Timo Bernhard and Jörg Bergmeister will pilot the last Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS ever built for a six‑hour Non‑Laps‑Series (NLS) event, marking a historic reunion of two of the brand’s most celebrated drivers.
Unprecedented Museum‑Team Collaboration
The partnership blends Porsche Heritage’s museum operations with Bernhard’s active racing outfit, Team 75 Motorsport, a first for any manufacturer. Armin Burger, historic motorsport coordinator, explained that the idea germinated in late‑2023 after a conversation with Bergmeister about the close‑to‑complete production run of the 982‑generation GT4. Burger noted that both drivers were already part of Porsche’s brand‑ambassador ranks, making the deal straightforward.
A Documented Journey to the Nürburgring
The entry is part of a documentary that will trace the vehicle from Stuttgart‑Zuffenhausen to the Nürburgring. Key milestones include roll‑cage installation and the mounting of sustainable flax‑fiber body panels at Osnabrück, functional testing with Manthey at the track, and the final reveal in Weissach. The film’s release is slated for immediately after the race, providing a cinematic climax to the event.
Preparing for a Six‑Hour Battle
While the drivers initially expected a standard four‑hour race, they were informed that the event would be a six‑hour flagship contest—a longer stint than usual NLS rounds. Bernhard admitted “I had to adjust to a longer endurance demand.” Øeing and testing were limited; Bergmeister said, “We’ll tweak the set‑up on‑the‑fly and hope to find a good window.”
Technical Demands of a Siesta‑less GT
Former LMP1 chief engineer Stephen Mitas will supervise the effort. Mitas, who contributed to Bernhard’s record Nürburgring lap in the 919 Evo, highlighted that the GT4’s simplicity increases complexity for the driver, who must rely on feedback rather than extensive telemetry. Mitas laughed that he had to remind Bernhard that the pace of a prototype is not the same as a road‑legal GT.
Competitive Landscape at the Nordschleife
Entry will face a strong monsoon of machine: PROsport Racing’s Mercedes‑AMG GT4, piloted by Anton Abee, Yannick Himmels, and Jörg Viebahn, remains the SP10 class benchmark. Black Falcon’s BMW M4 GT4, recently winning a season title, also legs the main line of competition. Bernhard acknowledged, “Expecting to beat a field of year‑long Nordschleife specialists is ambitious.”
The duel also carries personal weight: the duo’s most memorable curse‑turned‑gift occurred at the 2002 Daytona 24 Hours, where a feud prompted Porsche’s chief to pair them together in a single car. That match ended with a “shock overall win” the following year, forcing their rivalry into partnership.
With the clock ticking, Bernhard and Bergmeister spring into action, each racing the last embodiment of the Cayman GT4 RS CS, a car that may as well possess two separate claims to fame: a final production run and a legendary driver partnership.
"