Four days removed, I still hear the cars screaming by, the engines in the Porsches and Lamborghinis and BMWs wailing a high-pitched contrast to the uhn-tz uhn-tz uhn-tz techno bass backbeat blaring from all over the track. I’ve been to more than a dozen endurance races, mostly in the States and once at Le Mans, so when Volkswagen invited me out to this year’s Nürburgring 24, I figured I knew what I was in for. Turns out I had the rhythm and the melody right, but it all combined to create a very different racing song.

The near-mythical status the Nürburgring and its 24-hour race enjoy has only increased in the 20-plus years since Gran Turismo launched on PlayStation. Over the same period, it’s become old hat for automakers from all over the world to regularly one-up each other for production-car records on the Nordschleife. The race itself reigns as Germany’s premier motorsports event, and this year’s race touted a record-breaking 280,000-person crowd. Still, it took being on the ground for me to understand what sets this race apart.

Scale Sets the Tone

The track’s sheer magnitude—conceptually obvious for anyone who’s ever watched or sim-driven a lap—becomes readily apparent once you start hoofing it. I’m a regular hiker and spend most of my time as a spectator at various races, on my feet, looking for different viewing/shooting angles. But the 15.7-mile configuration used for the 24 requires a good bit of strategic planning if you want to hit the best spots. Or, if you’re like me, a couple of granola bars and bottles of water, plus a willingness to simply take what the day brings.

That enormity drives the weekend’s atmosphere and was, to me at least, the single biggest differentiator between this race and those at Daytona and Le Mans. One hundred and forty-one cars entered this year’s race—for context, this year, 61 cars entered the Daytona 24 and 62 took to the Circuit de la Sarthe—but that astronomical field has much more tarmac to cover at the ‘Ring. As a result, there’s plenty of space, sometimes minutes, between the action. No surprise, then, that fans have created such a contagiously happy dance-party-in-a-forest-while-watching-race-cars vibe.

Relatable Production-based Classes

As cool as bleeding-edge F1 and WEC/IMSA prototype tech and speed are, it’s tough to beat a good ol’ fashioned sports car race with recognizable production-based cars. SP 9, which is the top tier of the 22(!) classes, enables GT3-level preparation and includes models from Porsche, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Aston Martin, BMW, and Audi.

Volkswagen, our hosts for the event, partnered with Max Kruse Racing to field three GTIs in the AT3 class (which utilizes an alternate fuel mixture of 60% renewable content), and qualified on pole with a Golf GTI Clubsport 24h. Benny Leuchter, who recently set the fastest production Volkswagen lap ever at the ‘Ring in the new GTI Edition 50, secured the class victory with co-drivers Nico Otto, Heiko Hammel, and Johan Kristoffersen. Also of note in AT3 was Chinese automaker Lynk & Co’s third-place finish in its first-ever attempt in the race.

Hyundai dominated the TCR class, finishing one-two, the second of which featuring former Indy Car driver Robert Wickens competing in a hand-control-prepped Elantra N. Plenty, if not most, of the cars in this year’s race were turbocharged, but the enthusiastic pewpewpuhpew from the Elantras’ blow-off valves ensured everyone knew exactly when the Korean manufacturer’s cars were sailing by.

The classes even accommodated a Dacia Logan, of all things, plus a VW Beetle RSR and an E36 BMW, so participants weren’t limited to the latest metal. As someone who’s raced a Miata in the same run group as current Trans Am cars, I can only imagine how much time the Dacia drivers spent looking in their mirrors.

Pro/Am Brings the Fun

There’s only so much track width between the ‘Ring’s walls, and from the first lap it’s readily apparent who’s comfortable using every available inch and who’s working hard just to keep their car in one piece. That’s not a criticism; sports car racing has mixed gentlemen drivers with pros since the very beginning. That one of the most challenging races in the world welcomes amateur drivers into its ranks adds a layer of complexity and gives hope to club racers everywhere.

That said, there were plenty of recognizable names in the field. Misha Charoudin, a ‘Ring regular and YouTuber known for doing laps in everything from a ’60s Mustang to the latest supercars, finished second in class in a BMW M4 GT4 EVO, while IMSA and WEC hot shoes Kevin Estre (fresh off a second-place finish at Le Mans in a Penske Porsche 963 the week prior) and Augusto Farfus battled it out for the top spot overall.

