Racing News

The German motorsport association DMSB has placed a temporary ban on GT3 cars along with cars in several other GT classes from the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the wake of a fatal accident at the circuit.

The March 28 VLN race on the Nordschleife was halted in the second hour after a Nissan GT3 car driven by Jann Mardenborough became airborne in the Flugplatz section of the circuit and landed in a spectator area. One spectator was killed and several others were injured. Mardenborough, who was taken to the hospital, has since been released.

As a result of the accident the DMSB has banned several classes of GT cars, including GT3, from the circuit until an investigation has been performed and any changes resulting from it are made. The ban could possibly affect the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, which is scheduled for May 14-17, seven weeks from now.

The VLN Series and the 24 hour race are contested by a number of BMW teams. The 24 hour race is an important component of BMW Motorsport’s program in Europe, with several teams slated to run Z4 GT3s.—Brian S. Morgan