Akshay Gupta Secures 2nd Place at Nurburgring Endurance Race

Akshay Gupta, the Indian endurance racer and tech entrepreneur, made a triumphant return to the podium with a 2nd place finish at the Nurburgring endurance race. Competing in the challenging KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen, Gupta showcased his skills alongside teammates Alex Schneider and Jarno D'Hauw. Despite facing tough conditions, including reduced qualifying time and a shortened race, the team climbed from 6th on the grid to secure a podium spot. This achievement marks Gupta's third major endurance podium in 2025, following earlier successes in Dubai and Nurburgring. Read on to discover more about his inspiring journey and the challenges faced during the race.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 19, 2025, 03:25 IST

Akshay Gupta's Impressive Performance at Nurburgring

Nurburg [Germany], August 19: Indian endurance racer and tech entrepreneur Akshay Gupta made a remarkable return to the podium by finishing 2nd in the VT2-F 4WD class during the KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen, which is the sixth round of the ADAC Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).

Competing in the Hyundai i30N for STENLE Marketing Team Mertens Motorsport, alongside German driver Alex Schneider and Belgian racer Jarno D'Hauw, Gupta showcased a strong comeback in one of the most challenging endurance racing series globally, as reported by his media team.

The race weekend presented unique challenges, with heavy fog leading to a reduction in qualifying time from 90 minutes to just 40. Additionally, the six-hour race was shortened to 4 hours and 30 minutes. Despite these hurdles, the team advanced from 6th position on the grid in a competitive 11-car class.

Gupta, the sole Indian among 309 drivers from 27 countries, started the race and quickly moved into podium contention during his initial stint. His Belgian teammate D'Hauw further propelled the car to 2nd place during a double stint. Schneider faced health issues, which prevented him from completing the final stint, prompting Gupta to re-enter the car for a crucial second stint. Schneider then took over for the last three laps, ensuring a 2nd place finish.

Gupta expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating, “This result is a much-needed turnaround for us this season. After a series of DNFs and setbacks earlier in the year, standing on the podium again is a huge relief and a big step in boosting the team morale. We basically did 28 qualifying laps. The competition in our class keeps getting tougher and tougher, so it is getting more rewarding to race here. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this race.”

This podium finish marks Gupta's third significant endurance podium in 2025, following his achievements at the Dubai 24 Hours (TCE class) and the Nurburgring 24 Hours (SP3T class) earlier this year with AsBest Racing.