The Red Bull Racing driver will take on one of the world’s most challenging races this weekend

Max Verstappen is aiming to become the first active F1 driver to win the Nurburgring 24 hour race since 1973 when he takes to the Green Hell this weekend.

The Dutchman has shown a keen interest in GT racing, particularly racing at the infamous German circuit, passing his tests to race there last year.

The Red Bull Racing man will be swapping Milton Keynes for the Eifel mountains to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3 operated in cooperation with Winward Racing, with Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon as well as Dani Juncadella.

Momentum for Verstappen’s 24H Nürburgring debut has been building, and April's qualifying weekend offered an early read on Verstappen Racing's pace. Their Mercedes-AMG GT3 was the first car to break the nine-minute mark in qualifying. Auer took it to fifth in the timed lap session, and in the four-hour race that followed Verstappen led the field for the opening 90 minutes before a splitter issue dropped the team down the order.

Austrian legend and three-time world champion Niki Lauda was the last active F1 driver to have won the race, and that was more than 50 years ago, prior to his fiery crash at the same circuit just three years later.

And Verstappen is keen to add his name to the winners list.

“Success is winning,” he said. “That's why we're here. I know it's not going to be easy, but that's the target for everyone.

“It's probably going to be the best feeling,” he said of racing through the night. “You're by yourself, pushing in the night. The car is normally fastest in the night, so I'm looking forward to it.”

The 12.9 mile circuit is one of the most intimidating and complicated tracks in the world, and has taken it’s fair share of reputations over the years.

Team-mate Juncadella added: “It will never be just another track. Somehow, this track is always intimidating, no matter what, especially when the conditions change so much. Even on a sunny, dry day, this track is just a bit different. Especially when you're pushing and going to the limit.”

The race gets underway on Saturday afternoon.