DAN Harper returns to the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in Germany this weekend with “unfinished business” to take care of after a string of setbacks and disappointments at the longest track in the world.
12 months ago, the Hillsborough native was battling for the lead of the endurance event before a costly puncture as darkness fell sent his BMW M4 GT3 into a spin moments before the planned driver switchover.
The 23-year-old’s dream of conquering the ‘Green Hell’ was shattered the season before that too, when he collected a back marker before team-mate Max Hesse crashed on the 15-hour mark.
Bad luck also struck in 2021 when BMW’s previous generation M6 GT3 car developed a fuel pump problem in the dying stages, and as Augusto Farfus slowed briefly to turn the back-up pump on, the driver coming up behind misjudged an overtake manoeuvre and made race-ending contact.
However, having taken four victories around the Norschleife as part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series, and being very familiar with the M4 GT3, Harper is targeting a victory challenge this year alongside Hesse and two-time GTWC Sprint Cup champion Charles Weerts with BMW Team RMG.
“I am really looking forward to the Nürburgring 24 Hour race,” said Harper, who is dovetailing his appearances in the NLS with the British GT Championship and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe.
“It is such an incredible event to be part of and one of the highlights of my race season. We haven’t had as much preparation this season as we have in previous years due to date clashes – but we have given it everything we have in the time available to us, and we think we are in a good place.
“The qualifiers weekend went well, and we made some good progress, as well as prioritising track time for Charles as he is new to the Nürburgring. We certainly have unfinished business in the big race having not reached the finish in previous years.
“For me, that has been very frustrating, so it is going to be a case of us needing to go to the Nürburgring, show our speed and get a good result.
“We have won races on the Nordschleife before, so we know we can do it, but the 24-hour race is a different challenge,” added the BMW M Motorsport-supported driver. “You need everything to fall into place to be successful, but I have full confidence in our package.
“Charles has come on really well in a very short time, while Max and I have built up a great partnership over the years.
“BMW M Team RMG are a hugely professional, hard-working team who only started to race at the Nordschleife over the last couple of years, so they are putting everything they have got into this programme, which is great for us. I know they will give us a car capable of winning the race.
“We just need to do the job out on track, adapt to the twists and turns the race creates, and hope that luck is in our favour over the course of the 24-hour race.”
130 vehicles will be taking part in the 52nd edition of the endurance race, including more than 24 GT3-spec machines representing eight manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, favourites Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. The Ferrari 296 GT3 of defending champion Frikadelli Racing also returns and will be competing with the number one on the side of its doors.
Looking beyond the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, Harper will spend back-to-back weekends at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, initially with Century Motorsport in the British GT Championship (June 21-23) and then ROWE Racing at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa (June 26-30).