The 52. Belmot Oldtimer Grand Prix 1-3 August 2025 ^Featured

Written by Guus Docen

The 52nd edition of the Belmot Oldtimer Grand Prix was held during the first weekend of August at the Nürburgring. Over 400 historic racing cars competed against each other in numerous series – including classics such as the Masters Racing Legends of Formula 1 (1966-1985), Group C, Historic Grand Prix Cars, the legendary touring cars from the “Golden Era” and the STW Cup, Formula 2 and 3 racing cars. Pre-war vehicles from the Vintage Sports Car Trophy could also be experienced up close in the historic paddock. On the Saturday-evening the one-hour race of two-seater racing sports cars and GTs up to 1965 took place. Weather conditions were better than expected, just Saterday the weather conditions changed constantly, sunny, cloudy and some heavy showers in the afternoon and during the evening.

This year, the auction house Classicbid presented itself with an own exhibition stand on the Ring Boulevard. Visitors and participants could inspect the approximately 100 selected vehicles – including classic cars, modern classics, and rare collectibles. Two live auctions followed on Saturday and Sunday. Also new this year were post-war racing motorcycles spanning six decades of motorsport history. Historic motorcycles from BMW, Gilera, Moto Guzzi ,Yamaha, Ducati, NSU, and other renowned manufacturers drove there demonstration run on Saturday and Sunday .
Two-seater Sports Cars and GTs
Almost as long the Oldtimer Grand Prix exists an evening-race for two-seater sports cars and GTs takes place. This year 36 cars were on the entry list. From Danmark the team Palle Birkelund Pedersen and Alexander Weiss proved again that a small lightweight car can beat much more powerful cars. The Danish duo qualified themselves on pole position in the Ginetta G4 R followed by the Elva MK VII S driven by experienced driver Will Nuthall. Also in the one-hour race the dark green Ginetta was driven in a superb way beating the Austin Healey’s, Jaguars, Porsches and Maserati’s. The Danish duo crossed the finish line first followed by Carl-Friedrich and Alexander Kolb (Austin Healey 3000) and Andreas and Michael Große-Entrup (Austin Healey 3000).
In the second race on Sunday Pedersen started the race again from pole position but Michael Gans (Lotus 15) was om his heals for many laps and finally could pass the Ginetta. After the pitstop and drivers change Alexander Weiss was able to take the lead again but in lap 25 the rear suspension of the Ginetta got damaged and Michael Gans took the lead again but finally it was Oliver Hartmann in the Elva MK VIII who won the race.
Historic Grand Prix Cars
Only the front-engined cars of the Historic Grand Prix Car Association had there two races at the Nürburgring. During qualification the Ferrari 246 Dino driven by Richard Wilson was just 0.6 seconds faster than Joaquin Folch in a Lotus 16. Third on the grid was John Spiers in the Maserati 250F. The latter won the first race beating Richard Wilson’s Ferrari by just 0.4 seconds. Third position was for Eddie McGuire in the Scarab. Joaquin Folch finished fifth behind the Lister Jaguar Monzapolis (Rod Jolley). Joaquim Folch took revenge in the second race on Sunday as he beat the Italian cars by 7.5 seconds (Richard Wilson–Ferrari) and 35 seconds (John Spiers-Maserati).
The Historic Championship ’65 and ‘81
The Historic Championship ’65 is intended for GTs and touring cars up to 1965. Thirty-nine cars were entered for two races. The first race was won by Georg and Björn Griesemann in a Ford GT40 followed 19.6 seconds later by Shelby Cobra 289 (Alexander Kolb). The next race on Sunday the Griesemann GT40 again was unbeatable. This time Valentin Schumann’s Elva Mk.7S finished second.
The Historic Championship ’81 had more participants as fifty-five cars drove their qualification on Friday. Again a Ford GT40 (Luco Sanchez/Michael Funke) was on pole position followed by a Lola T212 driven by the team Goncalo Gomes and James Claridge. A single ninety-minute race was held on Saturday afternoon during which a shower fell down. It was the Porsche 911 RSR (Björn and Georg Griesemann) which won the race followed by the Ford GT40 (Sanchez/Funke) and the Lola T212.
Masters Formula One and ADAC Graf Berge von Trips Pokal
After a six-year absence, the Masters Formula One Racing Legends was present again at this event with twenty-one cars. From pole position Mike Cantillon (Williams FW07C) won both races. Second in race one was Jamie Constable (Tyrrell 011) and in race two Werner d’Ansembourg (Williams FW07C) finished second.
