Indian Racing Star Akshay Gupta Claims Victory at Prestigious Nürburgring Endurance Event
In a remarkable display of skill and perseverance, Indian racing driver Akshay Gupta has clinched victory in the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS). Gupta secured first place in the AM sub-class of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring (Cup3), while achieving an impressive 43rd overall finish out of 132 starters in one of the world's most fiercely competitive endurance racing grids.
Team Effort and Strategic Mastery Lead to Success
Competing in the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Cup3) under car #949, Gupta shared driving duties with two talented German drivers: 19-year-old Darian Donkel and 24-year-old Aaron Wenisch. This race marked Gupta's debut in the Porsche GT4 category, adding an extra layer of challenge to his performance.
The team's journey to victory was a testament to strategic excellence:
- Qualifying in 12th position within the Cup3 class (which featured 17 entries) for the grueling 4-hour race
- Climbing to 8th position by the end of the opening stint, expertly driven by Donkel
- Advancing one more position to 7th during Wenisch's stint
- Gupta bringing the car home with a commanding 1 minute 53 second lead over the second-place car in the AM category
Overcoming Early Season Challenges
This victory represents a significant bounce-back for Gupta and his team after a disrupted start to the racing season. The first NLS round was cancelled due to heavy snowfall, denying all teams valuable track time and disrupting race rhythm. Gupta's ability to overcome this setback and deliver a winning performance demonstrates remarkable resilience and preparation.
Dramatic Race Developments and Fellow Indian Competitor
The race featured dramatic developments at the front of the field, where Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen initially crossed the line in first place overall, only to be subsequently disqualified, which reshuffled the final classification.
Fellow Indian driver Arjun Maini also competed in the event, participating in the highly competitive SP9-PRO (GT3) class. Maini qualified 12th in class and finished 11th, continuing his strong presence in top-tier endurance racing and showcasing the growing talent pool of Indian drivers on international circuits.
Gupta's Perspective on the Victory and Future Goals
"This is my first race in a Porsche GT4," Gupta explained. "The car is completely different in terms of driving dynamics to what I am used to for the past two years. This is a mid-engined RWD car versus a front-engined FWD that I drove earlier. It also has an additional 145hp and weighs less. So, it is a lot to get used to in a short span but I am loving every minute of it."
Regarding his team's achievement and future ambitions, Gupta added: "We are happy with the first place in the AM category and ideally want to win the AM or the ProAM championship this year! That's the goal for 2026 and this win reassures us that that is well in sight. Not to get carried away here because we still have a lot of work to do to improve our lap times. We have 3 weeks until the next race to get better."
Building Momentum in Porsche GT4 Transition
With this result, Gupta continues to build momentum in his transition into Porsche GT4 machinery, following multiple podiums and race wins in previous NLS seasons across production-based classes. The Cup3 category, part of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring, remains one of the most competitive grids in the championship, making this early-season victory a particularly strong statement of intent.
About the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS)
The Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) represents an organization of motorsport clubs, each hosting one event of a ten-race endurance series held on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. Participants range from amateur racers in lightly modified road cars to professional factory teams fielding sophisticated GT3 machinery. The series was formerly known as VLN (Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring) and was founded in 1977. Each event is conducted as a one-day race on Saturdays, testing both driver skill and vehicle endurance.
About the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring
The Porsche Endurance Trophy Nürburgring is a Porsche-only championship within the broader NLS series, managed by Manthey & Porsche Motorsport. This specialized competition showcases the capabilities of Porsche vehicles and drivers in demanding endurance conditions.
About Akshay Gupta: Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Excellence
Akshay Gupta represents a remarkable story of determination and success across multiple fields. Born with clubfoot, he began his racing career in 2010 and has overcome both physical and financial challenges to achieve success. Beyond motorsports, Gupta is a tech entrepreneur who founded Scouto, a connected car technology startup that was acquired by Spinny in 2021. He currently competes in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, inspiring a new generation of Indian drivers with his passion for racing and his demonstrated ability to excel against significant odds.
