Ben Doer electrified the Norisring with a blistering performance that stunned rivals and fans, taking his McLaren 720S GT3 Evo to the top of the timesheets on a day where every millisecond counted.
On a tense Friday in Nuremberg, 21-year-old Dore thrust his name into the weekend’s headlines by lapping the 2.162-kilometre street circuit during free practice in just 48.793 seconds, besting the hungry field for every fraction of a second. The performance from the Dore Motorsport driver not only earned him the fastest lap of the day, but also sent a clear message: McLaren is back in the fight, even on tracks where it should struggle.
The Norisring, notorious for its inaccessible walls and bone-chilling bumps, has never been a favorable hunting ground for the British marque. But Dor, full of confidence and focus, reversed this trend. “I felt really comfortable in the car. Compared to the last two years at the Norisring, we have made a lot of progress. The track layout and the asphalt with its many bulges are not particularly suitable for a McLaren, but of course I am hoping for good results. A podium finish would be nice, even if it will be difficult,” admitted Dorr, his eyes clearly set on far worse things than just the glory of practice.
Behind the lines, the fight was brutal. Mercedes-AMG’s Lucas Auer, who is always a threat on street circuits, gave chase hard but ultimately fell behind by 0.151 seconds. Jules Gounon, also driving a Mercedes-AMG, was just 0.024 seconds behind Auer, underscoring the razor-thin margin that separated the top contenders. Nicki Thimm took fourth place in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, while Thierry Vermeulen, representing Ferrari’s hopes, completed the top five – each displaying relentless pace and managing to sneak under the 49-second barrier.
The day’s drama started early, with the morning session giving drivers and engineers a vital chance to tune their machines for the Norisring’s unique, undulating character. The temperature was a mild 20°C, yet the activity was anything but cool. Monaco’s battle-hardened veteran Maro Engel, relishing the challenge, set the pace with a lap of 49.202 seconds. “Driving at the Norisring is always a lot of fun. The track is really good, and it’s even better when you’re at the forefront in practice. I’ve been driving in the DTM for a long time, but a win at the Norisring is still missing from my list,” admitted Engel, adding that years of experience haven’t dimmed his hunger for victory.
As the afternoon wore on, the stakes got higher. Gounon lit up the timing screen by becoming the first to cross the 49-second mark, remaining in top position until Auer made a late-session charge on his 32nd attempt. But it was Dore who delivered the knockout blow, unfazed by the mounting pressure, taking the lead and then shaving a tenth off his time to consolidate his dominance.
On top of that, this seismic shift signals a very unpredictable weekend ahead. Door’s speed throws the form book out the window, especially in a position where McLaren has historically struggled. The established powerhouses—Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Ferrari—have been put on notice. Dore’s hunger for the podium, and perhaps even more, is palpable, while Engel’s quest for a long-awaited Norisring victory keeps the narrative simmering.
With qualifying and the main event approaching, all eyes are on whether Doré can translate his free practice dominance into race-day success, or whether the chasing pack will find the missing tenth they desperately need. One thing is for sure: the Norisring is ready for fireworks, and no one dares look away.
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