Written up

Yorkshire's Samuel Harrison made his GT3 debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife this month, contesting rounds 8 and 9 of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) on 12th and 13th September. The NLS series has received huge attention this year, racing on one of the most demanding circuits in the world and attracting top drivers including 4-time formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. Samuel shared the #14 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, run by Team RaceIng, with team mate Leonidas Karavasili, alongside whom he raced in the McLaren Trophy, Europe last season, and Finnish driver Miika Panu. In a class made up of factory-backed teams and professional drivers, it was a considerable step up for the 22-year-old who is now part of the Ferrari-affiliated FF-Corse Academy.

Saturday's four-hour race started a field of 131 cars. Despite limited experience at this level and on this circuit Samuel qualified the #14 car 26th overall and 8th in the SP9 Pro-Am class, a solid starting point for the trio's first race together. Conditions were dry throughout and the Audi was comfortably inside the top 20 through the opening hours, running with cars and drivers at the sharp end of the class. As can be the case in endurance racing a couple of issues late on resulted in a respectable finish of 37^th place overall and 7^th in class on their debut outing, however, the pace was clear and attention quickly turned to Sundays race.

The #14 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II on track in dry conditions on Saturday · Photo: @gititireeurope

On Sunday the team carried that momentum forward and qualified 18th overall and 6th in class, nearly four seconds quicker than the day before. Samuel started the race and a superb opening stint saw him climb into the top 10 overall of 121 competitors before handing over. The team stayed on slick tyres at the scheduled pit stop, but a sudden change in conditions meant the car had to come straight back in the following lap for wets, costing valuable time. The #14 was still running competitively when its race came to an early end in the closing laps after being involved in an on-track incident, a cruel way to finish the crew's strongest showing of the weekend.

Rain arrived on Sunday and shaped the second half of the race · Photo: @gititireeurope

Reflecting on the weekend Samuel commented: “It's been an incredible first weekend in GT3. We made a lot of progress across the two races, pushing both my own limits and the car's in some challenging conditions. The results didn't show our true pace, with a mix of bad luck and unlucky timing, but the highlight was the start of the Sunday race and making my way from 18th up into the top 10. I learned a huge amount about the R8 and I can't wait to get back out in it. A massive thank you to the team for all their hard work, to my team mates Leo and Miika, and to Giti Tire Europe for their support”.

The Team RaceIng crew with the #14 Audi at the end of the weekend · Photo: @gititireeurope

Challenging for Formula Ford Honours

Attention now turns to one of the most famous events in British club racing, as Samuel challenges for the crown at the BRSCC Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch on 24th and 25th October. This year marks the 55th running of the Festival, forming part of Brands Hatch's centenary celebrations and 50 years since the event moved to the Kent circuit. For more than half a century the Festival has been one of the best proving grounds in motorsport, with 2009 World Champion Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert all among its past winners.

Samuel returns in the 1970 Elden Mk8 he prepares with his father, Tim, the car that Samuel was crowned champion in in the historic class at the 2024 Festival. Racing machinery far younger than his own, he was also the highest-placed historic car in the main final, followed by 1st in class within the separate Pre-89 final. He comes back this year with unfinished business and his sights set firmly on the top step.

Samuel leading in the 1970 Elden Mk8 at the 2024 Formula Ford Festival

Highest-placed historic car in the main final and 3rd overall in the Historic final in 2024

Streamed live and watched by tens of thousands of fans, the Festival offers partners a genuine platform to reach a motorsport audience.

Anyone who would like to support Samuel's Formula Ford Festival challenge, or find out more about partnership opportunities, is invited to get in touch at partnerships@shmotorsport.co.uk.

Written for samuelharrisonracing.com · Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie