Nürburgring Endurance Series 2020
- Leicester-born racing driver Charlie Martin joins VLN championship at the Nürburgring.
- Despite first races being cancelled due to measures to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, Charlie looks forward to season start
- 2020 will also mark 24-hour debut in the ADAC Total 24 Hours Nürburgring
- Charlie is aiming to be the first transgender competitor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Wednesday, March 18, Nürburgring
British racing driver Charlie Martin has announced that she will compete in the 2020 VLN Nürburgring Endurance Series – including the ADAC Total 24 Hours Nürburgring.
Racing with reigning champions Adrenalin Motorsport, she will pilot a BMW M240i Racing Cup car on the infamous Nordschleife at the Nürburgring – dubbed ‘The Green Hell’ by former F1 champion Jackie Stewart.
The 2020 season will also mark her 24-hour racing debut in the 24 Hours Nürburgring – a significant step towards her aim of becoming the first transgender competitor in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Charlie Martin said: “I am excited to be heading to the Nürburgring. So much work has gone into finding the right opportunity for hard racing in a competitive championship and VLN has everything I am looking for. I have completed two test days so far and I’m enjoying adapting to the M240i, coming from a prototype with downforce you have to really hustle this car and drive right on the edge to get the most out of the mechanical grip. ”
“I’m proud to be racing with Adrenalin who have a proven record in this championship, and it has been a great fit from the start. I see them as the perfect partners for my first 24 hour endurance outing and a big step towards my goal of competing at Le Mans.”
Despite confirmation last week that the opening two rounds of the VLN championship are cancelled due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, Charlie remains upbeat ahead of the start of the season.
“Of course, I am disappointed that the first races have been cancelled but it is the right decision,” says Charlie. “Safety is always the first priority and I hope that these precautions mean we will get back to racing soon all the sooner.”
Martin began her racing career in European Hillclimb before returning to circuit racing in the UK in 2017. Following a season in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, she graduated to prototype racing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2019.
Matthias Unger, Team Principal of Adrenalin Motorsport said: “Charlie has already shown her speed and has adapted very quickly to the new car during testing, and we are looking forward to a successful season together.”
Charlie, who is a representative of Racing Pride and a Stonewall Sports Champion, has led efforts to increase diversity in motorsport, including making headlines during PRIDE month 2018, where she was responsible for the entire field of British GT championship cars carrying rainbow stickers to mark the event.
“For us, Charlie is the whole package and we’re proud to have a LGBT+ woman representing our team both off and on the track in the year ahead,” continues Unger. “We are making history together and are excited to be alongside her during her first 24-hour endurance race.”