# 6 Hours of Nürburgring

The 6 Hours of Nürburgring (formerly the Nürburgring 1000 km) was an endurance race for sports cars held on the Nürburgring in Germany and organized by the ADAC since 1953.

## History

On the traditional 22.810 km long Nordschleife ("Northern Loop") version, the competition took usually 44 laps (1003.64 km, since 1967 1004.74 km) and lasted about 8 hours, later less than 6 hours. While the 1974 event was shortened in the wake of the oil crisis, the 1976 race was extended by 3 laps and covered 1073.245 km.
The inaugural race, which counted towards the 1953 World Sportscar Championship, was won by Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Farina in a Ferrari. The attendance at this inaugural event was disappointing, blamed in part on the lack of a serious German entrant. As a result, once it became clear that the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR would not be ready in time for the 1954 event the race was cancelled. The 1955 event suffered the same fate, but this time cancelled in the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster. It became quite popular in the 1960s and 1970s though, and even more so after Formula One decided not to race at the Nürburgring after 1976 on safety grounds.
The last race on the Northern Loop in 1983 was won by Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx in their Rothmans Porsche 956. In that year, due to the ongoing construction work, the track had been shorted to 20.832 km and provisional pits were used. This event saw the fastest ever timed lap of the Nordschleife when German driver Stefan Bellof lapped his Rothmans Porsche in 6:11.13 during practice, and an average of over 200 km/h. Bellof also set the race lap record during that race lapping in 6:25.91.
Since 1984, the 1000 km races were run on the new, much shorter Grand-Prix-Strecke, while the 24 Hours Nürburgring stayed on the legendary long track. In 1991, the 1000 km races were first shortened to 480 km, then discontinued overall due to the demise of the World Sportscar Championship.
In 2000, the 1000 km were resumed, with new competitive cars of BMW and Audi. The race was held as a part of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), the European version of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). In a wet race, the unusual front-engined Panoz of Jan Magnussen and David Brabham won, ahead of a BMW V12 LMR, an Audi R8 and the second Panoz.
On September 4, 2005, the 1000 km was held as a part of the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES).
The 500 km Nürburgring was also similar event for smaller sportscars during the 1960s and 1970s.
VLN also runs a 6-hour endurance race, while covering only 4h in other heats. In 2010, for the first time a distance of more than 1000 km was covered by the winning Porsche 911 GT3.
Current record of most wins belongs to Stirling Moss who won the race in 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1960.
In 2010, the winning Porsche 911 GT3 R of the 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen race was the first to cover more than 1000 km in a 6-hour VLN endurance race for GT3 and touring cars, lapping the 24.369 km long modern version of the Nordschleife 42 times for 1023.498 km in a time of 6:06:56.091. The 2012 winner, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, covered the same distance in a time of only 6:01:29.541, at an average of 169.879 km/h.
As a part of the Oldtimer Festival in 2010 the tradition and name of the renowned ADAC 1000 km of Nürburgring will be continued by the motor sport club DAMC 05. In contrast to former years, the race is organised for older cars and therefore the term “classic” was added to the name.
The 2013 race was the first under the Blancpain Endurance Series banner of the Stephane Ratel Organisation.

