The VLN was founded in 1977 by motorsport clubs that are members of ADAC or Deutscher Motorsport Verband (DMV), unifying previously independent touring car racing events on the Nürburgring that each lasted 3.5 to 6 hours and involved approximately 150 cars and 400 drivers. Series winners were initially awarded a cup sponsored by Valvoline and later Veedol lubrication products, giving rise to the informal name "Veedol-Cup". Following official recognition by Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB) as the German endurance championship in 2001, the series became the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring (BFGLM), a name it held from 2001 to 2009. It was known as VLN — Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring — from 2009 until 2020, when it was renamed the NLS; the VLN organisation itself retained its name.
In late 2023 the series' rightholders and the Nürburgring operator entered a legal dispute over 2024 race dates, and the AvD announced plans for a rival Nürburgring-based series. The 2024 season spanned eight races over six weekends, including qualifying races for the 24-hour event. The 2025 season features ten races over eight weekends, including the 24h qualifying races and a new NLS Light race.
Each NLS race is a one-day event held on Saturdays only, to limit costs. The mandatory drivers briefing is at 07:30, qualifying runs from 08:30 to 10:00, and the race starts at 12:00 for three groups launched a few minutes apart. The "Nürburgring 6 Hours" is considered the season highlight; in 1998 Jack Brabham participated at age 72. This race accepts 2 to 4 drivers per car; all other races permit a single driver or teams of up to 3. The NLS-6 "Barbarossapreis" honours Michael Schumacher's Formula One success with Scuderia Ferrari, with all podium finishers receiving red wigs. The NLS-9 "Münsterlandpokal", also called the "Schinkenrennen" (ham race), awards large pieces of ham from the Münsterland area to class winners.
Spectators primarily watch from the Nordschleife itself. Sections including "Adenauer Forst", "Karussell", and "Wippermann" lie up to a kilometre from the nearest main road. More accessible sections such as "Breidscheid", "Brünnchen", and "Pflanzgarten" are consistently well-attended. A €20 ticket grants access to the paddock, grid walk, grandstands on the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, and two Nordschleife spectator areas; most of the circuit perimeter is otherwise free to access.
In the 2023 season, cars in 22 classes competed across the series. The VLN production cars group allows relatively low-cost racing with near-series cars; it includes normally-aspirated classes (V3 to V6), turbocharged classes (VT1 to VT3, with separate front-wheel-drive classes), a hybrid class (VT Hybrid), and an electric class (VT Elektro). The 24h-Special group covers pure race cars eligible for other series, categorised by engine displacement with the SP1–SP8 designations, plus SP9 for FIA GT3 cars, SP10 for SRO GT4 cars, SP-Pro for prototypes over 3000 cc, SP-X for special vehicles, and AT(-G) for alternative-fuel vehicles. A historic group (H) accommodates cars built in 2008 and before, split into H2 (up to 1999 cc) and H4 (2000–6250 cc). TCR and cup classes — including the BMW M240i, BMW M2 CS, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport — also compete without fitting a specific group.
The NLS employs safety procedures that differ from most modern professional series. Safety cars are not used; double yellow flags indicate a local speed limit of 120 km/h, and code 60 flags limit speed to 60 km/h for conditions that would warrant a safety car on shorter circuits. Course cars and vehicle recovery trucks operate on-track under local double yellow flags. Closing speeds between the fastest and slowest classes are an ongoing concern given the many blind crests and corners on the Nordschleife.
Five drivers have died in race accidents: Wolfgang Offermann in 1986, Wolfgang Scholz in 1998, Carola Biehler in 2000, Leo Löwenstein in 2010, and Juha Miettinen in 2026. Two drivers died of heart attacks at the wheel: Stefan Eickelmann in 1998 and two-time drivers champion Wolf Silvester in 2013. One marshal and one spectator were each killed after being struck by a car, in 1977 and 2015 respectively.
The NLS drivers championship awards points based on group positions rather than overall finishing positions. Championship contenders therefore often do not contest overall wins or podiums and may not race directly against each other. As of 2023, the last four drivers championships were won by entries in the slower production cars group; drivers in entry-level hatchbacks such as the Renault Clio, Opel Corsa, and Suzuki Swift have previously won the title. A separate overall teams' championship, the NLS Speed-Trophy, is based on overall results and is contested by the faster SP9 (GT3) and Cup 2 (Porsche 992 GT3) classes. Junior and Ladies trophies follow the group-based format; each class has its own individual and teams championships.
The NLS comprises ten member clubs: ADAC-Westfalen e.V., Renngemeinschaft Düren e.V. DMV, AC Altkreis Schwelm e.V. im ADAC, MSC Adenau e.V. im ADAC, Dortmunder MC e.V. im ADAC, Rheydter Club für Motorsport e.V. DMV, MSC Ruhr-Blitz Bochum e.V. im ADAC, MSC Sinzig e.V. im ADAC, AC Monheim e.V. DMV, and MSC Münster e.V. DMV.
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