As this year’s Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge approaches several more carmakers have announced plans to enter the comp. The latest is General Motors, which plans to enter a race-prepped version of its Opel Astra OPC in the grueling event. The standard Astra OPC features a 237hp (177kW) 2.0L turbo motor and is already one of the fastest cars around the ‘Ring for its class.

GM will contest a pair of 300hp Opel Astra OPCs that have been converted for racing by Opel’s partner Kissling Motorsport. Behind the wheel of one of the cars will be a number of newcomers, although they have undergone extensive training by Le Mans winners and Opel brand ambassadors Manuel Reuter and Joachim.

The 36th ADAC Zürich 24-hour race will take place on the weekend starting on the 24th of this month at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in Germany. Other recent announcements includes Volkswagen with its new Scirocco race car as well as Lexus with its upcoming LF-A and even supercar manufacturer Gumpert, which will race a new hybrid version of its Apollo.