Akshay Gupta continued his impressive rise in international endurance racing by finishing second in the AM class of the Cup3 category at the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
Driving the #949 SRS Team Sorg Rennsport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Gupta and his teammates fought through brutal racing conditions to secure a hard-earned podium finish in one of the toughest endurance races in world motorsport.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours featured a massive 161-car field and attracted global attention this year, especially with Formula One superstar Max Verstappen making his debut in the event.
Rain, crashes and chaos test the team
The race weekend proved extremely demanding from the very beginning. Wet qualifying sessions, changing track conditions and multiple incidents across the circuit created constant challenges for drivers and teams.
Gupta shared the car with Aaron Wenisch, Bjorn Simon and Tommy Graberg as the team competed in the highly competitive Cup3 class featuring 17 entries.
During the 24-hour contest, the team faced punctures, emergency pit stops, suspension damage and even a pressure-filled late-night driver change. Despite the setbacks, Gupta consistently delivered calm and disciplined stints to keep the Porsche in contention.
One of the biggest moments came during the night phase when the team’s car suffered front-left damage after contact with another GT4 machine, forcing lengthy repairs in the pits. However, the mechanics managed to return the car to the track quickly enough to continue the podium fight.
Gupta’s final stint nearly seals dramatic victory
Gupta was entrusted with the crucial final stint in worsening wet conditions. Despite running on slick tyres, the Indian racer launched an aggressive late charge and dramatically reduced the gap to the AM class leaders.
Over the final laps, he gained more than two minutes on the leading car but narrowly missed victory as the team eventually finished second in the AM category and 35th overall.
Speaking after the race, Gupta described it as one of the toughest events of his career and praised the resilience shown by the entire team throughout the chaotic contest.
Rising profile in international endurance racing
The podium result marks another major achievement in Gupta’s growing motorsport journey. Earlier this season, he had already secured a Cup3 AM victory in the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series, underlining his growing confidence in Porsche GT4 machinery.
After spending several seasons racing in production-based categories, Gupta stepped up to the highly competitive Porsche Cup3 class in 2026 and has quickly emerged as one of the promising Indian names in endurance racing.
India’s growing presence in global motorsport
Gupta’s podium finish adds to the increasing presence of Indian racers in international endurance competitions. Competing at the Nürburgring — widely considered one of the most demanding circuits in the world — is itself regarded as a major achievement for drivers.
His strong performance against elite global competition has once again highlighted the growing talent emerging from Indian motorsport on the international stage.
Discussion about this post