond the headlines about parking chaos, Dutch fan invasions, and Verstappen going “undercover” as Franz Hermann, there’s a much bigger story lurking here: What happens if Verstappen sticks around in GT racing?
Because if he does, it’s only a matter of time before he goes head-to-head with Kevin Estre.
Estre isn’t just quick — he’s a force of nature. The Frenchman has built his reputation on being the ultimate Nordschleife warrior: ferociously fast, razor-sharp in traffic, and fearless in conditions that would make most drivers lift off. In the GT paddock, he’s regarded as the complete package — a driver who can extract every last drop of performance from a car while thriving under the chaos of endurance racing.
Verstappen, on the other hand, comes from the pinnacle of single-seater precision. Formula 1 demands absolute control over every tenth of a second, with cars that respond instantly to micro-adjustments. Estre’s world is different: heavy traffic, multi-class mayhem, and the unpredictability of 24-hour battles on circuits that chew up the bravest.
It’s two philosophies of racing colliding. Verstappen’s relentless aggression and laser focus versus Estre’s experience, adaptability, and raw Nordschleife instinct.
Imagine Verstappen lining up at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Estre in the opposite garage. That wouldn’t just be another race — it would be a clash of eras, disciplines, and personalities. Formula 1 versus the GT elite, Verstappen’s youth and superstar aura against Estre’s years of mastery in the trenches.
And here’s the kicker: if Verstappen can truly go toe-to-toe with Estre on his home turf, then GT racing won’t just be having a moment — it could become the hottest battlefield in motorsport.
Why it matters
If Verstappen really embraces GT racing beyond a hobby, we could be witnessing a crossover era unlike anything motorsport has seen in decades. Formula 1, with all its prestige, isn’t going anywhere – but GT racing is raw, unpredictable, and deeply connected to the fans who line the fences of the Nordschleife and Spa.
A Verstappen vs. Estre rivalry would be nothing short of electrifying: two world-class talents from different disciplines colliding on the toughest circuits in the world. For fans of pure racing, that’s the dream.
And maybe, just maybe, the start of a new golden age for GT sport.
Fast Lane Femme 
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