## Winners

| Year | Drivers | Team | Car | Time | Championship |
| 1000 km distance, 22.835 km circuit ||||||
| 1953 | Alberto Ascari Giuseppe Farina | Automobili Ferrari | Ferrari 375 MM Spyder | 8:20:44.000 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1954 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race |
| 1955 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race |
| 1956 | Piero Taruffi Harry Schell Jean Behra Stirling Moss | Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati 300S | 7:43:54.400 | World Sportscar Championship German Sportscar Championship |
| 1957 | Tony Brooks Noël Cunningham-Reid | David Brown | Aston Martin DBR1/300 | 7:33:38.200 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1958 | Stirling Moss Jack Brabham | David Brown | Aston Martin DBR1/300 | 7:23:33.000 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1959 | Stirling Moss Jack Fairman | David Brown | Aston Martin DBR1/300 | 7:33:18.000 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1960 | Stirling Moss Dan Gurney | Camoradi USA | Maserati Tipo 61 | 7:31:40.500 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1961 | Lloyd Casner Masten Gregory | Camoradi USA | Maserati Tipo 61 | 7:51:39.200 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1962 | Phil Hill Olivier Gendebien | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 246 SP | 7:33:27.700 | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
| 1963 | John Surtees Willy Mairesse | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 250 P | 7:32:18.000 | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
| 1964 | Ludovico Scarfiotti Nino Vaccarella | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 275 P | 7:08:27.000 | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
| 1965 | John Surtees Ludovico Scarfiotti | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 330 P2 | 6:53:05.400 | International Championship for GT Manufacturers |
| 1966 | Phil Hill Jo Bonnier | Chaparral Cars Inc. | Chaparral 2D-Chevrolet | 6:58:47.600 | International Championship for Sports-Prototypes International Championship for Sports Cars |
| 1967 | Joe Buzzetta Udo Schütz | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 910 | 6:54:12.900 | International Championship for Sports-Prototypes International Championship for Sports Cars |
| 1968 | Vic Elford Jo Siffert | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 908 | 6:34:06.300 | International Championship for Makes |
| 1969 | Jo Siffert Brian Redman | Porsche System Engineering | Porsche 908/02 | 6:11:02.300 | International Championship for Makes |
| 1970 | Vic Elford Kurt Ahrens Jr. | Porsche Salzburg | Porsche 908/03 | 6:05:21.200 | International Championship for Makes |
| 1971 | Vic Elford Gérard Larrousse | Martini Racing | Porsche 908/03 | 5:51:49.300 | International Championship for Makes |
| 1972 | Ronnie Peterson Tim Schenken | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 312 PB | 6:01:40.200 | World Championship for Makes Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft |
| 1973 | Jacky Ickx Brian Redman | SpA Ferrari SEFAC | Ferrari 312 PB | 5:36:53.400 | World Championship for Makes Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft |
| 1974 | Jean-Pierre Jarier Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Equipe Gitanes | Matra-Simca MS670C | 4:07:24.100 33 laps, 753 km | World Championship for Makes Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft |
| 1975 | Arturo Merzario Jacques Laffite | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | Alfa Romeo 33TT12 | 5:41:14.100 | World Championship for Makes Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft |
| 1976 | Albrecht Krebs Dieter Quester | Schnitzer Motorsport | BMW 3.5 CSL | 6:38:20.600 | World Championship for Makes |
| 1977 | Rolf Stommelen Tim Schenken Toine Hezemans | Gelo Racing | Porsche 935 | 5:58:30.500 | World Championship for Makes |
| 1978 | Klaus Ludwig Hans Heyer Toine Hezemans | Gelo Racing | Porsche 935/77 | 5:55:46.600 | World Championship for Makes |
| 1979 | Manfred Schurti Bob Wollek John Fitzpatrick | Gelo Racing | Porsche 935/77 | 5:57:35.100 | World Championship for Makes |
| 1980 | Rolf Stommelen Jürgen Barth | Joest Racing | Porsche 908/4 Turbo | 5:52:15.100 | World Championship for Makes |
| 1981 | Hans-Joachim Stuck Nelson Piquet | GS Tuning | BMW M1 Gr.5 | 2:16:50.860 17 laps, 388 km | World Endurance Championship |
| 1982 | Michele Alboreto Teo Fabi Riccardo Patrese | Martini Racing | Lancia LC1 Spyder | 5:54:10.830 | World Endurance Championship |
| 1000 km distance, 20.830 km circuit ||||||
| 1983 | Jochen Mass Jacky Ickx | Porsche Racing International | Porsche 956 | 5:26:34.630 | World Endurance Championship |
| 1000 km distance, 4.551 km circuit ||||||
| 1984 | Stefan Bellof Derek Bell | Rothmans Porsche | Porsche 956 | 6:00:43.590 | World Endurance Championship Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft |
| 1985 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race |
