Nürburgring-based GetSpeed Performance starts this weekend’s VLN Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) season opener with three Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos.

Piloting the #2 GetSpeed Performance Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo will be Maximilian Götz, Daniel Juncadella and Raffaele Marciello. Both Götz and Marciello stay on from last year, whereas Juncadella comes over from 10Q Racing Team with whom he had an impressive run during the team’s maiden Nürburgring 24 Hours last year. They are joined by Fabian Schiller for the Nürburgring 24 Hours who will start on both Mercedes-AMG works supported cars: the #2 and #8 Mercedes-AMGs.

“In 2020 I was only able to do the 24-hour race due to the Corona pandemic – now I’m looking forward to a great season with GetSpeed,” Daniel Juncadella said.

“The team is extremely strong, especially on the Nordschleife, and I have very good teammates. Of course we work towards the 24-hour race for the first NLS outings. Nevertheless, I always race with the aim of winning. Last year I did an incredible number of laps on the Nordschleife in the simulator. Now I can finally feel the ‘Green Hell’ under my car again.”

Back for another go at the Nordschleife is François Perrodo. The French gentleman driver brings his long-time co-driver Emmanuel Collard along for the ride together with Matthieu Vaxivière. The trio will take on the first race aboard the #8 Mercedes-AMG, after which only Vaxivière will continue as Perrodo and Collard have clashing dates. Jules Gounon and Dirk Müller join Vaxivière for NLS races 2 and 3, with Fabian Schiller completing the quartet that will take on the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Image by GetSpeed Performance.

Most notably amongst the line-up of top-tier drivers is the long-awaited GT3 debut of Nürburgring favourite Moritz Kranz. The German returns to the team that was one of the first to recognise his talent when he came to the Nürburgring. Having spent several successful years with Mühlner Motorsport, Kranz is now back with GetSpeed and with extensive experience in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and LMP3 machinery, ready for his GT3 debut. He teams up with Janine Shoffner née Hill for a full nine-race season in the SP9/GT3-Am category.

“The leap from the Cup Porsche to the AMG GT3 should not be much bigger than what it was from the GT4 to the Cup Porsche,” Moritz Kranz commented.

“Still, I’m very excited about what to expect. I have already learned to use the aerodynamics of a racing car during my time in LMP3. It is now important to bring that to the Nordschleife. I will make intensive use of the test on the Friday before the race and then I am confident that I will achieve a good result together with Janine.”

Janine Shoffner won’t share the car with her husband John Shoffner this year as the American is off training for the SpaceX Ax1 programme for which he was chosen as backup pilot.

“Even as a child, I dreamed of flying into space,” John Shoffner said. “Now this dream is becoming a reality. To do this, I will take a year off my second great passion, racing.”

Markus Palttala and Maxime Soulet complete the driver line-up at the ‘N24’.

The 2021 season gets underway this Saturday with the 4-hour 66. ADAC Westfalenfahrt.

Keep track of the 2021 VLN Nürburgring Endurance Series entry list on our dedicated page listing all announced GT3 entries.

 
 

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