Forging New Ground: Carrying a Legacy into Nürburgring

When you come from a famous family, people hold certain expectations of you. When your father is a former Formula 1 winner and your uncle is one of the legends of the sport, let’s say that those expectations run rather high.  

So, it might come as a surprise that the first time I ever saw a kart, I cried because it was so loud. It scared me… but only before I got on the track. Once I pressed the throttle and into the first turn, those tears switched to pure joy. That was the moment. The kid they couldn’t get into the seat, was now the one they couldn’t get off the track. I drove until it ran out of fuel. 

It grew into a hobby between my father and me, travelling across Germany and Europe for karting events. When I was 14, I told my father that I wanted to pursue the dream he lived. We’ve been living it since, and it’s such a privilege. 

That’s how I went from David Schumacher, son of Ralf, nephew of Michael, to David Schumacher, race car driver. The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring is my opportunity to carry my family name to new places. And I am doing it with another great racing family: Ford.   

I have been quick to realize how much passion Ford Racing puts into everything it does. I was drawn to the Mustang GT3 program, and I fought for this factory seat, knowing that I was going to be a part of something special.  

In fact, I became part of two things that are very special. I am entered in not one, but two Mustang GT3 race cars for the 24 Hours. In the SP9 Pro class, I will team with Arjun Maini, Fabio Scherer and Frank Stippler in the No. 64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3. I will also support the No. 65 Mustang in the SP9 Pro-Am class with Hubert Haupt, Vincent Kolb and Colin Caresani (NLD). A third HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3, the No. 67, will have Christopher Mies, Frédéric Vervisch and Dennis Olsen behind the wheel. We will be fighting our No. 67 teammates for the Pro class trophy.  

The Schumacher and Ford names are prominent in motorsports because of their proven legacies, and to align them in my journey is special – after all my uncle Michael won his first F1 World Championship with a Ford-powered Benetton in 1994. The legacy of Ford is incredible, and it’s been established by decades of excellence. It’s an honor to be a small part of it. Even more so at one of Germany’s most revered races, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, with one of its most successful GT teams, HRT, behind the wheel of the Mustang GT3.   

There is quite a bit of difference around the Nordschleife with the evolution package of the Ford Racing Mustang GT3, especially in the drivability. I feel more comfortable on the edge, and I’m confident taking on the ultimate proving ground in motorsport. Of course, we, still have to dial-in the package, but we are in a good place coming into the week. After being so strong in the first year with the Mustang GT3, the fans can look forward to an even better result from HRT Ford Racing in 2026. 

There is a reason world-class drivers, teams and manufacturers continue to challenge themselves at the Nordschleife – it is the most demanding and exacting of circuits. My dad won in F1 at Nürburgring on the Grand Prix course in 2003. But he never raced in the 24 Hours. My uncle won five times at Nürburgring, but he also never took on the “Green Hell”. It is my honor to carry my family’s name into new territory.