| 1986 | Henri Pescarolo Mike Thackwell | Kouros Racing Team | Sauber C8-Mercedes | 3:42:30.020 121 laps, 599 km | World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1987 | Eddie Cheever Raul Boesel | Silk Cut Jaguar | Jaguar XJR-8 | 5:55:53.120 | World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1988 | Jean-Louis Schlesser Jochen Mass | Team Sauber Mercedes | Sauber C9-Mercedes | 5:53:00.600 | World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 480 km distance, 4.551 km circuit ||||||
| 1989 | Jean-Louis Schlesser Jochen Mass | Team Sauber Mercedes | Sauber C9-Mercedes | 2:47:14.599 | World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 1990 | Jean-Louis Schlesser Mauro Baldi | Team Sauber Mercedes | Mercedes-Benz C11 | 2:39:15.913 | World Sports Prototype Championship |
| 430 km distance, 4.551 km circuit ||||||
| 1991 | Derek Warwick David Brabham | Silk Cut Jaguar | Jaguar XJR-14 | 2:23:41.028 | World Sportscar Championship |
| 1992 to 1999 | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races |
| 1000 km distance, 4.556 km circuit ||||||
| 2000 | Jan Magnussen David Brabham | Panoz Motor Sports | Ford Panoz LMP1-Élan | 5:45:55.173 | American Le Mans Series |
| 2001 to 2003 | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races |
| 1000 km distance, 5.148 km circuit ||||||
| 2004 | Allan McNish Pierre Kaffer | Audi Sport UK Veloqx | Audi R8 | 6:00:32.64 180 laps, 925 km | Le Mans Series |
| 2005 | Tom Chilton Hayanari Shimoda | Zytek Motorsport | Zytek 04S | 6:01:06.739 193 laps, 991 km | Le Mans Series |
| 2006 | Jean-Christophe Boullion Emmanuel Collard Éric Hélary | Pescarolo Sport | Pescarolo C60-Judd | 6:01:26.300 189 laps, 971 km | Le Mans Series |
| 2007 | Stéphane Sarrazin Pedro Lamy | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Diesel) | 6:01:13.628 | Le Mans Series |
| 2008 | Stéphane Sarrazin Pedro Lamy | Team Peugeot Total | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP (Diesel) | 5:44:48.174 | Le Mans Series |
| 2009 | Jan Charouz Tomáš Enge Stefan Mücke | Aston Martin Racing | Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 | 5:57:26.595 | Le Mans Series |
| 1000 km distance, 25.378 km circuit ||||||
| 2010 | Wolfgang Pohl Daniel Schrey | | Porsche Carrera RS | 7:00:42.2 48 35 laps, 888 km | FHR Langstreckencup |
| 2011 to 2012 | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races |
| 1000 km distance, 5.148 km circuit ||||||
| 2013 | Maximilian Buhk Maximilian Gotz Bernd Schneider | HTP Motorsport | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 | 6:00:46.354 178 laps, 916 km | Blancpain Endurance Series |
| 2014 | Laurens Vanthoor César Ramos Christopher Mies | Belgian Audi Club Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS ultra | 6:00:07.848 158 laps, 813 km | Blancpain Endurance Series |
| 6 hours time, 5.148 km circuit ||||||
| 2015 | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Mark Webber | Porsche Team | Porsche 919 Hybrid | 6:01:16.966, 203 laps, 1045 km | FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2016 | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Mark Webber | Porsche Team | Porsche 919 Hybrid | 6:01:16.183, 194 laps, 999 km | FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2017 | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Earl Bamber | Porsche LMP Team | Porsche 919 Hybrid | 6:00:09.607, 204 laps, 1050 km | FIA World Endurance Championship |
| 2018 to 2019 | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races | No Races |
| 2020 | Matteo Cairoli Christian Engelhart Sven Müller | Dinamic Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.II) | 6:01:08.058, 173 laps, 882 km | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup |
| 3 hours time, 5.148 km circuit ||||||
| 2021 | Mirko Bortolotti Andrea Caldarelli Marco Mapelli | Orange 1 FFF Racing Team | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo | 3:00:53.243, 87 laps, 448 km | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup |
| 2022 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race |
| 3 hours time, 5.137 km circuit ||||||
| 2023 | Raffaele Marciello Timur Boguslavskiy Jules Gounon | AKKodis ASP Team | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 3:01:33.369, 92 laps, 473 km | GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup |
* ↑ 1974 Race scheduled for 750 km only.
* ↑ 1981 Race stopped after 17 laps due to fatal accident of Herbert Müller which caused track damage.
* ↑ 1986 Race was stopped due to torrential rain and only ran approximately 600 km.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Time limit of 6 hours reached before 1,000 km distance was completed.
* ↑ Time limit of 7 hours reached before 1,000 km distance was completed.

## Gallery

* Le Mans start in 1965
* Pit stop during the 1964 race
* 1965: Mike Parkes in front of Graham Hill
* Rolling start in 1969
* Starting 1973
* Jean-Pierre Jarier, winner 1974 on Matra Simca, together with Jean-Pierre Beltoise