The rebirth of a touring car legend is heading back to the Green Hell. Germany’s HWA AG has unveiled the HWA EVO.R, the competition-spec evolution of its road-going super sedan, set to contest the 2026 running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. And in a move that underscores both collector interest and motorsport credibility, the program has already expanded from two cars to three.
For enthusiasts of modern heritage builds and track-focused luxury performance cars, the HWA EVO.R represents more than a racing entry. It is the latest chapter in the reinterpretation of one of touring car racing’s most revered silhouettes: the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II.
A Heritage-Led Return to the Nordschleife
The road-going HWA EVO – based on the Mercedes-Benz W201 platform – was conceived as a state-of-the-art tribute to the early-’90s DTM icon. Now, the EVO.R transforms that homage into a fully realized endurance racing machine, designed to compete in the SP-X special vehicle class at the Nürburgring.
First images reveal a dramatically track-focused design. Aerodynamics are heightened, stance widened, and visual aggression amplified, yet the lineage is unmistakable. Each of the three race cars will wear an updated homage livery inspired by beloved period designs, reconnecting the modern project to its golden-era roots.
Heritage sponsors are returning as well. Kärcher and SONAX – names synonymous with the 1990s DTM grid – are confirmed partners, reinforcing the project’s authenticity and appeal to collectors and connoisseurs of motorsport history. The addition of a third entrant creates space for further partners to align with what is already shaping up to be one of the most compelling privateer programs of 2026.
A Driver Line-Up Steeped in DTM Legacy
The heritage theme extends beyond paintwork. Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig – respectively sons of Roland Asch (pictured above) and Klaus Ludwig, both legendary 190E Evo II DTM racers – are confirmed as part of the Pro/Am driver line-up. They will be joined by three-time Nürburgring 24 Hours winner Markus Winkelhock, adding modern endurance pedigree to a grid infused with family legacy.
“Having been involved in top-level motorsport at the Nürburgring for over 25 years, the circuit is like a second home to us,” said Martin Marx, CEO of HWA. “We are naturally incredibly excited to finally be competing in a car of our own, but to see that excitement matched by so many drivers, fans, customers, and sponsors makes it all the more special.”
For a company formed in 1998 by Hans Werner Aufrecht in Affalterbach, Germany, the 2026 Nürburgring effort carries particular resonance. HWA has long been associated with elite touring car and OEM development programs, fielding one of the most successful teams in DTM history and serving as a technical partner for high-performance automotive and sustainability projects worldwide.
Yet the EVO.R marks something more personal: a car of its own, built under its own banner, returning to the circuit that helped define its legacy.
Luxury Performance Meets Endurance Engineering
While full performance and technical specifications will be announced in due course, all three EVO.R race cars are currently in build. An intensive testing program begins this week, with the first session scheduled at Portimão in Portugal.
For collectors following the ultra-limited HWA EVO road car, the competition program elevates the model’s desirability. Motorsport participation – especially at the Nürburgring 24 Hours – adds an invaluable layer of provenance to any modern performance vehicle, particularly one so closely tied to a homologation-era icon.
In an era when luxury super sedans and heritage restomods increasingly blur the line between nostalgia and next-generation engineering, the HWA EVO.R stands apart. It is not merely a styling exercise or branding exercise. It is a fully committed endurance racing program rooted in history, supported by period-correct partners, and driven by the next generation of names synonymous with DTM glory.
For HWA, the return to the Nordschleife is both a homecoming and a statement. And for collectors watching the intersection of luxury performance cars and authentic motorsport programs, the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours just became significantly more compelling.
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Images: HWA
