Max Verstappen is set to race at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife after acquiring the required license on Friday.
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With the Formula 1 circuit off this weekend, Red Bull cleared the four-time world champion to make his debut in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). Arguably the world's top race car driver, Verstappen still had to undergo a course and take a theory exam to drive in the seventh round of the 10-race NLS.
After completing both, Verstappen is scheduled to compete in a four-hour race on Saturday, driving a Porsche GT4 Cayman in the Verstappen.com Racing x Red Bull livery.
Verstappen, 27, will be joined by Chris Lulham, a 22-year-old British driver who is competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance for Verstappen.com Racing.
Verstappen set an unofficial lap record during a test run in a Ferrari 296 GT3 for the Swiss Emil Frey Racing team on the Nordschleife track in May. However, he does not yet have the required special racing license called the DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund) Permit Nordschleife to officially compete in the GT3 class on the track.
To obtain a "Permit A," Verstappen needs to collect two classified race results by completing 14 laps and completing at least 20 per cent of a race. Both results can come in a single race, which is why he could spend time in multiple cars this weekend.
GREEN HELL
The system was implemented in 2015 with the goal of requiring drivers of all levels to experience the Nordschleife, referred to as "Green Hell," in slower cars before moving up.
Verstappen said he is pursuing his Permit A in order to compete in the GT3 class in the future. He has previously stated his desire to compete in Nurburgring's annual 24-hour race among other endurance races at iconic circuits around the world.
"Racing is not just my profession, but also my hobby," Verstappen said on his official website. "This weekend I am at the Nordschleife with the goal to qualify for the mandatory race permit needed to race here in a GT3 car, which I would love.
"The Nordschleife is at the top of my list of tracks I want to race on, as it's extremely challenging and demanding, with its enormous length and tight historic layout. I can't wait!"