Battle at the Top of the Ticket

Speaking of Estre and Farfus, Sunday morning saw the race come down to a duel between their two teams. Estre and his codrivers had dominated the race in the “Grello” green-and-yellow Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R, and Estre was in the lead when he came into contact with an Aston Martin, flipping it onto its roof (you can see video of the incident here). Officials handed down a 100-second penalty to the Manthey car, which opted to wait till the end of the race for the time to be added on rather than serve the time in the pits. Farfus and the Rowe Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO (featured in the photo atop this story) finished 22 seconds behind the Grello Porsche at the flag but took the win after the penalty time was assessed.

The Rowe BMW had its share of incidents, however, and I happened to be positioned just ahead of the corner where driver Kelvin van der Linde spun the Sorg Rennsport Porsche Cayman GT4 car of Peter Cate.

As the two passed, I could see the Rowe BMW well-ensconced in the Cayman’s rear. Just as I was pivoting from the above shot for the next set of cars to come into view, the familiar scrubbing sound of rubber on asphalt—followed by the crunch of metal, carbon, and plastic into Armco—cascaded over me. The BMW had punted the Porsche. The ‘Ring’s extra-long Golden Hour (it doesn’t get dark till after 11:00 p.m.), combined with the dust kicked up from the Cayman’s spin, made for a hairy corner for the subsequent cars racing by. The Rowe car was assessed a 30-second penalty.

Though it still looked like a summer evening, it was getting late, so after bebopping my way past a few more corners and campsites with the now-familiar uhn-tz uhn-tz backdrop, I decided it was time for the nearly two-hour walk back to Volkswagen’s hospitality area. Through the farm fields and along the dirt paths in the heavily wooded areas alongside the track, I couldn’t help but smile and tap my fingers on my water bottle. Every 24-hour race is unique, but the Nürburgring 24 truly dances to the beat of its own 808 drum.

Introduction

Do you like speed and want to make a career out of it? Why not consider being one of the NASCAR professionals? A NASCAR professional is not just about driving. There are also other job roles available.

However, in this article, we will be primarily discussing how to be a professional driver in NASCAR or any other professional motorsports. However, before we delve into the step-by-step approach, we must first understand the fundamentals.

Follow on to learn what it means to be a professional driver, the skills they need, the steps you need to follow, etc.

Types Of Professional Driving?

Being a professional racecar driver is not just about being able to drive fast; it’s about moving fast safely. Motorsport is not just about speeding. It is about control. It is about how quickly you can make a turn and so on. Therefore, just because you can drive fast, it does not mean that you are cut out for the track.

Racing and the ability to drive fast are huge responsibilities. If you can shoulder that, it is well and good. If not, consider connecting with a criminal defense attorney and a personal injury lawyer near you in Houston, as you may be involved in a car wreck or be a victim of one.

Each form of motorsport demands a different set of skills. Here are some of the various forms of professional driving that you might come across:

• Open Wheel: Open-wheel driving involves a car without a roof. Indycars, as well as Formula One, qualify as open-wheel racing.
• Sports: These cars are often known as Grand Tourers or sports prototype racing cars. These races are frequently held in closed-circuit arenas.
• Touring: These are factory cars that have been modified to take on breakneck speeds. These races last for 24 hours and are often equated to marathons.
• Rally: This is a two-man job. In rallies, the driver and his co-passenger go through several stages of a race. Rally cars do not battle head-on; instead, they compete by comparing their times.
• Drag: These races are all about being the fastest. These races take place on a half-mile straight track, where two modified cars compete to finish the stretch in the quickest time.

What Skills Should NASCAR Drivers Have?

NASCAR falls under the GT or Sports car racing format. In this format, the driver is expected to complete a circuit in laps while battling opponents head-on. Although the format is primarily about speed, it has evolved into much more than that. Here are the skill sets a NASCAR driver needs to perform.

Driving Ability

This is obvious, but over here we are talking about racecar driving. NASCAR driving is not your average commuting driving. It takes years of practice and g-force training to qualify to be behind the wheel.

