EEMNES (May 29, 2024) – With 130 cars at the start, over 450 drivers, and an expected attendance of around 200,000 visitors, the 24 Hours Nürburgring is one of the largest motorsport events in Europe. “This race is just incomparable to anything else, so incredibly cool,” says Tom Coronel. For the driver from Eemnes, participating in the German classic for the 15th time, the race on the Nordschleife is the highlight of the season. Coronel will be racing in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with start number 127, fielded by the renowned team Max Kruse Racing, founded by the former German international footballer. Coronel’s teammates are Jan Jaap van Roon from Amsterdam, Paul Meijer from Huis ter Heide, and the Portuguese Tiago Monteiro.
“This race is just incomparable to anything else, so incredibly cool.”
Tom Coronel – GT3 Driver at Max Kruse Racing
The 24-hour race is held on the 25.378-kilometer combination of the Nordschleife and the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit. “The most beautiful track on planet Earth,” says Tom Coronel. “Everything is just ten times more intense than on other circuits. Also because you have to deal with a lot of factors. The weather is often unpredictable, and because of the length of the circuit, it can be bone dry on one side and pouring rain on the other. We’ve experienced snow and hail here! And then there’s the night driving, plus the busy traffic with 130 cars on the track and significant speed differences, from powerful GT3s to a Dacia.”
A special aspect of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is also the fans, who contribute significantly to the unique atmosphere. “They are often there days in advance and build the most fantastic things around the circuit. Complete scaffolding, swimming pools, refrigerators, TVs, sofas, everything comes along,” Coronel describes. “And you can bet there are plenty of hectoliters of beer consumed, and the barbecues often stay on day and night. It’s also great to see more and more Dutch motorsport fans coming. Unfortunately, there’s no parade to Adenau this time due to roadworks, but there is a large autograph session, for which we’ve also made special cards.”
Coronel’s teammates Jan Jaap van Roon, Paul Meijer, and Tiago Monteiro are also looking forward to the event. “I’ve experienced it a few times now, but I’m still impressed every time. The 24-hour race is incomparable to anything else,” says Van Roon. For Paul Meijer, it will be his first participation. “I’ve heard a lot of stories, but I find it incredibly cool that I get to experience it myself now,” he says. Tiago Monteiro is just as excited about the race. “I think we’ve done everything to come as well prepared as possible. It’s going to be great,” says the Portuguese driver.
Tom Coronel emphasizes that nothing has been left to chance in preparation. “The car is almost new: engine, gearbox, everything has been checked,” he says. “Last week we did a shakedown, a functional test at the Zolder circuit, and everything was run in for 300 kilometers. The team is outfitted with Mascot Workwear clothing, so everyone looks top-notch. Eurol has also made a significant contribution with the high-quality lubricants from the Eurol Racing Line. Many customers and guests from Mascot Workwear and Eurol will be present to experience the event live.”
To ensure the drivers can relax as best as possible during the race, they will have access to mobile accommodation provided by Mobitels from Son, Brabant. “We had very good experiences with this during the Dakar Rally. We have a trailer with six rooms, really top-notch,” says Coronel.
The activities begin on Thursday, May 30, with qualifying sessions from 1:00 PM to 2:45 PM and from 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM. On Friday, there is another qualifying session from 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM. The race starts on Saturday at 4:00 PM, preceded by a formation lap from 3:40 PM and the starting grid from 2:45 PM. “That starting grid is really incredible, you won’t see so many people together at any other race,” says Coronel. The team competes in the highly competitive class for Porsche Cup cars. “They are slightly less fast than the GT3s, but we can certainly race in the top 30 overall with our car. It’s mainly about functioning well as a team and approaching it smartly. Then we can get far!” All activities can be fully followed via the livestream on the website www.24h-rennen.de. For Dutch viewers, the race is live on Viaplay TV on Saturday, June 1, from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM and on Sunday, June 2, from 2:00 PM until the podium ceremony at 4:30 PM. The entire race is live on Viaplay. Coronel will also be sharing plenty of photos and videos on his social media channels.
