Akshay Gupta Joins Sorg Rennsport for Nurburgring Endurance Racing
Akshay Gupta's New Racing Venture
Indian racecar driver Akshay Gupta is set to advance his endurance racing career by teaming up with Sorg Rennsport. He will compete in the Porsche Cayman GT4 during the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the prestigious Nurburgring 24 Hours. The 33-year-old from Ahmedabad will pilot the #949 Porsche Cayman GT4 CS in the Cup3 class, a segment of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nurburgring (PETN), recognized for its fierce competition. Gupta will share the driving responsibilities with 19-year-old German racer Darian Donkel, a former teammate from Mertens Motorsport, and fellow German driver Aaron Wenisch.
Transitioning to a Competitive Class
After spending three seasons in the VT2 production classes with Hyundai and BMW, Gupta is now moving up to the highly competitive Cup3 class. Throughout his previous races, he secured six podium finishes and two victories.
"The last three years in production classes were invaluable for my growth. I aimed to reach certain milestones before progressing in GT racing," Gupta stated. "GT4 cars represent the next logical step, and I’m thrilled to join a strong and experienced team. My teammates are also skilled; I’ve shared the car with Darian and worked alongside Aaron in the pit box in 2023. My goal this year is to win the Pro-AM championship in the PETN," he added.
Understanding the Cup3 Class and Sorg Rennsport
The Cup3 category is part of the Porsche Endurance Trophy Nurburgring, known for attracting large fields and offering highly competitive multi-class endurance racing. All cars in this class are identical, supplied by Porsche, with limited setup adjustments allowed. The opening race on March 14, 2026, will feature 21 entries in the Cup3 class, emphasizing the importance of driver talent in determining race outcomes.
Sorg Rennsport, Gupta's new team, is a well-established name in Porsche endurance racing at the Nurburgring, fielding 10 entries in the NLS. The team boasts over 50 class victories in both the NLS and RCN.
An Elite Racing Season Ahead
The upcoming season will also see Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen competing in the GT3 class with Winward Racing during NLS Round 2 and the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Gupta will once again represent India on the grid, marking his third consecutive season as the only Indian driver participating in the full Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie championship.
2026 Championship Schedule
The NLS championship consists of 10 races, including nine 4-hour races and one 6-hour race, culminating in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Here’s the complete race calendar:
1. March 12-14, 2026: NLS1
2. March 19-21, 2026: NLS2
3. April 29 - May 1, 2026: NLS3
4. April 16-19, 2026: ADAC 24h Qualifiers (NLS4/5)
5. May 13-17, 2026: ADAC Ravenol 24 Hours of Nurburgring
6. June 18-20, 2026: NLS6
7. July 30 - August 1, 2026: NLS7
8. September 10-13, 2026: NLS8 & NLS9
9. October 8-10, 2026: NLS10
The races will be broadcast live on YouTube channels: @VLNOFFICIAL, @Nurburgring-o5h, and @AutoAddictionMedia.