Verstappen has long enjoyed sportscar racing

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will tick off one of his "bucket list" events to compete in the Nurburgring 24-Hours endurance race.

The 28-year-old Red Bull F1 driver will get behind the wheel of a Mercedes AMG GT car at the event in May, which sees showroom-style cars take on the famous 15.8-mile circuit in the Eifel mountains in Germany.

The Dutchman, who finished sixth in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, said: "The Nurburgring Nordschleife is a special place. There's no other track like it. The 24-hours of Nurburgring is a race that's been on my bucket list for a long time, so I'm really thrilled we can make it happen now."

It is very rare for an F1 driver to take part in a lower level motorsport event, especially of Verstappen's calibre, but he has long-enjoyed driving on motorsport simulator games and has a particular affinity with sportscar racing.