Volkswagen, MINI, and Mercedes-AMG: Comparing Nürburgring 24h Approaches

Volkswagen, MINI, and Mercedes-AMG bring distinct strategies to the Nürburgring 24h 2025. See how each brand defines its goals at this iconic race.

24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2025 promises to be not just a competition of speed, but a demonstration of three different strategies from leading car manufacturers — Volkswagen, MINI, and Mercedes-AMG. Each company brings its own priorities to the event: from anniversary shows and art liveries to full endurance marathons with Formula 1-level logistics.

Volkswagen: A GTI Celebration and Showcase of Sustainable Technologies

Volkswagen uses the race as part of the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI. The key highlights:

• World premiere of the anniversary Golf GTI — the most powerful model in the GTI lineup (technical details remain confidential).
• Participation of two Golf GTI Clubsport 24h race cars with numbers #19 and #76, prepared by Max Kruse Racing.
• They will compete in the AT3 class, using Shell E20 bioethanol fuel, emphasizing Volkswagen’s focus on reducing CO₂ emissions.
• Mass fan activities planned during the weekend, including a parade of 40 GTIs from all generations and a showcase of the ID. GTI Concept.

Volkswagen’s approach is a mix of brand celebration and promotion of alternative fuels in motorsport.

MINI: A Design Manifesto and a Quest to Repeat Racing Success

MINI focuses on visual identity and technical reliability, fielding an updated MINI John Cooper Works Pro #317 in collaboration with Bulldog Racing.

• The car features a JCW aerodynamic kit and livery designed by Deus Ex Machina in partnership with BMW Designworks.
• Entry in the SP3T class, in which MINI claimed victory in 2024.
• Drivers include: Charlie Cooper, Markus Fischer, Christoph Kragenings, and Sebastian Sauerbrei.

MINI emphasizes individuality and heritage, connecting custom culture with factory engineering designed for reliability and class victory.

Mercedes-AMG: Endurance as a Challenge – Three Races in a Row

Mercedes-AMG is the only manufacturer treating the Nürburgring as part of a three-week endurance marathon: Le Mans, Nürburgring, and Spa. Key points:

• Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed enters two GT3 cars in the SP9 PRO class for overall victory.
• Car #14 includes drivers Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz.
• Martin and Stolz will compete in all three 24-hour races, requiring extreme physical and psychological preparation.
• Mercedes-AMG uses different cars for each race and has devised logistics and technical strategies to maximize efficiency.

Mercedes-AMG’s approach is maximum commitment, detailed resource planning, and a focus on overall victory.

Strategic Contrast

Thus, the 2025 Nürburgring 24h race sees three manufacturers taking very different paths: Volkswagen creates a fan spectacle, MINI highlights style and class consistency, and Mercedes-AMG embraces the most demanding sporting challenge by engaging in three endurance races back to back.