With the Mercedes 500 SEC through the Green Hell: VÖLKEL Racing takes class victory

Three hours at the Nürburgring. 25.378 kilometres per lap. Around 90 corners, 560 metres of elevation change and Eifel weather that can change everything within just a few minutes. What looks sober on the results sheet at the end was an intense first step into a new chapter for VÖLKEL Racing.

On 14 and 15 May 2026, the second round of the German Historic Endurance Championship took place on the big stage of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. Right in the middle of the field: Jörg Sand and Markus Horn in the Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC with starting number 500.

The road to the start: From coupé to race car

Before the 500 SEC rolled onto the Nordschleife in the DHLM field for the first time, the real story began in the workshop. A large Mercedes coupé had to become a historic race car that not only had character, but could also withstand three hours in the Green Hell.

Originally, VÖLKEL Racing had planned to use a Mercedes 500 SLC. However, looking at the regulations, it quickly became clear: With its more modern Group A homologation, the 500 SEC provides the more suitable basis for the DHLM.

Then the detailed work began:

• Conversion from automatic to 6-speed manual gearbox
• Safety cage, seat system and harness system
• Fire extinguishing system and safety fuel tank
• Suspension, wheels and tyres for racing use

The manual gearbox in particular changed the character of the car significantly. More control, more flexibility in the gear ratios, more racing feel. Step by step, a large Mercedes became a vehicle with a real mission on track.

First big stage: Straight into the 24h weekend

The entry could hardly have been bigger. No small test weekend, no quiet approach, but straight into the environment of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. With around 350,000 visitors, a full paddock and the attention surrounding drivers such as Max Verstappen, this weekend was one of the major motorsport highlights of the year. For VÖLKEL Racing, that meant: big stage, tight schedules and plenty of movement on and off the track.

On site, Thomas Peipelmann, Justus Peipelmann, Walter Wunderlich and Robert Thiele supported the team. The atmosphere was a mixture of anticipation, concentration and tension. Everyone knew: The Nordschleife would quickly show where the car really stood.

In qualifying, the goal was therefore not to risk everything. The aim was to bring the Mercedes cleanly into the race and gather the first real feedback under racing conditions. The 500 SEC completed four laps, set a best time of 13:08.048 minutes and started from position 121.

At the same time, a power gap at around 4,500 rpm became apparent. This cost time, especially when accelerating out of corners. Nevertheless, one thing was clear: The car is running. The race can come.

Race start: Rain, traffic and first answers

On Friday, preparation finally became racing. Three hours at the Nürburgring lay ahead of Jörg Sand and Markus Horn. Three hours of traffic, weather, strategy and full concentration.

After about one hour, rain changed the conditions significantly. Jörg Sand came into the pits, the Mercedes was switched to rain tyres and exactly this phase brought new excitement into the race. On the wet track, the SEC suddenly showed what it was capable of. Confidence grew, the laps became safer and Jörg was able to overtake several cars.

Safety car phases after accidents involving other teams also interrupted the rhythm. For VÖLKEL Racing, however, these laps were still valuable. The 500 SEC not only gathered kilometres, but real racing feedback: How does the car react in the rain? Where does the power gap cost the most time? How does the Mercedes behave in dense traffic?

Speed, experience and the setback shortly before the end

With Markus Horn, the team had a driver who has known the Nordschleife for many years. Endurance racing has fascinated him since the mid-1990s. In the VLN, he successfully completed dozens of endurance cup races and ten 24h races. In addition, there were several class victories and a top-30 finish with his son in a Porsche 991 as a purely private team.

This experience helped in particular because the Mercedes visibly learned during the race. Despite the power gap, the SEC became faster. The best lap was 12:16 minutes and therefore significantly below the qualifying time. For the team, this was an important signal: The car can do more, the drivers are gaining confidence and the teamwork is improving.

At times, VÖLKEL Racing was running in the mid-80s positions. According to the team’s assessment, if the last two laps could still have been completed, a result around 84th place would even have been possible.

But in the closing phase of all moments, a technical problem made it impossible to continue. A problem in the area of the timing gear is suspected. The engine no longer produced power and finally shut down. This meant the race ended earlier than planned.

Class victory and clear tasks

Despite the technical problem, VÖLKEL Racing was classified. In the end, the result was 11 completed laps, 109th place overall and the class victory in Class 32.

The most important race facts:

• Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC
• Starting number: 500
• Drivers: Jörg Sand and Markus Horn
• Class: Class 32, FIA Group A1
• Starting position: 121
• Race distance: 3 hours
• Result: 109th overall, 1st place in class
• Fastest lap: 12:16 minutes
• Completed laps: 11

Conclusion: The Green Hell was only the beginning

The first major DHLM outing for VÖLKEL Racing was not a perfect race. But perhaps that was exactly what mattered. Because a new car does not become fast at a desk. It is developed on the track: under pressure, in the rain, in traffic and with problems that only appear when it really counts.

The Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC has shown that the basis is right. It showed speed, convinced in the rain, took a class victory and provided the team with valuable insights. Now the next phase begins: The faults will be fixed, the power gap will be addressed and the Mercedes will be further developed.

The Green Hell has written the first chapter. VÖLKEL Racing is already working on the next one.