We Found Max Verstappen’s Tyres at Nürburgring 24 Hours & so much more | Ep 90 | Drive Torque Podcast

Nürburgring is a famous motorsport venue in Germany, best known for the Nordschleife (the “North Loop”) and the shorter GP circuit. In a 24-hour race context, it’s used to test endurance, braking stability, and driver concentration over long stints.

The BMW M Coupe (E36) is a two-door, performance-focused model from the E36 generation, built to deliver a more compact, driver-oriented driving experience. It’s often discussed among enthusiasts because it’s a specific, classic BMW M-era coupe with a strong reputation for balance and feel. In the podcast, it’s being referenced as part of a track-lap or event discussion, highlighting its role in the session.

Michelin UK refers to Michelin’s UK organization, tied here to the event coverage and presumably tire involvement. Michelin is a major tire supplier in motorsport, and tire choice is central to endurance performance.

Mantai Racing is a motorsport team/entrant mentioned as being present at the Nürburgring 24-hour event. In endurance racing, teams like this manage car preparation, driver lineups, and pit strategy across long stints.

A formation lap is the controlled warm-up lap where cars follow a set order before the race start. It helps teams get tires up to temperature and ensures everyone is staged safely before the clock begins.

The GP circuit is the shorter Nürburgring layout used alongside the Nordschleife. Endurance events may combine sections so teams must balance speed and stability across very different track characteristics.

Max Verstappen (transcribed here as “Max Versaphin”) is a top Formula 1 driver, and his participation in a 24-hour race is a big deal because it brings elite single-seater talent into endurance racing. The hosts note he’s racing his own car and team for the first year, which increases attention.

A grid walk is when teams, media, and guests walk through the starting grid before the race. It’s a chance to see cars up close, meet drivers, and capture pre-race details before the cars go out.

A VIP badge is an access credential that controls where people can go at a motorsport venue. In practice, it determines entry to restricted areas like team zones or hospitality spaces.

Manthey Racing is a motorsport team best known for Porsche GT racing programs and for running cars in endurance events. When the hosts mention Manthey hosting and garages, they’re referring to the team’s operational base where cars are prepared and serviced.

In endurance racing, “tyre changes” are scheduled pit stops where teams swap tires to match evolving track conditions (temperature, rain, debris, and wear). Because tires degrade over time, changing them is often the difference between staying fast and falling off pace.

The Eiffel region is in western Germany, and it’s where the Nürburgring is located. Weather swings there are a big deal for endurance racing because grip can change quickly, forcing frequent tire-change decisions.

Live timing screens show real-time race data such as lap times, gaps, and positions. In endurance racing, this is crucial because strategy and tire management can change quickly over long stints.

The speaker references Manthey’s cars by “number 911 and 992,” which points to Porsche’s 911 model family. “992” specifically is the internal generation code for the modern 911, while “911” here is the other 911-generation car in their lineup.

A “technical” refers to a rules/technical compliance issue investigated by race officials (e.g., car setup or components not matching regulations). The speaker describes a dispute where stewards imposed a time penalty after determining the outcome.

Warming up tires means bringing the tire’s temperature up so it can generate grip. Cold tires don’t grip as well, so drivers and teams focus on getting heat into the rubber before the start to avoid sliding and to establish pace immediately.

Starting in groups means the race field is released in batches rather than all at once, usually based on class and expected pace. This reduces traffic conflicts and helps manage safety and strategy at the beginning of an endurance race.

GT3 is a class of race cars built to a standardized set of rules for customer racing. In endurance events, GT3 cars often form one of the first starting groups because they’re among the faster categories.

GT3 refers to the FIA GT3 racing class, which uses production-based sports cars with standardized rules for balance of performance. GT3 cars are designed for endurance events and often run in mixed traffic with slower classes, which creates bottlenecks at starts and key corners.

“Road position” in racing means where a car sits relative to the racing line and other cars as you approach braking zones and corners. In a crowded start, getting road position helps you avoid contact while also setting up the best entry into the next corner.

“Tone one” appears to refer to a specific race start/traffic phase or sector/zone the hosts are using as shorthand for where the field compresses. The key point in the audio is that it becomes a bottleneck immediately after the start, forcing cars to slow and bunch up.

