The upcoming 65th ADAC ACAS Cup marks round seven of the NLS series season and is capturing extraordinary attention as reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen prepares for his Nurburgring debut. This event takes place on the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife, where Verstappen’s participation in this endurance race is raising expectations among motorsport fans and insiders alike.
The Nurburgring endurance series, known as the NLS, features long-distance sports car races exclusively held at the historic German circuit. Verstappen’s entry into this series combines the thrill of endurance racing with his high-profile status, promising a rare intersection between Formula 1 fame and grassroots motorsport competition.
The NLS Endurance Championship Explained
The NLS, standing for Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, is a well-established racing championship that exclusively contests events on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, known for its demanding layout. The 2025 season highlights 10 races distributed across eight weekends, including two qualifying rounds for the prestigious standalone Nurburgring 24 Hours race scheduled for June.
This weekend’s racing format includes a double-header featuring the 65th ADAC ACAS Cup followed by the 64th ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen. Both rounds span four hours of competition, with teams made up of two to four drivers sharing driving duties to manage the grueling demands of the track and pace.
Details of Verstappen’s Car and Racing Class
The NLS is notable for hosting a diverse range of vehicle categories, from high-performance GT3 racing cars to various touring and production-based classes subdivided by engine size. Although Verstappen’s name is not yet on the provisional NLS entry list, expectations point to his racing involvement with the Lionspeed GP team.
Verstappen will likely compete in the SP7 class aboard a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS. This category predominantly features GT4-spec cars with engine displacements between 3.5 and 4.0 liters, a tier just below the top SP9 GT3 class. His participation is anticipated in two cars: the #89 Cayman in SP7 and potentially the #980 Cayman in the Cup 3 subclass.
Supporting Verstappen are experienced drivers like Belgian Matisse Lismont and American Kyle Tilley, who will share time behind the wheel of both Caymans. These cars are registered solely for Saturday’s race, but there is a possibility of competing on Sunday to secure the necessary race classification for Verstappen’s licensing progression.
Additionally, Verstappen’s sim racing teammate Chris Lulham will be active across multiple championships, including the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 and recently tested with Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 496 GT3, which Verstappen is expected to drive in his forthcoming SP9 GT3 debut.
The Challenge of Racing Without Permit A and Verstappen’s Goals
Verstappen’s initial appearance in NLS stirred interest when he tested at the Nordschleife under the alias Franz Hermann, where his lap times near an unofficial GT3 record sparked debate regarding his vehicle’s compliance. However, his goal for this weekend is markedly subdued by regulatory constraints.
Due to lacking the “Permit A”—a licensing requirement for racing high-powered cars on the Nordschleife—Verstappen’s Porsche Cayman must be restricted to the lower “Permit B” specification. Normally, the Cayman GT4 delivers 425 horsepower at 1,315 kilograms, yielding a power-to-weight ratio of 3.1 kg/hp. This is well below the 4.2 kg/hp ratio minimum allowed for debut drivers without Permit A certification, forcing the team to detune the car to just over 300 horsepower at an increased weight.
This restriction effectively removes any realistic opportunity for Verstappen to compete for overall wins or to aim for lap records during his debut, as he will be operating the car at reduced performance, regardless of his world champion status.
According to the DMSB Permit Nordschleife (DPN) system, the Nordschleife license is divided into two tiers. Permit A allows drivers to contest high-performance cars, while Permit B holders face restrictions designed to ensure safer progress up the ranks. The system requires participants new to the track to accumulate classified finishes over races, aiming to build experience in slower cars before moving onto GT3 or similar classes.
To obtain Permit A, Verstappen must complete two classified results, achievable within a single race by driving in two different cars. The requirement mandates at least 14 laps and a minimum of 20% race participation in each vehicle. With the Cayman’s typical race lap count around 25 to 26 laps in four hours, Verstappen could fulfill these conditions with two stints of approximately seven laps each.
This licensing process is designed to foster increased respect and safety on the notoriously challenging Nurburgring track. While some drivers and critics label it as an overcomplicated barrier or “cash cow” for organisers, supporters, including the Nurburgring drivers’ working group, credit the system with improved race management and flow.
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has notably chosen not to race at the Nordschleife due to such regulations, highlighting the system’s controversial nature. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s end goal is to eventually compete in the premier SP9 GT3 category—ideally representing his own team once fully licensed and experienced.
How to Watch Verstappen’s Nurburgring Debut This Weekend
Motorsport enthusiasts can watch all NLS rounds, including Saturday’s 65th ADAC ACAS Cup and Sunday’s 64th ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen, live and free on Motorsport.tv. Coverage begins with qualifying sessions at 8:15 a.m. local CEST, followed by race broadcasts starting at 11:15 a.m., leading up to race starts at noon.
This broadcasting availability ensures fans worldwide can follow Verstappen’s unique debut in the challenging world of Nurburgring endurance racing and track his progress as he works toward unlocking future opportunities within the series.
