For three unforgettable days, the Nürburgring transformed into a living, breathing history book of motorsport – with around 39,000 spectators along for the ride. The BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix delivered a feast of classic racing for both die-hard fans and curious newcomers: from the polished chrome of pre-war icons to the thunderous roar of Formula 1 cars from the legendary Cosworth era. In between came the graceful curves of 1950s and ’60s GT and sports cars, the unmistakable silhouettes of DTM and DRM legends, and historic formula racers from the junior series. Even vintage racing and sports motorcycles made an appearance – turning the event into a colourful, fast-paced festival that not even the Eifel’s changeable weather could dampen.
Stars, Legends, and a Touch of Le Mans
This year’s programme was more diverse than ever – and the grids were bursting with talent. In the Golden Era Touring Cars, motorsport greats like Kris Nissen, Roland Asch, Kurt Thiim, Volker Strycek, and Altfrid Heger took the wheel, pushing their BMWs, Opels, and Mercedes machines to the limit, just as they did in their glory days.
One of the weekend’s most spine-tingling moments came on Saturday evening: the race for two-seater sports cars and GTs built up to 1971. When a Porsche 904 GTS, Mercedes 300 SL, Aston Martin DB4 GT, or Ferrari 250 GT SWB stormed through the twilight, the air was thick with the unmistakable magic of Le Mans in the Eifel.
The German Historic Automobile Championship (DAHM) races – including the HC ’65 and HC ’81 classes – delivered edge-of-your-seat action with a spectacular variety of touring cars, GTs, and sports cars. Another major highlight was the return of the Masters Racing Legends, featuring original Formula 1 machinery from the Cosworth era (1966–1985). Their raw, rasping 3-litre V8 soundtrack reverberated through the grandstands, evoking the golden age of Grand Prix racing.
New to the programme were the Supertouring Revival, the Golden Era Classic Cup with former Porsche Cup cars, and demonstration laps by historic motorcycles from the “Grab the Flag!” initiative. Together, they added an extra layer of variety – proving once again that historic motorsport is anything but stuck in the past.