A bottleneck is a section of track where many cars are forced into less space or slower speed, usually due to a narrow corner, heavy traffic, or limited passing opportunities. In endurance races, bottlenecks at the start can cause contact risk and can also dictate how quickly the field can sort itself out.

A “cold tire spin” is when tires that haven’t reached operating temperature lose grip and spin during acceleration or under load. Cold tires have less grip because the rubber is stiffer, so even small throttle inputs can trigger wheelspin—especially right after the start or after a safety car period.

T13 is a named corner/sector marker at Nürburgring used for describing where incidents and timing happen. The hosts note it’s “formally known as T13,” which helps listeners map the race action to a specific part of the Nordschleife lap.

Sabina Schmitz is the namesake of a Nürburgring corner/section (here replacing the older “T13” label). She was a well-known Nürburgring driver and TV personality, and the naming reflects her association with the track and its culture.

The Nordschleife is the “north loop” of the Nürburgring, famous for its long length, elevation changes, and complex corner sequence. Endurance races use it because it tests consistency and driver concentration over many laps, not just peak speed.

This is a misspoken reference to Nürburgring, the famous German motorsport venue near the town of Nürburg. In the context of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, it’s where the race action and fan areas are concentrated.

“N24” is shorthand for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the endurance race held at the Nürburgring. It has a distinctive approach to incidents compared with Formula One, including how yellow flags and recoveries are handled.

A yellow flag is a race-control signal meaning there’s a hazard on track (like debris or an accident) and drivers must slow down and be ready for caution. The host contrasts how yellow-flag periods can escalate in other series versus how the N24 manages incidents.

A safety car is a pace vehicle that takes over the track to control speed during serious incidents. The host notes that in Formula One, yellow flags can lead to a safety car, while the Nürburgring 24 Hours typically avoids red-flagging.

A red flag stops the race entirely because conditions are unsafe or the incident is too serious to continue. The host says they “never red flag the N24,” meaning the event usually keeps running using other procedures instead.

“Double wave yellow” refers to an intensified caution period where marshals display yellow flags in a way that signals a more serious hazard or a larger affected area. The host uses it to explain how the N24 manages big incidents without stopping the race.

Live recovery is an endurance-racing procedure where damaged cars are recovered while the rest of the field continues circulating under caution. The host describes pickup trucks/flatbeds entering the circuit to remove cars even though other cars are still running, which is why it feels so intense and scary.

The sidewall is the tire’s outer wall between the tread and the bead that mounts the tire to the wheel. When the host says it’s “in the bumps” and “in the sidewall,” they’re pointing to visible tire wear or damage patterns on that outer section.

A racing tyre is a performance tire built for grip and heat management under track conditions. Compared with everyday tires, racing tires are designed to work in a narrower temperature and load range, which is why endurance events like N24 can show dramatic tire condition changes.

Closing speed is how quickly one car catches up to another—relative speed between two vehicles. In endurance racing, big closing-speed differences between slower and faster classes make traffic management and overtaking more noticeable.

A wet-weather tire is built to maintain grip when the track is slick from rain. Michelin is the tire brand, and the host is specifically comparing its wet-weather tire to competitors, implying it performs better in standing water and reduced traction conditions.

The R8 refers to the Audi R8, a mid-engine supercar known for its performance and track presence. Here it’s mentioned in the context of a live recovery, suggesting it was involved in an incident during the race.

“North Cipher” appears to be a track-area name the host uses to describe a specific section of the Nürburgring complex. It’s mentioned while explaining how a public road runs behind trees between two circuit areas.

A “Speed 60 zone” is a race-control safety measure where cars must reduce speed to 60 (typically km/h) in a specific area. It’s used to protect marshals and allow safe recovery of incidents that are close to the racing surface.

A speed limiter on the steering wheel is a driver-controlled (or driver-activated) device that caps maximum speed during safety phases. In endurance racing, it helps ensure cars obey mandated slow zones consistently while marshals recover incidents.

“Code 60” is a race-control safety speed limit used during endurance events when conditions are hazardous (like rain or an incident). It means cars must slow to 60 km/h or below in the affected sector, and exceeding it can trigger large penalties.

A slick tire is a race tire with no tread pattern. Because there’s no tread to channel water, slicks generally aren’t safe or effective in wet conditions, but they can provide maximum grip on dry track.

Aquaplaning is when a car rides up on a thin layer of water instead of maintaining tire contact with the road. Once that happens, steering and braking grip drop sharply because the tires can’t clear water effectively. It’s strongly influenced by tire tread, water depth, and tire temperature.

An intermediate tyre is a rain tyre meant for damp or mixed conditions—typically when it’s not raining hard enough for full wet tires. In this segment, they explain that the intermediate is based on a slick but has grooves added by hand to create limited water evacuation. That compromise helps it work when there’s some standing water but not enough to require full wet tread.

Tread depth is how much rubber is available in the tire’s grooves before they wear down. In wet-tire classification, the transcript says the grooves must be at least a minimum percentage of the tread depth; otherwise the tire isn’t considered a wet tyre. That ties directly to how effectively the tire can evacuate water.

A wet tyre (often called a full wet) is designed with deep tread grooves to channel water away and maintain grip in heavy rain. The tread pattern helps prevent water from building up under the tire, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. In the transcript, they also mention rules about how much of the tread depth must be grooved to qualify as a wet tyre.

Tire compounds are different rubber formulations used within the same tire design, tuned for grip versus durability. Softer compounds generally provide more traction but wear faster, while harder compounds last longer but may offer less peak grip. The transcript mentions soft, medium, and hard compounds for the full slicks.

“Softs” refers to a tire compound choice—softer rubber that generally provides more grip but wears faster. Endurance races often use different compound strategies, so “softs” are typically chosen for faster stints rather than maximum longevity.

A rim is the wheel’s metal part that the tire mounts onto. In the segment, the hosts describe the process of fitting the tire onto the rim, inflating it, and then finishing with wheel balancing.

A balancing machine measures how evenly a wheel/tire assembly spins, then indicates where to add small weights. The goal is to reduce vibration at speed and help the tire wear more evenly over time.

Pierre Alves is described as the global head of Michelin’s endurance motorsport program. That role puts him in charge of Michelin’s long-distance racing efforts, including tire development and support for endurance events.

A “temperature window” is the range of tire temperatures where a compound delivers its intended grip and wear behavior. Outside that window, the tire can feel greasy (too cold) or lose performance as it overheats.

In endurance racing, tire logistics are a “logistical nightmare” because teams must stock and transport multiple tire types and compounds for changing weather over a long event. The challenge is coordinating production timing, storage, and ensuring the right tires are available when conditions shift.

“Père Montferrand” is referenced as the destination where unused tires are returned after the race. In this context, it highlights how endurance tire supply chains include not just on-track usage but also post-event distribution and storage.

A “monsoon tire” is an extreme wet-weather tire designed for very heavy rain and lots of standing water. Its tread pattern and water evacuation are tuned to maintain grip when the track is flooded rather than just damp.

In tire talk, “groove” refers to the channels in the tread pattern that direct water and control contact with the road. Here, the host distinguishes between grooves meant to evacuate water versus grooves/patterning meant mainly to bring heat into the tire during drying conditions.

“Cup 2” refers to Michelin’s tire family used in wet conditions, where the tread pattern and compound are tuned for grip and heat management. The speaker compares the discussed endurance wet/drying tire’s pattern and compound behavior against Cup 2, noting it’s softer and designed to work through wet-to-dry transitions.

In racing tire-speak, “stick” is shorthand for a dry tire that provides maximum grip on a dry surface. The speaker contrasts switching from wet/drying tires to a “stick” when the track develops a dry line.

An endurance tire is built for long races where the tire must stay consistent over many hours, handling heat cycles and repeated stints. The speaker frames the value as the know-how to make an endurance tire that can survive the event and be managed/returned rather than being sold to competitors.

“Trickle down technology” is the idea that innovations developed in high-end racing eventually make their way into consumer products. In tires, racing can accelerate learning about compounds, tread patterns, and heat management that later influence road tire designs.

“Track to street” is the idea that technologies developed for racing—like tire construction and compound choices—can be adapted for road cars. The goal is to transfer grip, durability, and feedback improvements from motorsport into everyday driving.

Clermont-Ferrand is a city in France that the speaker references as the destination for used-tire processing. In this context, it’s where the recycled tire materials are handled by a dedicated facility.

Carbon black is a fine carbon material used in tire rubber to improve strength and durability. In recycling, it can be extracted from used tires and reused as a raw material in other rubber products.

When the speaker says the remaining tire material is “reused as energy,” they mean the leftover tire fraction is used as a fuel. This is typically done via energy recovery processes that convert tire material into heat or electricity.

In endurance racing, the “pits” are the service area where teams stop the car for repairs, refueling, and driver changes. When a car is towed back to the pits, it usually means it can’t continue on track and needs team attention.

“Norsleife” is the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the famous long, twisty section of the Nürburgring circuit. It’s known for big elevation changes and a layout that’s much more demanding than many modern tracks, which is why it’s a benchmark for endurance racing.

The Audi RS 3 is a high-performance compact car from Audi’s RS lineup, built for quick acceleration and sporty handling in a smaller package. It’s commonly discussed because it blends everyday usability with track-capable performance, making it a frequent subject in driving and lap-time conversations. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as a car spotted from a viewing area, showing how recognizable and noteworthy it is.

The Audi RS3 is a performance version of the compact A3, known for its quick acceleration and sporty all-wheel-drive setup. Here, the host is using it as a quick visual guess for what they’re seeing on track.

The Dacia Logan is a budget-friendly sedan/hatch platform from Dacia, and it’s notable here because it’s being observed on track alongside much faster GT3 cars. The host points out how it goes through a slow corner, which affects how much the racing cars can use their aerodynamic advantage there.

Brunchen is a specific corner/section of the Nürburgring circuit used in the 24-hour race layout. It’s known for being a braking/turn-in zone where cars can run wide on corner exit, especially when grip is poor.

The Audi RS4 is a performance version of the regular Audi A4, built to deliver a more aggressive, enthusiast-focused driving experience. In this segment it’s mentioned as Taylor’s current car, tying the conversation to real-world ownership rather than track-only talk.

Flexi Plus sounds like a service or subscription package tied to the speaker’s car ownership (likely related to coverage, roadside assistance, or a plan). It’s not a standard automotive performance term, but it’s a named product/service that affects how the car is used day-to-day.

“YouTube Corner” is a nickname for a spot on the event grounds where the hosts expect to run into content creators. It’s used here as a playful way to explain why they keep bumping into YouTubers in that area.

Max Verstappen is a top Formula 1 driver known for aggressive, high-speed racing and strong racecraft. In this segment, the hosts are talking about his chances in the Nürburgring 24 Hours context.

The BMW G81 M3 Touring is the M3 wagon variant, built on BMW’s G81 platform. It’s notable because it brings the M3’s performance focus to a practical wagon body, and here it’s being discussed in the context of race positioning.

In Nürburgring 24 Hours talk, the “carousel” is a named section of the circuit with a distinctive flow of corners. The hosts are describing their yearly walk to that area to watch cars pass very closely.

“Nord Stream” here refers to a specific location/feature on the Nürburgring 24 Hours route that the hosts are using as a landmark. They’re pointing out that it’s the highest point on that part of the course, so the rest of the walk is downhill toward the carousel.

“V8s” means engines with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. The hosts are using it as shorthand for the sound and character of V8-powered race cars they’re seeing at the event.

F1 is Formula 1, the top tier of open-wheel racing run under FIA rules. The hosts compare pit-stop timing norms in F1 (very fast, often just a few seconds) versus endurance racing where pit stops can be governed by minimum-time rules.

Oil on the circuit is a serious hazard in endurance racing because it dramatically reduces tire grip. If a car drives through it, the tires can lose traction instantly, which can lead to spins, crashes, or stalled running.

GT3 refers to the FIA GT3 racing class, where cars are built and homologated for customer racing with performance balancing. In endurance events like Nürburgring 24 Hours, GT3 cars are typically the “front-running” machinery compared with older or lower-tier entries.

