The entry list for VLN1 this Saturday shows some now predictable clues as to the aspirations of some familiar faces looking to take part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

With the introduction of the licensing system to race on the Nordschleife drivers, whatever their prior experience, must complete a VLN race in a lower capacity car before being allowed to race in a higher powered GT3 machine.

Amongst this year’s crop is a pacy looking duo in a Walkenhorst entered BMW M235iR, 2017 Sebring 12 Hours winner Alex Lynn already named as part of BMW’s N24 attack and full season WRT Audi man Will Stevens clearly looking to add the N24 to his 2017 cv!

“This weekend I’m racing at the Nordschleife in a BMW M235i,” Will told DSC this morning. “The main reason is to get my full license to be able to race a GT3 car there.

“There is a certain criteria you need to do before getting your license which is a few different courses plus 18 laps of the circuit which normally you should cover across the races at VLN 1 & 2. The Nurburgring 24H is such a historic event and one of the biggest races in the world so I would love to be doing it so its important I get my license for it. It’ll be my first laps around the track so Im looking forward to the challenge!!”

Indeed the BMW M235i looks a popular choice for those looking to get their ‘Ring racing miles under their belts. Also listed, this time in a CUP5 version of the car under the LMS Engineering banner are record breaking Le Mans partnership Nic Johnson and Tracy Krohn – Tracy it seems is looking to add a different 24 Hour classic to his racing record.

2017 Manor WEC LMP2 driver Simon Trummer is another man in an M235i, he shares a car with veteran racer Cor Euser this weekend.

Brit trio Raoul Owens, Hunter Abbott and Sam Tordoff are yet another noteworthy trio in an M235i, another Walkenhorst car in this instance, Owen moving over from the now defunct Renault Sport Trophy, Abbott and Tordoff both stepping over to GT racing from the BTCC!

WRT Audi racer Stuart Leonard shows up in a Hyundai N30 listed with Vincent Radermecker, the Belgian veteran also listed in a further pair of entries, both CUP1 Opel Astra OPC cars, and with featuring a pair apiece of Korean drivers – What price an all Korean effort for Hyundai at the N24?

We’ll have a fuller preview in the next day or two of the weekend’s opening round of the VLN, due to be webcast in sound and vision with English language commentary for the very first time with the Radio Show Limited crew and available here on DSC as well as on RadioLeMans.com and the Series website.