Calvin de Groot steps up to Porsche for Nürburgring season: "It's a completely different car"

Dutch talent Calvin de Groot is set for a new chapter in his Nürburgring career, stepping up to a Porsche Cayman GT4 with Sorg Rennsport for the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) season. After success in a BMW last year, the move marks a significant technical and competitive leap as he joins the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring and the Manthey-supported talent structure.

From BMW to Porsche: a completely different machine

After claiming victory and multiple podiums in a BMW 330i on the Nordschleife, De Groot now faces a fundamentally different challenge.

“The BMW was like a limousine in terms of its shape — long and high, with a two-litre engine,” he explains. “Now we’re in a Porsche: a compact car, low to the ground, with the engine positioned behind the driver. We’ve gone from 275 to 425 horsepower, so it’s a completely different car.”

The contrast goes beyond performance figures. While the BMW was based on a converted road car, the Porsche represents a purebred racing machine.

“The BMW was essentially a road car converted into a race car. This car is built by Manthey Racing, Porsche’s motorsport department. You really feel that in everything.”

Despite the step up, De Groot heads into the season without prior race experience in the car. Instead, he leans on the strength of the team around him.

“The team has a lot of experience with this car, and my teammate Heiko Eichenberg has already shown how fast he is. The setup is strong, the car is well prepared. For me, it’s about learning as quickly as possible and adapting.”

A confident step forward: Podium pace in NLS2

De Groot’s most recent outing in the NLS2 race last Saturday further underlined his rapid progress in the Porsche.

The #959 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS led large portions of the race, particularly in the early stages. Starting from P6, the team made swift progress once De Groot took over driving duties, climbing from fifth on track to the overall lead in class. His pace in the Cup 3 category was immediately evident.

Ultimately, the team secured a respectable second place in class, with Smyrlis Racing taking the victory.

Learning the Nordschleife: expect the unexpected

Now entering his second season in the NLS, De Groot has already learned one crucial lesson about racing on the Nürburgring.

“In the NLS, there is never a normal race,” he says. “You’re dealing with a 20 to almost 24-kilometre track, and the conditions are never the same. For tomorrow [NLS1 race day], there’s even snow forecast in the morning.”

From fog delays to split weather across the circuit, unpredictability is part of the challenge.

“It can be dry here, while it’s raining on another part of the track. That’s just how it is here.”

Because of that, outright pace is not always the deciding factor.

“In the end, survival is the most important thing. A lot of people don’t even manage that over a race weekend. If you don’t make it to the finish, you don’t get a result.”

Strategy over speed

That mindset extends to decision-making during races, particularly when it comes to tyre choices in mixed conditions.

“If you lose one minute on slicks in the wet section, but you gain that time back on the rest of the lap compared to wet tyres, then you stay on slicks and just survive the wet part.”

However, the calculation quickly shifts if the balance tips too far.

“If the track is so wet that you lose three minutes on slicks and you can’t make that back, then you go for wet tyres. It always depends on the situation.”

Ultimately, De Groot trusts the experience within Sorg Rennsport to make the right calls.

“The team makes those decisions. They have 30 years of experience here. They almost always know what to do depending on which parts of the track are wet.”

Consistency is key

While chasing wins remains the goal, De Groot approaches the season with a long-term perspective shaped by endurance racing.

“If you win five times but retire once, that’s one race with zero points,” he explains. “But if you finish second five times, you can still become champion.”

It’s a philosophy that underlines his focus for the year ahead.

“My goal is to learn as much as possible and keep improving. Consistency is very important.”

Porsche Talent Pool opportunity

Alongside his racing programme, De Groot has been selected for the Porsche Talent Pool Nürburgring, a recognition that provides additional support and development opportunities.

“That means I’m part of the talent selection within the Porsche championships, in the Cup 2 and Cup 3 classes,” he says. “Out of a large group of drivers, I was selected to be part of that programme.”

The initiative offers access to resources designed to accelerate his development.

“We’ve had media training, time on the Porsche simulator, and throughout the season we get extra support on the engineering side to better understand what we need to improve.”

However, the programme does not ease the financial burden of racing.

“There is no financial support. It’s purely development.”

Building a career step by step

Like many drivers on the Nordschleife, De Groot continues to balance performance with the realities of funding a racing career.

“Racing is an expensive sport, so putting the budget together is a big challenge. I’m very grateful to my sponsors — we try to build partnerships where both sides benefit.”

His active presence on social media plays a key role in that process.

“You have to create value for your sponsors. They don’t just support you because they like it — they want something in return. Through events and social media exposure, we try to create that return on investment.”