Why not 20 years earlier?

Timo Scheider and Timo Glock together at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring: The prominent meeting of the two former DTM drivers at the Eifel classic has become a reality in 2024. Scheider and Glock will share the #145 BMW M4 GT3 from Cerny Motorsport with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Peter Cate at the 52nd edition of the endurance race.

“It was a long dream at first. For many years we have said: ‘We have to race together at some point’,” said Timo Scheider on the Saturday of the 24-hour race. The two racing veterans have known each other for many years from their time together at Opel, when Scheider competed for the Rüsselsheim-based company in the DTM and Glock shook up Formula 3 as an Opel junior. Later in the DTM, Glock started for BMW, while the two-time champion Scheider competed for Audi. The 2008 and 2009 DTM champion later also switched to the Munich-based company, but did not compete in the DTM.

Glock makes debut at 24-hour race

Scheider is the much more experienced of the two drivers on the Nordschleife. The 45-year-old celebrated overall victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2003 in an Opel Astra V8 Coupe. Last year, Scheider returned to the Eifel classic and drove a legendary Audi R8 LMS GT3 together with Martin Tomczyk and Mike Rockenfeller for Audi Sport’s 40th anniversary.

Glock, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the endurance classic on the Nordschleife at 42 years old – and was extremely enthusiastic after his first stint in the race: “I wonder why I waited over 20 years to start here. I’ve had a big smile on my face since Wednesday, the fans are incredible! I’ve rarely experienced such an atmosphere.”

Nürburgring project realized in just eight weeks

In the past, one of the obstacles to this was Glock’s lack of a Nordschleife permit. But even with the acquisition of the ‘Nordschleife driver’s license’, the project was not an easy undertaking. The time frame in particular posed a challenge. “We got it up and running in just eight weeks,” revealed Glock.

The first talks took place eight weeks ago in Hockenheim with Florian Sternkopf from Cerny Motorsport. “He said: ‘We have a car and a team, now we just need the money’,” said Glock, who was extremely satisfied with the team around Henry Cerny. “We had one test day here, zero preparation. So I am extremely proud of the whole team and super happy that I have finally managed to sit in a car with Timo Scheider after 15 years.”

Nervous Glock masters Nürburgring challenge

A difficult undertaking, especially for ‘rookie’ Glock. Especially since the former Formula 1 driver had to cope with the difficult conditions on the Nordschleife as the starting driver. “I drove a lap in the rain on Thursday and then adjusting to it wasn’t easy,” said Glock. “To actually read it: Where are the dry spots? Where are the difficult spots? Where is the oil and so on and so forth? That was really an issue!”

According to Scheider, Glock was also nervous, despite his long career as a racing driver: “You have to say he was particularly nervous, but he’s a professional and has done well so far.” After the nervousness had passed, Glock was left with joy. “I tried to find a rhythm for myself in terms of traffic, because this is really the first time I’ve been in traffic with the car at racing pace,” said Glock. “It was fun and the whole experience over the weekend was a real highlight.”

Glock and Scheider to win their class in their debut as teammates?

But Glock was not the only one to show Eifel classics. Timo Scheider’s enthusiasm has not waned after his twelfth participation. “There is nothing comparable in this world. I have been involved in motorsports here for many years, have seen a lot, driven a lot. But I have to say quite clearly that the Nordschleife, the Eifel and this event have their own rules, their own principles. And that is why it is something very, very special every year and that is why I am still here,” enthused Scheider.