HWA, the performance engineering firm renowned for its deep motorsport heritage, has officially confirmed its entry into the 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with its modernized tribute to a motorsport icon—the HWA EVO.
Based on the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II, the HWA EVO is a restomod masterpiece that blends classic DTM styling with cutting-edge engineering. Now, the company has adapted its road-legal version for full competition duty on one of the world’s toughest tracks: the Nürburgring Nordschleife, also known as the “Green Hell.”
“Motorsport is in our DNA, and therefore in the DNA of the HWA EVO,” said Martin Marx, CEO of HWA AG, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to high-performance racing.
Two race-prepped HWA EVOs will compete in the SP-X class—a category reserved for unique or experimental vehicles. While the EVO already boasted formidable specifications, the race versions have undergone significant upgrades in performance, safety, and weight optimization.
Under the hood, the EVO features a 3.0-liter Mercedes V6 engine, likely the 24-valve M276 with a dry sump system, tuned to deliver over 450 horsepower. Despite modern comforts in the road version, the track variant has been trimmed down to just 1,350 kilograms.
Stopping power is handled by high-performance six-piston caliper brakes, while the car’s DTM-inspired suspension and aerodynamic enhancements—including flared wheel arches and a prominent rear wing—echo the visual aggression of the original 190E Evo II. That car famously clinched the 1992 DTM championship, ending BMW’s dominance with the E30 M3.
Lending their extensive racing expertise to the development of the race car are former DTM stars Roland Asch and Klaus Ludwig, who played crucial roles in Mercedes-Benz’s racing success during the golden era of touring car competition.
As the motorsport world looks ahead to 2026, anticipation is mounting to see if the HWA EVO can live up to its illustrious roots and carve a new legacy on the Nürburgring.
Source: HWA
Gallery:
