Lukas Stiefelhagen claims first NXT Gen Cup pole position of 2024 at Norisring
The 16-year-old Dutch racer Lukas Stiefelhagen excelled in the first qualifying to claim the first pole position of the 2024 NXT Gen Cup season on the Norisring street circuit, held together with the DTM.
Lukas Stiefelhagen showcased his ambitions from the word go by finishing first and second in the practice sessions. In the first out of two qualifying sessions this weekend, the Dutchman set the best time of the weekend with a lap of 1:05.022 around the 2.3-kilometer street track in Nürnberg.
"I am very happy. I got a slipstream, and you really need it on this track with the long straights. I actually hit the wall once with my mirror. I think I have a good chance of winning tomorrow. I just need to keep the others behind me, and we will see," said Lukas Stiefelhagen.
Fellow Dutchman Calvin de Groot (20) finished second in qualifying, missing pole position by just 0.178 seconds in his 100% electric LRT NXT1 race car.
"Not fully satisfied, but I'm okay with it. I'm happy to be at the front; that's step one. I had a really good lap—my mirror even folded, so I gave it everything. But it just wasn't enough. We'll see in the races, because the lap times are really close. You can overtake good here," said Calvin de Groot.
Danish racer Victor Nielsen had a nightmare start to his 2024 NXT Gen Cup campaign, colliding with Siri Hökfelt in the first corner of practice and then having to sit out the rest of the session. However, the 17-year-old bounced back to take third in qualifying at Norisring.
"It feels really good, especially after going out of practice. It’s nice to get third after that start. It is so close between me and everyone else—maybe I'll be first, maybe I'll be seventh, you never know,” said Victor Nielsen.
The star of the day was 15-year-old Swede Linus Stjernelund. Transitioning from karting and making his NXT Gen Cup debut this weekend, he displayed impressive pace right from the beginning and contended for a top three position in qualifying, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
Returning Swedish drivers Enzo Hallman and Alexander Gustafsson concluded qualifying in fifth and sixth positions respectively. As Laurenz Rühl finished seventh.
Latvian NXT Gen Cup debutante Patricija Keita-Stalidzane finished the first day as the leading female driver in eighth place, continuing to capitalize on her promising pace from the practice sessions.
Filip Bartoš and Benjamin Mazatis rounded out the top ten - complete results here.
The first race of the season starts at 10:05 CEST tomorrow, followed by Race 2 at 15:40. Both races are broadcast LIVE on the NXT Gen Cup YouTube channel.
Schedule
Times in CEST
Saturday July 6th
10:05 – Race 1 (15 min)
15:40 – Race 2 (15 min)
Sunday July 9th
08:45 – Qualifying
12:00 – Race 3 (15 min)
17:00 – Race 4 (15 min)
Points and results
2024 NXT Gen Cup entry list
# – Name – Nationality
2 – Greaham Hofmans - Netherlands
3 – Linus Stjernelund – Sweden
4 – Patricija Keita-Stalidzane – Latvia
7 – Enzo Hallman – Sweden
8 – Chantal Röhner – Germany
9 – Lukas Stiefelhagen – Netherlands
10 – Jacqueline Kreutzpointner – Germany
11 – Alesia Kreutzpointner – Germany
12 – Filip Bartoš – Czechia
19 – Alexander Gustafsson – Sweden
21 – Siri Hökfelt – Sweden
23 – Laurenz Rühl – Germany
24 – Calvin de Groot – Netherlands
35 – Benjamin Mazatis – Germany
47 – Sophie Hoffman – Germany
50 – Victor Nielsen – Denmark
About NXT Gen Cup
The NXT Gen Cup is the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car cup where young female and male drivers race the LRT NXT1, a fully electric race car based on the MINI Cooper SE road car - engineered and built by Lestrup Racing Team. The series races together with DTM and is organised through an “arrive and drive” concept, enabling the junior drivers to focus on driving and creating the foundation for a professional racing career.
About DTM
DTM is Europe’s premier and best-known racing series and is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2024. As one of the most competitive racing series, DTM features seven prestigious brands in its anniversary season. The DTM has a German core, but a strong international fan base. Races are broadcasted live in 150 territories. The series is also a leader in sustainable motorsport. For the second season, all cars are powered by a sustainable fuel made of 50% renewable components. Not only the cars racing in DTM are in the centre of sustainable projects. For the events itself the ADAC as promoter of the DTM offers innovations like an initiative to reduce plastic waste and a digital carpool solution, which has been recognised and awarded by the FIA.