The “Green Hell” turns yellow: DUNLOP Motorsport to compete on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife from 2026
The “Green Hell” will be getting a new splash of color in the 2026 season: DUNLOP Motorsport will compete in this year's ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring with a Porsche 911 GT3 R. The brand is thus expanding its involvement on one of the world's most demanding race tracks and sending a clear signal of its commitment to performance and innovation.
This commitment is the result of a strategic realignment within Sumitomo Rubber Industries, or SRI for short. The Japanese tire group acquired the DUNLOP trademark rights in May 2025 and has since positioned DUNLOP as the central brand of its global growth strategy. The aim is to further expand its international presence and strengthen the brand value in the long term.
This strategic focus is now becoming visible in motorsport: DUNLOP Motorsport will be fielding its own Porsche 911 GT3 R in the prestigious ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring and in selected races in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series in 2026.
The project also makes a strong visual statement: the Porsche 911 GT3 R is presented in the iconic DUNLOP colors of yellow and black. The design, created by Gran Turismo developers in Japan, combines high recognizability with tradition. The appearance is completed by the deliberately chosen start number 17 - a reminder of the legendary Porsche Group C prototypes of the 1980s. It bridges the gap between great motorsport history and state-of-the-art GT3 technology.
DUNLOP's history dates back to 1888, when John Boyd Dunlop developed the first pneumatic tire. Competition has been part of the brand's DNA ever since: from rallying to overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and successes in the DTM, DUNLOP has been firmly anchored in international motorsport for decades. The successful motorsport history is now set to continue on the Nordschleife. DUNLOP Motorsport will start the 2026 season with Julien Andlauer, Nico Menzel, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello. All four drivers bring extensive experience with the Porsche 911 GT3 R and on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Porsche factory driver Julien Andlauer is known from the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), among other things, and combines international prototype and GT experience with in-depth Nordschleife expertise. Nico Menzel is considered a proven specialist of the “Green Hell”: The Eifel native knows the characteristics, traffic dynamics, and setup window of the GT3 Porsche on the 25-kilometer layout in detail. Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello have also celebrated overall victories on the Nordschleife and, with their GT experience, are among the consistent top performers in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
With its expanded involvement on the Nordschleife, DUNLOP is using one of the most demanding race tracks in the world as both a development platform and an international showcase. Motorsport is not only a sporting competition, but also an expression of technological expertise, uncompromising performance standards, and global brand strength.