Late Disqualification Threat Looms Over Red Bull After… see details in the comment
The final standings of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring remain uncertain after a Red Bull-backed Lamborghini team was placed under investigation for an alleged technical violation following the race. Officials are currently examining claims that the car produced significantly more engine power than regulations allow, raising the possibility of a late disqualification.
The Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, entered by ABT Sportsline under the Red Bull banner, crossed the finish line in second place after a dramatic comeback during the gruelling endurance race. The No. 84 car was driven by Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler, and Patric Niederhauser, who fought their way back through the field after early setbacks.
However, post-race inspections may now overshadow their impressive performance.
As part of routine technical checks conducted after the event, officials tested six leading GT3 entries from different manufacturers to ensure compliance with the Balance of Performance regulations. These rules are designed to keep competition fair by limiting differences in vehicle performance between brands.
According to reports from Motorsport-Total.com, the Lamborghini failed to meet the required standards during testing on a rolling dynamometer. The investigation allegedly revealed that the engine was producing approximately 20 horsepower more than permitted under the preset Balance of Performance figures.
Under the regulations, teams are only allowed a deviation of up to two percent from the approved output level. For a GT3 engine producing around 500 horsepower, this margin equates to roughly 10 horsepower. The reported excess therefore appears to be well beyond the acceptable limit.
The investigation was further complicated by mechanical issues with the Lamborghini shortly after the race concluded. Officials initially encountered delays because of a faulty clutch, preventing immediate testing. The car was subsequently sealed and re-examined several days later after the clutch had been replaced.
A spokesperson for the race organisers later confirmed that irregularities had indeed been detected during the inspection process involving the No. 84 Lamborghini.
While the Lamborghini now faces scrutiny, the other five GT3 cars selected for inspection reportedly passed all checks without issue. Among them was the race-winning Mercedes-AMG entered by Winward Racing, as well as entries from Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche, and Ford Mustang teams.
Interestingly, the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry linked to Formula One world champion Max Verstappen was not selected for inspection. Verstappen’s team, featuring Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Dani Juncadella, had looked like serious contenders for victory throughout much of the race before suffering heartbreak late on.
A driveshaft failure with only three hours remaining forced the Verstappen-affiliated car out of podium contention and dropped the team down to 37th place in the final classification.
The Red Bull-supported Lamborghini’s route to second place was itself filled with drama. Pole-sitter Mirko Bortolotti suffered a puncture early in the race after contact with Dani Juncadella, leaving the team with a major recovery mission. Despite the setback, the crew steadily climbed back through the field over the remaining hours to secure what appeared to be a remarkable podium finish.
Race officials reportedly became suspicious during the event after analysing performance data from the Lamborghini. The car demonstrated unusually high top speeds on the famous Döttinger Höhe straight, averaging 275.2 km/h. During qualifying, under supposedly lower engine output settings, the same car had recorded significantly slower speeds of around 268 km/h.
Additional attention was drawn when Patric Niederhauser recorded the fastest lap of the entire race with an impressive time of 8:08.758 around the demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The technical findings have now been handed over to the race stewards, who are expected to review the evidence and hear responses from the ABT team before issuing a final verdict in the coming days.
For now, the overall victory secured by Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz in the Mercedes-AMG remains official. However, the rest of the podium positions are still provisional pending the outcome of the investigation.
Should the Lamborghini be disqualified, the Walkenhorst Aston Martin would be promoted to second place, while the ROWE BMW would inherit third. Verstappen Racing would also move up one position in the final GT3 classification.