Rene Rast was once one of the fastest GT3 drivers on the Nordschleife – Why the DTM champion has not been at the start in the “Green Hell” since 2022
Until a few years ago, Rene Rast was one of the fastest GT3 drivers on the Nordschleife. Since switching from Audi to BMW for the 2023 season, however, the three-time DTM champion has turned his back on the “Green Hell”. Why? “There is no specific reason,” says the BMW factory driver.
Rast’s last race on the Nordschleife to date was on June 25, 2022, when he and Jakub Giermaziak drove an Audi R8 LMS from Scherer Sport Team Phoenix – and crossed the finish line as the overall winners after 29 laps. Rast has not competed on the demanding Eifel circuit since then.
Although Rast even managed to win the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2014, he has not yet been fielded by BMW. In the first joint season in 2023, an original clash with the Formula E race, in which Rast was still competing for McLaren at the time, was to blame.
Almost a whole month of my time will be taken up
But last year, too, there was no room for the Eifel classic in the calendar of the three-time DTM champion. “I’m happy to race, but the Nordschleife just didn’t work out this year – with my two series, DTM and WEC,” Rast explained last year. “It was out of the question.”
Because the preparation that the GT3 drivers undergo in the run-up to the 24-hour race is very time-consuming. ‘It’s not just the race, there’s a lot more to it: you have to test, you have to drive the first three NLS races,’ ”you have to invest almost a whole month for the race.”
“And if I don’t have the time, it’s not an option for me,” the BMW driver makes clear, suggesting that his DTM commitments will once again prevent him from competing on the Nordschleife this year. That’s because the second round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) clashes with the DTM season opener at Oschersleben.
“One of the best races on the planet”
The 24-hour qualifiers, the dress rehearsal for the main race, will take place at the same time as the DTM weekend at the Lausitzring. In addition, the 24-hour race at Le Mans, in which Rast will take part due to his involvement in the World Endurance Championship, takes place just one week before the Nürburgring race.
In short, it seems more than unlikely that Rast will finally return to the Nordschleife in his third year with BMW, even if it will hurt him a little. Because unlike Macau, where Rast only narrowly escaped a serious accident a few years ago, he cannot simply leave the “Green Hell” behind him.
“No, not at all,” the 38-year-old hinted that he would like to compete in the 24-hour race again one day. ‘I think the Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the most beautiful tracks and one of the best races there is on the planet.’
