Malaysia’s Viper Niza Racing Team is preparing for one of its biggest challenges of the 2026 Michelin 24H Series season as it heads to Germany for the inaugural 12 Hours of Nurburgring from 3 to 5 July. With the championship entering its decisive stages, the team is determined to capitalize on the opportunity and strengthen its position in the standings.

The Malaysian outfit, represented by drivers Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang and Melvin Moh, currently occupies third place in the GT3-AM championship standings with 80 points. Ahead of them are GetSpeed Team PCX Racing on 90 points and championship leader Hofor Racing with 96 points. Viper Niza Racing also sits joint sixth in the overall GT3 category rankings.

This year’s Nurburgring event marks a significant milestone for the Michelin 24H Series, which visits the legendary German circuit for the first time. More than 45 entries from various categories are expected on the grid, including 14 highly competitive GT3 machines. Among them will be Viper Niza Racing’s #65 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

Despite the prestige of the venue, the race presents an added challenge for the Malaysian squad, as neither the team nor its drivers have previously competed at the Nurburgring. Team Principal and lead driver Douglas Khoo acknowledged that preparation will be crucial, with the team relying heavily on two full days of testing before race weekend to build familiarity with the circuit.

Khoo explained that while the Nurburgring is often associated with the intimidating 20.83-kilometre Nordschleife, famously known as the “Green Hell,” the championship event will take place on the shorter 5.148-kilometre Grand Prix circuit. Nevertheless, he emphasized that learning a new track remains a demanding task, requiring extensive simulator work and track testing to ensure the team is race-ready.

To fully experience the legendary venue and better understand its unique characteristics, the drivers will also spend time behind the wheel of GT4 cars on the full Nordschleife layout.

The Grand Prix circuit itself is a modern and technically demanding venue. Opened in 1984 and later upgraded to meet contemporary safety standards, it has hosted a wide range of international motorsport events, including Formula 1, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and Germany’s premier DTM series. Drivers must navigate 16 turns, notable elevation changes, and iconic sections such as the Mercedes Arena, Haug-Hook, Dunlop-Kehre and the Michael Schumacher S.

Viper Niza Racing heads into the weekend seeking to regain momentum after a challenging outing at Paul Ricard in France, where the team finished 10th overall and fifth in the GT3-AM class. Prior to that result, the team had briefly led the championship standings, highlighting the competitiveness of this year’s campaign.

Khoo remains optimistic that the team can still achieve its season objective of securing a top-three championship finish. He pointed out that consistency has been a major strength throughout the year, particularly compared to 2025 when missing one round contributed to a fourth-place finish in the final standings.

With only two races remaining, the Malaysian team believes that continued point-scoring performances—and potentially podium finishes in the closing rounds—could place them firmly in contention for championship honours. However, as with all endurance racing events, unpredictable circumstances can quickly alter the outcome, making reliability, strategy and perseverance just as important as outright pace.

As the Michelin 24H Series approaches its climax, Viper Niza Racing will be looking to turn its Nurburgring debut into a pivotal moment in its pursuit of championship success.

Viper Niza Racing’s 2026 campaign is supported by Motul, IWC as the team’s Official Watch Brand, Momentum Autoparts and SPARCO Italy.