The motorsport world is buzzing with electrifying news: Max Verstappen, the three-time Formula 1 world champion, is preparing to make a bold and audacious leap into GT3 racing at the legendary Nordschleife. This is not just another race; it is a grueling challenge for any driver, especially at one of the most demanding and dangerous circuits on the planet. Verstappen’s decision has ignited a firestorm of debate and high expectations, leaving fans and experts alike asking one crucial question: Can he conquer the “Green Hell”?

Tom Coronel, a Dutch racing legend with 15 years of experience in the VLN series and 14 appearances at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, shared his profound insights on this momentous event in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com. Coronel, who has shared the tarmac with Max since he was a 12-year-old sim racing champion, understands precisely what Verstappen is about to face. “I understand his idea that he wants to drive there because it’s the most horniest circuit on planet earth,” Coronel said, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I’m sure that he will be on the podium. I’m sure that he is capable of winning. He will be the fastest out there.”.

The Nordschleife: An Alluring Addiction

The Nordschleife, often called the “Green Hell,” is not a track for the faint of heart. Spanning over 20.8 kilometers with more than 70 corners and dizzying elevation changes, it is a true test of skill, patience, and courage. Coronel describes it as an “addiction”: “You can be addicted to drugs, you can be addicted to alcohol, but he’s addicted to motorsport. And then if you will go to the best, fabulous, most insane circuit on planet earth, then it’s the Nordschleife.”. It is one of those bucket-list items for every race car driver, and Max, who loves to drive as much as possible, has finally secured his permit to compete in the VLN race.

Coronel, who was en route to the Nordschleife during the interview, couldn’t hide his excitement. He has been driving here for years and still feels a thrill every time he gets the chance. “Today we will drive from 4:00 until 7:00 on the Nordschleife, then they open it already so you can get in your rhythm for tomorrow. And Max is there as well,” he shared. For Max, competing on this track is the realization of a “long-haul dream of a GT racing career”, running parallel to his monumental success in Formula 1.

The Difference Between Sim Racing and Reality

One factor that gives many confidence in Max’s abilities is his extensive experience in sim racing. Max is a famously avid sim racer and has logged countless virtual laps to familiarize himself with the Nordschleife. However, Coronel is quick to point out the stark difference between the virtual and real worlds. “A sim doesn’t go up and down, and the big carousels, you know, where the car is jumping like crazy,” Coronel explained. “We even have two situations where the car gets completely loose with the four wheels from the asphalt. You just, yeah, you actually make a jump with the car. This is it, and that’s something also unique which is nowhere on planet earth.”.

Although Max has already completed 16 real-world laps (two sets of eight) to obtain his GT3 permit, the Nordschleife always presents a unique challenge due to its ever-changing weather conditions across the long circuit. “At the other side of the track, there could be snow. At the other side, it could be dry. The other side, it could be raining,” Coronel said. “This is a different mindset which you need when you’re driving the Nordschleife.”.

The Challenge of Slower Cars (Movable Chicanes)

One of the most difficult aspects of racing at the Nordschleife is sharing the track with multiple classes of cars, from high-speed GT3s to much slower vehicles. Coronel refers to these slower cars as “movable chicanes”. For a driver like Max, accustomed to racing at the highest level with the singular goal of finishing first, managing this traffic will require immense patience and strategy.

“He will absorb it easy because he understands, and for him, it’s only one goal: he wants to finish the race,” Coronel assessed. Sometimes, patience is the key. Instead of attempting a risky overtake in a dangerous corner, it’s better to wait for one more corner to get a safer opportunity to accelerate and pass. Coronel believes Max is clever and mature enough to handle these situations. “He’s clever, he’s more mature than we’ve seen him in the early stages of his career,” Coronel noted. “He was always maybe sometimes so aggressive that you’re like, ‘Why?’ But now at the Nordschleife, you know, it’s not the thing how to survive on this circuit.”.

Predictions and Teammate Chris Lulham

Despite the challenges, Coronel remains confident in Max. “I’m not afraid. I’m sure that he will be on the podium. I’m sure that he is capable of winning. He will be the fastest out there,” Coronel affirmed. However, he also acknowledged that changing weather and incorrect tire choices could give more experienced drivers an advantage.

Max Verstappen will not be racing alone. He will be partnered with a talented up-and-coming British racer, Chris Lulham. Lulham also comes from the world of sim racing, a background Coronel highly respects. “I like the way how they approach the motorsport, you know, because he’s coming out of the sim races, and you can see that sim racing has a lot of similarities: patience, cleverness,” Coronel said. Although Coronel is from an older generation and finds sim racing difficult, he admits that today’s sim racers are incredibly fast and smart. The combination of Lulham’s sim experience and Max’s superior “feeling” for the car creates a very strong team.

Max will compete in the top GT3 class, with a car specially built for the Nürburgring. It differs from standard GT3 cars with a different ride height and reinforced components to withstand the punishing jumps and corners. Coronel believes Max will be among the frontrunners. He also predicts that many other drivers will enter this race simply because they know Max is competing. “This is your chance to drive in the same time on the same track, same conditions, whatever you want to call it, with the best driver we’ve ever had,” Coronel said enthusiastically. Coronel himself will be driving a 992 Porsche Cup car, about 20-25 seconds slower per lap than Max. He hopes to meet Max during qualifying, where all drivers are on track simultaneously without competing for position.

Max Verstappen: An Addict for Speed

Ultimately, Coronel concludes that Max’s decision to enter this race confirms one thing: Max, like so many other racers, is completely “addicted” to speed and challenge. “So he’s the same, he’s the same like us. He’s just addicted,” Coronel said, highlighting their shared passion for racing.

The GT3 race at the Nordschleife featuring Max Verstappen will take place on Saturday, September 27th, at noon European time (11:00 AM UK time). RacingNews365 will cover the event extensively, including a live blog and streaming options so fans won’t miss this “Max Verstappen feast of motorsport”. This event promises to be one of the most exciting highlights of the racing season, as a Formula 1 legend confronts one of the greatest challenges of his career. Will Max “shock everyone” as Coronel predicts, or will the Nordschleife prove its ultimate unforgiving nature? The answer will come very soon.