The stuff dreams are made of: the Nordschleife, the old paddock at the Nürburgring, and the sports prototypes and Group 5 cars of yesteryear. When memories are added to this unique cocktail, something very special emerges, as it was the case from 19 to 21 September 2025 during the 1000 km race.
The fascinating racing cars of the 1960s and 1970s were returning to the Nürburgring Nordschleife. For safety reasons, racing cars and prototypes are no longer allowed to race on the Nordschleife under the DMSB track licence. However, as part of the 1000 km race, their return has been made possible as an untimed experience run for 25 vehicles from this golden era.
With 14 vehicles, the entire range of racing cars from the Zuffenhausen sports car manufacturer was at the start: 904, 906, 908, 910, 917 and Carrera RSR; supplemented by Powered-by-Porsche sports prototypes from KMW and the 914/6 from the ONS relay team founded in 1972 by Herbert Linge, piloted by the then driver Hans Clausecker.
Prominent racing drivers were also behind the wheel: Alfried Heger in the Kremer K1, Klaus Ludwig in the Kremer K2 and Mario Ketterer in the 911 Carrera RSR. One of only 74 Porsche 935s built in 2018 served as a camera car, also professionally driven by Matthias Beckwermert. And there was also a 100 per cent authentic team: Bernd Becker had already driven the 1000 km race in 1972 with his Porsche 910 and second driver Elmar Clever, who brought along his helmet, racing suit and trophy from 53 years ago.
During the revival event, Porsche’s rivals were the powerful McLaren MB 6 with an eight-litre engine, the Lola T 210 and two Lotus sports cars, as well as three vehicles with a history in the 1000 km race and Le Mans: the Nomad, built in England by Bob Curl, and the two Alpine 210 and 220. These vehicles alone were worth the trip to the Ring.
Display vehicles complemented the consistently historical image in the old paddock. Between the race transporters and the original Südwestfunk broadcast van from 1972, the Kremer display with all its models was particularly fascinating: K1, K2, K3 and K4, supplemented by the Porsche 917, which the Cologne-based racing team built for Le Mans in 1981. The twelve-cylinder racing car was driven courageously by Florian Feustel. But the 917 K from the Loh Collection also attracted the attention of the numerous spectators.
The ADAC 1000 km race is organised and run by Henning Meyersrenken and Stefan Eckhardt. The new focus topic was organised by Tobias Aichele from the PR and event agency Solitude GmbH. The experienced team offered participants and spectators one highlight after another: the pre-grid on the start-finish straight on Friday, followed by the experience on the Grand Prix circuit; the legendary drive on the Nordschleife on Saturday, followed by the public pit lane walk, where the sports prototypes were lined up at the front of the start-finish straight and hundreds of fans flocked to see them.
Another very special item on the programme was lunch at a long table exclusively for participants and contemporary witnesses of Jochen Mass in the old paddock, followed by an autograph session.
In honour of the racing driver, who died on 4 May 2025 at the age of 78, his sports comrades Kurt Ahrens, Ecki Schimpf and Roland Asch also joined in. Legendary commentator Rainer Braun, racing doctor Dr Karl Schuster and Formula 1 photographer Daniel Reinhard also took the opportunity to remember Jochen among the circle of contemporary witnesses. A portrait of the versatile driver from his younger years was displayed on a flag above the broadcast van. It was as if he had been there. Incidentally, the highlights of the event were broadcast via livestreaming.
And please make a note: the next 1000 km race will take place from 18 to 20 September 2026.
