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Arjun Maini Outpaces Verstappen in Nurburgring 24 Hours Qualifying

India's Arjun Maini delivered an impressive performance in Qualifying 2 for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, finishing ahead of four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen. Driving for Haupt Racing Team Ford Performance, Maini clocked an 8:11.278 lap in the Ford Mustang GT3, placing fourth overall in the SP9 category. The Indian driver is competing alongside teammates Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher, and Frank Stippler in the endurance classic. Maini expressed satisfaction with the team's progress, noting the strong pace and setup improvements ahead of the main race.

Key Points: Arjun Maini Beats Verstappen in Nurburgring Qualifying

  • Arjun Maini outpaces Max Verstappen in Qualifying 2
  • Maini clocks 8:11.278 lap in Ford Mustang GT3
  • Fourth overall in SP9 category
  • Part of HRT Ford Performance team
  • 2025 marks debut of Mustang GT3 Evo package
3 min read

Arjun Maini outpaces Verstappen in Qualifying 2 at Nurburgring 24 Hours

India's Arjun Maini finishes ahead of four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen in Qualifying 2 for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in a Ford Mustang GT3.

"It's always special to be competitive at the Nurburgring because the level here is incredibly high. - Arjun Maini"

Nurburg, May 15

India's Arjun Maini delivered an impressive performance, driving for the Haupt Racing Team Ford Performance, in Qualifying 2 for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, finishing ahead of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen on the timesheets in one of the most competitive GT3 fields in world motorsport.

Competing in the headline SP9 category, Maini clocked an 8:11.278 lap in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 during the second qualifying session at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The Indian driver ended the session fourth overall in SP9, ahead of Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry, which posted an 8:11.614 lap, according to a release.

The result came in a packed 161-car field at the iconic endurance classic, which features more than 20 classes, one of the most diverse grids in global motorsport. This year's edition also marks the event's largest starting grid in over a decade.

"It's always special to be competitive at the Nurburgring because the level here is incredibly high. The SP9 field is stacked with factory drivers and top teams, so to put together a lap like that feels really satisfying. The car felt strong throughout the session, and we've been making good progress with the setup. There's still work to do before the race, but it's definitely a positive start for us," Arjun Maini commented.

Maini, along with teammates Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher and Frank Stippler, is contesting the Nurburgring 24 Hours with HRT, a team he joined during its transition from Mercedes-AMG machinery to Ford's new Mustang GT3 programme. The Indian racer has been part of Ford's GT3 journey from the outset as a factory driver, with 2025 also marking the debut season of the Mustang GT3 Evo package.

Speaking ahead of the event, Maini highlighted the challenge and excitement of building a new programme with Ford and HRT.

"It's cool because I did it together with them as well. I joined Ford as a factory driver, and it's been good to be on this journey. It's always a risk when you leave such a set system and a car that works in this. But again, for me and for the team, it was quite a cool challenge: to be given the opportunity to run such a cool car around Europe in amazing championships has been special. We were stronger than expected, and I think we're ready to build on that this year," he added.

The Nurburgring 24 Hours now heads into its remaining qualifying session before the twice-around-the-clock endurance race begins this weekend at the legendary Nordschleife, where Maini and HRT Ford Performance will look to convert their strong pace into a standout result against some of the biggest names in global GT racing.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Finally some good news for Indian racing fans! We've been waiting for someone to step up after Narain and Karun. Maini's consistency in GT racing is commendable. But let's not get too carried away—qualifying is one thing, surviving 24 hours at the Ring is another. Still, proud moment! 🏁
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Rohit P
Great drive by Arjun! But let's give credit where it's due—Verstappen was also in a different car setup and probably not pushing 100%. Still, to be ahead of someone like Max on any timesheet is a massive confidence booster. The Mustang GT3 seems to be working well for HRT. Looking forward to the race!
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James A
As a motorsport fan from the US, it's great to see Ford's Mustang GT3 programme already showing promise. Maini's lap was solid—clean and consistent. The Nurburgring 24h is all about strategy and survival though. Let's see if they can keep it together for the full distance. Good luck to the whole HRT crew!
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Kavya N
So happy to see an Indian name at the top in endurance racing! 🇮🇳 It's not easy competing against factory drivers from all over the world. Maini seems really focused and professional. The fact that he's a Ford factory driver says a lot about his talent. Wishing the team all the best for the race!
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Deepak U
Impressive lap, but I wish Indian media would give more coverage to such achievements. We always talk about cricket but motorsport has

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