“Track limits” are the boundaries drivers are allowed to use while staying on the official racing surface. Exceeding them can trigger penalties or disqualification in many series, especially when drivers use runoff/curbs to gain speed or position.

A “puncture” in racing usually means a tire has been damaged by debris or contact, causing rapid air loss. In endurance events, even a single puncture can force immediate pit work and can also trigger secondary issues like suspension damage or sensor faults.

AMG is Mercedes-Benz’s performance division, known for building high-output engines and race-oriented drivetrains. When the hosts mention “another AMG driver,” they’re referring to a Mercedes-AMG team/car in the race field.

The “right rear wheel” is the wheel on the passenger-side rear (from the driver’s perspective, it’s the rear corner on the right). Removing it completely suggests the team suspects a wheel/tire issue and may also be checking related components like suspension parts or wheel-speed sensing.

In modern race cars, “sensors” monitor things like wheel speed, suspension movement, and other parameters so the car can detect faults and sometimes adjust systems. If a sensor is suspected after a wheel comes off, it can point to an electrical/fitment issue or damage from the incident.

The BMW M4 is BMW’s performance coupe platform, and in this context it’s being raced as a GT3-spec car. The hosts are discussing its running position and how its aerodynamics and traction behavior compare to other entries during the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

In motorsport, “aero” refers to aerodynamic effects—how airflow over the car creates downforce and stability at speed. Here, the hosts discuss how the touring car’s rear wing placement changes when air reaches the wing, which in turn affects how quickly downforce builds and how well the car grips out of corners.

In racing, “overrun” is the deceleration/engine-braking phase when you lift off the throttle, often producing a characteristic sound and behavior. The hosts are praising the Aston’s overrun feel/sound as it passes—suggesting strong engine braking and a satisfying drivetrain response.

Michelin is a tire brand, and in endurance racing the tire choice can strongly affect grip, wear rate, and how consistently a car performs over long stints. The host is pointing out that the Mercedes is running on Michelin tires, which matters because tire performance often decides race outcomes.

The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car model, and in endurance racing it can appear in touring-car style categories depending on the event’s rules. Here, the host mentions the Elantra as the only car showing a “flutter,” implying a small change in its on-track situation or pace.

The Ford Mustang is a long-running American sports car known for its classic styling and wide range of performance trims. It’s frequently mentioned in driving and track conversations because it’s popular, easy to recognize, and can be configured for different levels of speed and handling. In the podcast context, it’s being highlighted as it moves through a driving section, emphasizing its presence and performance on track.

The BMW M240i is BMW’s performance 2 Series, and the “cup car” refers to a race-prepped spec used for one-make-style competition. Here it’s mentioned while they’re watching cars roll past, implying it’s part of the event’s on-track lineup.

The BMW 2 Series is a compact performance-oriented BMW model line, and in track contexts it can be seen in both street and racing forms. In the podcast, the mention of an “M240i cup car” points to a race-prepped version used for competition, which is why it’s being discussed in terms of what it’s doing on track (like waiting or staging). This makes the 2 Series relevant as a platform that appears in organized racing events.

B58 is BMW’s internal engine family code for a 3.0-liter inline-six turbocharged engine used in many performance models. The host’s “Nice to see a B58” is a nod to the engine’s presence in the event’s lineup.

A “V8” refers to an engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape, and “grumbles” is a sound description of that engine’s exhaust note. Listeners often use this kind of wording to convey the character of the car’s soundtrack during racing.

In motorsport, marshals are track officials who manage safety around the circuit—flagging hazards, responding to incidents, and helping coordinate recovery. Endurance events like a 24-hour race require large marshal teams working in shifts because incidents can happen at any time.

In endurance racing, cars accumulate “battle scars” from continuous running—things like dirt, mud, and minor contact from close racing. The phrase emphasizes how 24-hour events stress cars visually and mechanically, not just on lap times.

GT4 is a racing category for production-based cars, designed to be affordable for customer teams. Compared with GT3, GT4 cars are typically closer to the road-going version and use more standardized parts, which usually means less aerodynamic and mechanical complexity.