A NASCAR driver’s job is very different from a dragster’s job. A dragster is not concerned with turning, but raw speed. A NASCAR driver must manage speed, turns, and opponents simultaneously.

Mechanics

As a professional NASCAR driver, you need to be familiar with the machine you are entrusted with. As a high-octane driver, you cannot always rely on a pit crew to understand what is going on.

Even though a pit crew is primarily responsible for keeping a car running optimally, as a driver, you must develop a sense of what works for your vehicle and what does not. This is basic knowledge that every driver must have.

Heightened Fitness & Reflexes

A NASCAR driver is not driving a normal car. He or she is wrestling with elements like G-force, other cars, and deadly turns. The overall physical toll of such an experience is humongous, and the body needs to be prepared.

Like the car, your body needs to be finely tuned to handle high speeds. It should be strong enough to go through the whole thing without passing out. Driving a GT is equivalent to being in a fighter jet. Hence, your body needs to be prepared.

Split-Second Decision Making

A racer should have a lower reaction time compared to a commuter driver. According to the data, some drivers exhibit a reaction time of 0.2 to 0.3 seconds, compared to the normal 0.5 seconds.

This is something that requires honing over the years. This is likely one of the most challenging skills to develop. Still, if you want to be a professional racer, you need to work on it to ensure high-end performance.

How To Be A Professional NASCAR Driver

With that, we have reached the final leg of our article. You have the knowledge and the skills, but no idea about the right direction to pick. Here is a small rundown of some of the steps that you need to take to ensure that you are a professional NASCAR driver:

• Develop Basic Skills: The first logical step towards your dream of becoming a racer is to hone your skills. This means training your body and mind to react optimally in a race.
• Join A Club: Once you have some track time under your belt, consider joining a racing club. A racing club will help you with guidance.
• Obtain Vehicle & Equipment: Having a race-capable vehicle along with the right equipment is mandatory to start your professional NASCAR career.
• Obtain a License: To drive legally and safely, you need to have a valid track license. A track license is more advanced than a driver’s license. Consult with your club, and they can assist you.
• Train, Train & Train: To be a professional means you are prepared to take on any challenges that the track might throw at you. For this, you need to train like there is no tomorrow.
• Find Sponsor: You need to find a sponsor who can assist you with the financial aspects.

The Final Thought

In the end, being a racecar driver or a NASCAR driver is about being mad and sane at the same time. It’s about going fast and being the last to take your foot off the pedal. This is a sport of calculated recklessness and guts.

Therefore, if you are still undecided about a career, consider joining the NASCAR legacy. This will eventually put you in the pages of history and let you take on the world on your own terms.

Read the full story on Modern Car Collector

The highly anticipated Peralta S supercar is set to make its exclusive U.S. debut during this year’s Monterey Motorsports Festival, a highlight of Monterey Car Week. Designed by famed Italian design house GFG Style, the one-off vehicle will appear publicly for just one day, marking its only scheduled American showing.

The Peralta S was conceived for Mexican businessman Carlos Peralta and represents the first bespoke commission from GFG Style. Founded by legendary automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro, the firm blends cutting-edge engineering with stylistic references to its influential design legacy.

Built atop the Maserati MC20 platform, the Peralta S retains the MC20’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6 engine, pushing 612 horsepower to the rear wheels in a mid-engine layout. However, its aesthetics depart sharply from its Maserati roots.

The exterior design pays homage to the iconic 1972 Maserati Boomerang concept, also penned by Giugiaro. The Peralta S features a dramatic wedge shape, sharp body lines, and a unique front-hinged canopy that replaces traditional doors. The single sweeping windshield lifts upward for entry, evoking retro-futuristic prototypes of decades past.

“This car is a dialogue between heritage and innovation,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro in a statement ahead of the festival. “It channels the spirit of my father’s pioneering designs while using modern materials and performance capabilities.”

Since its initial unveiling in Mexico earlier this year, the Peralta S has drawn international attention. Its showing at the Monterey Motorsports Festival, which attracts collectors, designers, and automakers from around the globe, will be the only U.S. viewing opportunity.

With Car Week poised to feature world-class debuts and rare collector models, the arrival of the Peralta S adds a bespoke exclamation point to one of the automotive world’s most prestigious celebrations.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter