Max Verstappen warned that he’ll be racing ‘amateurs’ in the dark at the Nurburgring 24 Hours

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Max Verstappen is set to take on the Nordschleife this weekend in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and the F1 star has been sent a stern warning by one of his rivals over the fact that he will be racing ‘amateurs’ in the pitch-black.

If the legacy of the ‘Green Hell’ is enough to strike fear into the eyes of some of the most experienced drivers in motorsport, a night stint during the Nurburgring 24 Hours is even more terror-inducing.

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As the sun sets at the Nordschleife, drivers can only rely on their own headlights, as well as a few safety panels located along the side of the race track. The 15.769-mile-long circuit doesn’t feature overhead lights at all, making it especially difficult for drivers.

As such, Max Verstappen will need to have his wits about him at all times. Even more so, with one of his rivals in the race warning him about the calibre of drivers that he may come up against.

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Renger van der Zande warns Max Verstappen about his night stint on the Nordschleife

In an interview with De Telegraaf ahead of this weekend’s edition of the Nurburgring 24 Hours, GT3 ace Renger van der Zande had some words of advice for his new rival.

The first warning he had for Verstappen was about the slower classes that the Dutchman will come across during the race. Of course, the Red Bull F1 star has dealt with it during his previous NLS entries, but pure darkness adds another layer of risk.

“What’s very important is to watch out for slower amateurs in front of and around you,” van der Zande warned, before adding, “They’re certainly feeling their way around a lot during the first few laps in the dark.

“When someone like Max comes along in a much faster car, they see one big light behind them because of the large headlights. You have to bear in mind that inexperienced drivers might do something crazy.”

Rain is another factor that must be considered when racing on the tarmac of the ‘Green Hell’. However, van der Zande is confident that Verstappen is capable of shining through it all.

“I think drivers with the best feel can make the biggest difference at night,” he continued. “I expect Max to really fly then.

And if it were to rain as well, which is always a possibility on the Nordschleife, you have yet another dimension. Then the risk level shoots up. Very difficult; it really becomes the Harvard of racing. But Max is certainly up to the task.”

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Renger van der Zande says F1’s night races are ‘nothing like’ the Nordschleife after sunset

As one of the most experienced drivers on the F1 grid, Verstappen has taken part in his fair share of races under the bright floodlights that the FIA demands for the category.

“This is nothing like that at all,” van der Zande said, regarding racing in the dark at the Nordschleife. “It’s a truly special experience, driving in those conditions.

“Especially the first time. I remember testing an LMP2 car at Paul Ricard. In pitch darkness, I literally plunged into a black hole at 320 kilometres per hour. It’s so spectacular. I couldn’t sleep that night, I was still buzzing with adrenaline.

“You know the circuit, but it’s dark, so you mainly have to rely on reference points. Knowing roughly where to start braking for a corner. But on the Nordschleife, there are relatively few of those points, so you have to rely much more on instinct.”