Another single seater race series was the so-called ADAC Graf Berge von Trips Pokal for Formula 3 cars from 1985 until 1992, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Atlantic and Sports 2000. Of all classes Alexander Weiss from Denmark drove the ex-Giancarlo Fisichella Ralt RT35 to pole position and won both races.
Historic Championship CanAm & Sportscars
Just fourteen cars were entered for the Historic Championship CanAm & Sportscars, of which just three CanAm cars, rather disappointing. Most impressive was the 2 litre 4-cylinder Lola T298 driven by Sylvio Kalb who won the race on Saturday. On Sunday there were just nine cars on the starting grid of which the Porsche 962 driven by Klaus Abbelen won the race.
DRM (German Racing Championship)
The German Racing Championship, also known as the DRM, was the most important motor racing series in Germany from 1972 to 1985. From 1977, touring cars were registered according to FIA Group 5 rules, which were significantly more heavily modified with wide bodies and spoilers and were usually equipped with turbo engines that had to have a displacement 1.4 times smaller. Since 2005, the Oldtimer Grand Prix has honored these spectacular cars with their own raceseries as part of the event.
Nowadays the cars are divided into three divisions. Up to Two liters with cars like the Opel Kadett GT/E, Opel Manta Ford Escort RS1600. The second division is called the DRM Classic with cars like the BMW 3.5 CSL, BMW 635 Group 5, De Tomaso Pantera, Ford Capri 3.0, modified Opel Kadetts and Manta’s. The third division are the heavily modified cars like the Porsche 935 K3, Porsche 911 RSR Group 5, BMW M1 Group 5, the Ford Capri Turbo and BMW 2002 Group 5. This year the number of participants in the DRM was lower than in previous years. Fortunately there were three Ford Capri Turbo group 5s which had the fastest qualification. In the first race on Saturday, Stefan Mücke drove his Zakspeed Capri to victory followed by Mike Stursberg in the other Capri Turbo. Ronny Scheer couldn’t start in this race as the Capri Turbo suffered gearbox problems. A new gearbox solved all problems for the second race on Sunday and Scheer won the race followed by Georg Griesmann ( Porsche 911 RSR). Seventy-eight year-old Peter Mücke (father of Stefan) finished third.
Touring Cars Golden Era
Since its debut in 2016 the "Tourenwagen Golden Era" (TWGA) has been bringing smiles to the faces of the audience and participants. The original idea was to bring DTM and STW cars from the 1980s and 1990s back to the racetrack so everyone can experience them.
A good 40 starters in the "Golden Era" field represented everything that made touring car fans' hearts beat faster. Audi V8 quattro, BMW M3 E30 DTM, Ford Sierra RS500, Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo II, Opel Vectra STW and Ford Mondeo STW, they were all there for two races of 25 minutes. In both races the Audi 200 M86 driven by former WTCC driver Altfrid Heger was unbeatable.
The two-liter vehicles had their own special races under the race title "Iconic Two Liters – STW Revival" but sadly there were just 10 cars on the grid. Rene Aeberhardt won race in a Opel Vectra STW. The second race was won by Markus Reich in the completely white Audi A4 Quattro STW.
Vintage Sports Car Trophy
The oldest cars of this event drove the track without any competitive ambitients. There were about thirty cars gathered in the historic paddock of the legendary Nordschleife. Six Bentley’s, two Lagonda’s, three Alfa Romeo’s 8C, a Railton, Lancester, Wolseley, Riley, Rover, Invicta, MG etc. There was also the possibility for the owners to drive their treasure for an hour on the Nordschleife.
The event attracted 39,000 spectators who enjoyed a diverse field of competitors participating in competitive and entertaining races. Not only for racing fans the Belmot Oldtimer Grand Prix is a true paradise, also for classic car enthusiasts, and car spotters there's always plenty to see, both on and off the event grounds. Along the boulevard, a constant stream of unique cars comes and goes. Various clubs gather in the parking lots surrounding the event, from Caterham to BMW, from Morgan to Porsche. Reason enough to look forward to next year, especially as the date for the 53rd edition in 2026 has already been set: it will take place from August 7 to 9, 2026. Pictures by Guus Docen