When Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing arrived at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife for the 57th ADAC Barbarossapreis—the ninth round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie (NLS)—they brought ambition, depth, and an unmistakably bold presence. With four cars competing across three fiercely contested classes, the team demonstrated both scale and commitment. And if one race weekend weren’t challenging enough, the same group returned to the circuit the following day for the Nürburgring Circuit Challenge, matching Saturday’s intensity with fresh determination.
Defending a Lead, Advancing a Mission
Among the highlights was Janina Schall, whose composed and competitive drive in the BMW M4 GT4 of the “Girls Only – Ready to Rock the Green Hell” program proved decisive. Setting a rapid 8:42.414 fastest lap and securing 5th in class, Schall successfully defended her lead in the NLS Ladies Trophy—an achievement that speaks to her consistency, speed and mental resilience on one of the world’s toughest tracks.
The weekend also marked the debut of the “Girls Only Talent Pool”, featuring emerging drivers Elena Egger, Carmen Kraav and Julia Ponkratz. Despite adversity—including a spin and barrier contact at the high‑speed Schwedenkreuz—the trio completed the race and finished 9th in class. Their sister BMW M240i, piloted by Lutz Horst, Ingo Horst and Emil Christian Gjerdrum, crossed the line in 10th. Meanwhile, Jan Ullrich, Thomas Ehrhardt and Niklas Ehrhardt delivered a strong run to secure 5th in the highly competitive BMW M240i field.
Team principal Matthias Möller summed up the significance of the weekend:
“Our girls delivered another strong performance, allowing Janina to defend her lead in the women’s standings. The premiere of the ‘Girls Only Talent Pool’ was also a complete success. Two of the three drivers had little prior experience in the Green Hell. Given this background, all three performed very well. With the Talent Pool we have created a solid foundation for further expanding the proportion of women in the NLS.”
His assessment isn’t merely celebratory—it underscores real progress in expanding inclusion and opportunity within motorsport.
Day Two: New Drivers, New Challenges
Sunday’s Nürburgring Circuit Challenge brought a different mix of experience and opportunity. Three Chinese drivers—Chan Chien Shang Sean, Chan Chun Leung Victor and Weiqi Lu—tackled the Nordschleife for the first time, gaining invaluable training on one of the world’s most technical circuits. After 15 laps, Sean and Victor finished 11th and 12th in the RL2A class, while Lu completed 13 laps but fell short of classification.
On the other side of the garage, the talented Egger paired with Marian Möller to take an impressive 4th in the Cup 2 category. Across the board, Sunday served as a showcase of Giti’s commitment to developing international driver talent and using the Nordschleife as an uncompromising training platform.
Why the Nordschleife Matters
The Nürburgring Nordschleife—aptly nicknamed the “Green Hell”—is among the most demanding motorsport venues on the planet. Its 20+ kilometers of blind crests, extreme elevation changes, and ever‑shifting weather conditions make it a proving ground for drivers, teams and technologies alike. To perform well here is to demonstrate excellence not just in speed, but in precision, strategy, and endurance.
For a tyre manufacturer, the challenge is even greater. Nordschleife racing pushes tyres to their absolute limits, providing irreplaceable insights into durability, heat management, grip and performance under stress.
The Motorsport Strategy Behind the Effort
Giti Tire’s broader motorsport programme is anchored in real-world testing and continuous development. As outlined in the brand’s motorsports overview, racing offers an important opportunity to evaluate tyre performance under extreme conditions—data that ultimately benefits everyday drivers.
On its Motorsports Technology platforms, Giti describes how engineers and technical specialists use each race weekend to collect, analyse and refine tyre data. These insights flow back into product development, accelerating advancements in both competition and consumer tyre lines.
The “Girls Only Racing Team”, launched in 2019, stands as one of Giti’s most progressive initiatives. The all-female squad—nicknamed Giti’s Angels—has already celebrated international success, proving that elite performance transcends gender. With the addition of the Girls Only Talent Pool, Giti is expanding its pathway for new female talent while reinforcing the team’s competitive ambitions.
Looking Ahead
As the NLS season heads toward its finale at the 1st NLS Sportwarte Trophy on October 11, Giti Tire and WS Racing carry momentum, confidence and a wealth of data from a demanding double‑race weekend. Their dual focus—competitive results on track and long‑term talent development off it—continues to strengthen their position in endurance racing.
Four cars, two events, rising talent and relentless learning: once again, Giti Tire Motorsport has demonstrated that conquering the Green Hell means more than just racing—it means building the future of performance, diversity and innovation in motorsport.
