- Motul lubricants pass world’s toughest endurance test at 24-hour Nürburgring race
- Frikadelli Racing Team powered by Motul claimed overall victory out of 130+ cars
- Versatility of Motul’s wide product range exhibited through triumphs across various classes
One of the world’s most challenging and daunting endurance races, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring returned for its 51st edition on the 20th of May 2023 at the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife in the heart of Germany. Appropriately nicknamed “The Green Hell”, the 25 km perilous circuit with 73 technical corners, presents the ultimate test for man and machine. Among the 130+ cars that entered this annual spectacle of endurance racing, there were several teams across various classes backed by Motul. It was a dominant show for the Motul-powered local Frikadelli Racing Team, which proved to be an unstoppable force and claimed overall victory after 24 hours of non-stop racing action, drama, strategy calls and a record-breaking distance. International teams joined the party with Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand claiming a 1-2 class finish and Subaru Tecnica International finishing runners-up in its class. For Motul, this victory is a testament to the quality and performance of its lubricants, being pushed to the limit at the toughest racing challenge in the world.
The 2023 24 Hours of Nürburgring is a special one for Motul, with a supported local team, Frikadelli Racing Team taking its first-ever victory. The win in the highest and fastest SP9 class, with GT3 cars, came as a result of a strong start and a flawless performance by the quartet of highly talented drivers in Earl Bamber, Nicky Catsburg, Felipe Fernández Laser and David Pittard. The team was able to run its brand new #30 Ferarri 296 GT3 in the lead for the majority of the twice round-the-clock enduro thanks to the reliability imparted by Motul which kept the V6 engine pushing to its limit for the entire duration. Motul also provides integral protection for the gearbox and brakes which are monumental to the car’s performance as it covered a record race distance of 162 laps – more than 4000 km in the span of 24 hours. The success of the Frikadelli Racing Team at this prestigious event is yet another accolade that comes as a result of Motul’s commitment to excellence in high-endurance racing.
Returning SP3 champions Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand returned to the Nordschleife once again this year with the #119 and #120 Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport cars. The Motul-backed Asian entry has displayed resilience and determination to achieve the incredible feat of being crowned class champions for 4 years in a row after they secured a 1-2 finish. The team has been a close partner for Motul and it continues to showcase the performance the lubricants provide as the winning car completed yet another record distance of 126 laps and claimed class honours. In the SP4T class, Subaru Tecnica International finished as the runner-up in its new #114 Subaru WRX STI GT N24. Both teams rely on Motul 300V for supreme engine performance during the gruelling 24-hour classic and MoCool to keep the temperatures favourable.
Motul’s unwavering commitment to providing the best quality of lubrication and car care products has been reiterated time and again through the success of championship-winning teams all over the world. However, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is a special triumph for the brand, which comes with the bragging rights of being able to conquer the Green Hell. It is a stellar display of the versatility of Motul products, which have been adapted to be compatible with various engine types. Incidentally, the products used by racing teams on the track are also available for direct purchase by Motul’s discerning customers through its expansive dealership network across Asia Pacific.
Arto-Suttiphong Samitchart | Director and Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand “This is proof of success and a worthwhile victory for us. 10 full years from the first day we decided to join the competition, until today, we have never stopped learning. And bring all the experience in this field to improve and make our cars better every year Defending the championship is not easy because every team that has ever played in this field has always brought their own experience to improve, causing the team to compete more with themselves. for better success Today, I am proud that we were able to maintain the championship for the 4th year and still make Thailand famous in the world once again. Thanks to the encouragement from the fans. And thank you to the team, racers, and support teams who cooperate and dedicate their best to this race.”
Tooru Yokota | Senior General Manager, Subaru Tecnica International “We believe that participating in the Nürburgring 24-hour race is proof of pushing the limits of performance and challenging ourselves to improve overall. To successfully compete in and win the world’s most demanding 24-hour race, it is essential to have the full support of all partner companies. We are proud to have Motul as a partner for this gruelling race since their new 300V lubricant provides high reliability and maintains engine performance until the end. We are also grateful for Motul’s expertise which has been infused in our ‘STI Performance Oil’ that caters daily to Subaru users since it helps improve engine performance and reliability.”
