Start of the 2026 NLS season: Numerous teams rely on BILSTEIN technology in the Green Hell
A total of 132 registered vehicles will take part in the first race of the 50th season.
Mercedes-AMG teams on BILSTEIN: In the top class SP9, two teams equipped with BILSTEIN racing shock absorbers will be competing on Saturday: Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL and Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, both of which are travelling to the Eifel region with top drivers. The driver line-up includes Maro Engel, Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz.
Their Mercedes-AMG GT3 is equipped with BILSTEIN EVO RT 5-way high-tech shock absorbers, which have been optimised for the new season on the BILSTEIN 7-post test rig. Both teams will not only compete in selected NLS races, but also in the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
Sim Racing Team on the real Nürburgring Nordschleife with the Black Falcon Team: YouTubers and racing drivers Jimmy Broadbent, Steve Brown, Misha Charoudin and Manuel Metzger are back on track with BILSTEIN again this year. Instead of the BMW M4 GT4 EVO, the team is returning this season in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the AT2 class for alternative fuels. The Black Falcon Team is relying on harmonious cooperation between partners such as BILSTEIN, Fanatec, XXL Nutrition, Dunlop and others to prove that the guys can compete with any other racing team in this class.
Max Kruse Racing: Successful partnership continues: The partnership with Max Kruse Racing will also enter its next phase in 2026. The team continues to rely on BILSTEIN Motorsport shock absorbers, confirming its successful collaboration with the shock absorber specialist.
In the AT 3 class (also for alternative fuels), the team is entering three VW Golfs with BILSTEIN technology. One VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h will be driven by Max Kruse, among others.
Sorg Rennsport puts its trust in BILSTEIN once again: Sorg Rennsport is also competing with BILSTEIN again this season. With numerous powerful vehicles at the start once more, the team is competing with various BMWs and a Toyota Supra equipped with BILSTEIN shock absorbers.
In addition, the Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing Team is entering two Toyota GR Yaris cars with BILSTEIN motorsport suspension.
BILSTEIN: First choice for top teams: Whether GT3, TCR, cup cars or production cars: ambitious teams in almost every class rely on the expertise and technology of the suspension specialist.
Martin Flick, Global Head of Motorsports at BILSTEIN, explains the importance of the Nürburgring Endurance Series for the shock absorber manufacturer: ‘The NLS is one of the most demanding racing series in the world. And this is exactly where we can show how good our motorsport shock absorbers really are. Together with the teams, we use the Nordschleife as the ultimate test environment to expose new technologies to the most severe conditions we can find.’
One of the most demanding racing series worldwide: BILSTEIN has traditionally been a major player in international motorsport and has always relied on particularly close cooperation with the teams. ‘The fact that so many teams rely on our technology is both confirmation and motivation for us,’ says Daniel Pitsch, Head of Motorsport Road Racing at BILSTEIN. ‘Our close cooperation with the racing teams and continuous development ensure that our suspension systems deliver maximum performance in every class.’
BILSTEIN's presence in the NLS is also expected to grow as the season progresses. Additional teams are currently preparing new entries, including GT3 programmes and starters in various classes. This means that the number of vehicles with BILSTEIN technology will continue to rise, providing additional sporting highlights.
The NLS season includes a total of ten races on nine event weekends in 2026. The two ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers races on 18 and 19 April 2026 in the run-up to the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring will once again be part of the NLS.
BILSTEIN is part of thyssenkrupp AG and has its headquarters in Ennepetal, Germany. The company develops and produces suspensions, shock absorbers and springs for cars and vans and is one of the world's largest suppliers with an annual production of around 13 million shock absorbers. BILSTEIN is a technology leader and a global player with more than 4,100 employees at nine locations in six countries – including the UK, the USA, Romania, China and Mexico.