FORGED IN THE FIGHT : ROWE RACING CONFRONTS THE CHALLENGE OF NÜRBURGRING

The GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS returned to the Nürburgring, Germany, from 28th - 30th August 2026, as the championship entered its penultimate round of the season.

Held on the demanding Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, the three hour endurance race delivered a challenging and unpredictable battle, with multiple Safety Car periods adding further drama to the competition.

For ROWE Racing, the weekend proved to be a true test of resilience and championship focus, with both BMW M4 GT3 EVO entries facing very different challenges throughout the race.

#998 ROWE RACING : A CrRUCIAL GOLD CUP RESULT
Driven by Jens Klingmann, Tim Tramnitz and Ugo de Wilde, the #998 BMW M4 GT3 EVO maintained a consistent pace through a race shaped by changing circumstances and multiple Safety Car periods.
The trio fought their way through the three-hour contest to secure 4th place in the Gold Cup.
Although it was the crew’s first Gold Cup race of the season without a podium finish, the result carried significant championship value.
The points collected at the Nürburgring were enough to move the #998 crew into first place in the Gold Cup Endurance standings, giving ROWE Racing a crucial advantage heading into the season finale.
For Klingmann, Tramnitz and de Wilde, the focus now shifts from one race to one ultimate goal,  fighting for the championship.

#98 ROWE RACING : FIGHTING AGAINST THE ODDS
The #98 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Raffaele Marciello, Augusto Farfus and Jake Dennis, faced a considerably more difficult weekend in the Pro Cup.
After a challenging qualifying session, the crew encountered further setbacks during the race, including an unfortunate Full Course Yellow (FCY) period that caused them to lose significant track position.
A green-flag pit stop also resulted in valuable time being lost, making the fight back through the field even more difficult.
Despite the team’s continued efforts to recover, the #98 ultimately finished 38th overall.

A TOUGH WEEKEND, BUT A VALUABLE REWARD
ROWE Racing Team Principal Hans-Peter Naundorf admitted that the team had expected a very different outcome at the Nürburgring.
The car’s set-up did not deliver the performance the team was looking for, while the timing of the pit stop added another setback during the race.
However, despite the difficulties, Naundorf highlighted one major positive from the weekend:

“If we want to take something positive away from the weekend, it is the fact that we have taken the overall lead in the Gold Cup.”

That championship advantage now gives ROWE Racing a strong platform heading into the final round.

The Road Ahead
The Nürburgring may not have delivered the podium result ROWE Racing was hoping for, but the #998 BMW M4 GT3 EVO leaves Germany with something even more valuable,  the lead in the Gold Cup Endurance standings.

The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup will conclude at Portimão, Portugal, from 16th - 18th October 2026. With Jens Klingmann, Tim Tramnitz and Ugo de Wilde leading the Gold Cup Endurance standings, the championship battle now comes down to one final race.

The championship is no longer about what could have been. It is about what happens next.

ROWE RACING : ONE FINAL RACE. ONE FINAL FIGHT. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP TO CHASE.

Official Race Results:

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