Arjun Maini beats Verstappen in Nurburgring 24H Qualifying 2
Synopsis
An Indian factory driver just out-qualified a four-time Formula 1 world champion. Arjun Maini's 8:11.278 lap in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 placed him fourth in SP9 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours — ahead of Max Verstappen — in the event's largest starting grid in over a decade. It is a sharp marker of how far India's presence in elite endurance racing has come.
Key Takeaways
Arjun Maini finished fourth in SP9 during Qualifying 2 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours on 15 May 2025 .
His lap of 8:11.278 in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 placed him ahead of Max Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry ( 8:11.614 ).
The race features a 161-car field across more than 20 classes — the largest starting grid in over a decade.
Maini is a Ford factory driver competing with Haupt Racing Team (HRT) alongside Fabio Scherer , David Schumacher , and Frank Stippler .
2025 marks the debut season of the Mustang GT3 Evo package.
Indian motorsport driver Arjun Maini outpaced four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen on the qualifying timesheets at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring on 15 May 2025, delivering a standout lap in one of the most competitive GT3 fields in global motorsport. Driving for Haupt Racing Team (HRT) Ford Performance, Maini clocked an 8:11.278 lap in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 during Qualifying 2 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The Qualifying Result
Maini finished fourth overall in the headline SP9 category, ahead of Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry, which posted an 8:11.614 lap. The margin — just over three-tenths of a second — came in a packed 161-car field spanning more than 20 classes, making this year's edition the largest starting grid at the Nordschleife in over a decade.
What Maini Said
'It's always special to be competitive at the Nürburgring 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,' Maini said.
India's Factory Driver on Ford's New Programme
Maini is contesting the race alongside teammates Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher, and Frank Stippler. He joined HRT during the team's transition from Mercedes-AMG machinery to Ford's Mustang GT3 programme, and has been embedded in Ford's GT3 journey as a factory driver from the outset. The 2025 season also marks the debut of the Mustang GT3 Evo package.
Speaking ahead of the event, Maini described the challenge of building a new programme from the ground up. '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.
What Comes Next
The Nürburgring 24 Hours heads into its final qualifying session before the twice-around-the-clock endurance race gets underway this weekend. Maini and HRT Ford Performance will look to convert their strong qualifying pace into a race result against some of the biggest names in global GT racing at the legendary Nordschleife.
Point of View
And finishing ahead of him, even in a single qualifying session, carries weight. What matters now is whether HRT Ford can sustain that pace across 24 hours, a discipline where qualifying speed and race management are entirely different problems. India's endurance racing footprint remains thin at the elite level; a strong finish this weekend would do more for the sport's profile in the country than any qualifying headline.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Arjun Maini perform in Nurburgring 24 Hours Qualifying 2?
Arjun Maini finished fourth overall in the SP9 category during Qualifying 2, clocking an 8:11.278 lap in the #64 Ford Mustang GT3. His time placed him ahead of Max Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry, which posted an 8:11.614 lap.
What car is Arjun Maini driving at the Nurburgring 24 Hours?
Maini is driving the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 for Haupt Racing Team (HRT) Ford Performance. The 2025 season also marks the debut of the Mustang GT3 Evo package, which Maini has been part of developing as a Ford factory driver.
Who are Arjun Maini's teammates at the Nurburgring 24 Hours?
Maini is sharing the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 with Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher, and Frank Stippler at the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours.
How big is the 2025 Nurburgring 24 Hours field?
The 2025 edition features a 161-car field spanning more than 20 classes, making it the largest starting grid at the Nordschleife in over a decade.
When does the Nurburgring 24 Hours race start?
The twice-around-the-clock endurance race is scheduled to begin this weekend at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, following the completion of remaining qualifying sessions.
