Programme
Full schedule for AEM 2026 at Motorworld Cologne:
Saturday · 25 July 2026
| Time Slot | Stage & Judging Activity | Sim Racing and Battle karts Paddock Parking, Food & Exhibition Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11:00 | No stage activities. | Pre-Staging & Assembly: Early arrival area opens on the event grounds. Club Gathering: Assembly area in front of the museum opens for clubs to gather before moving to final parking spots. Breakfast: Available on-site for attendees who pre-ordered breakfast. |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Kids' Competition Open: Coloring sheets and pencils are available for pickup at the Operation Tent as designated on the map. | Gates Open & Paddock Parking: Cars transition to final designated parking spots, as guided by volunteers. Car Prep: Owners detail and prepare vehicles for judging. All-Day Displays & Dining Open: Trade stands, sponsor areas, Motorworld collections, and on-site Restaurants open. |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Welcome & Stage Kick-Off: Official welcome from the AEM Team. Judging Commences: Roaming field judges begin scoring for Show 'n Shine. |
Racing Activities Launch (12:00 - 17:00): Both Sim Racing and Battlekarts tracks officially open for all-day action. |
| 12:30 - 13:15 | Show & Tell (Part 1): Live stage spotlight featuring 3 selected cars with live owner interviews. | Sim Racing and Battlekarts open. *Sidenote: Cars selected for Show & Tell Part 2 must begin lining up near the stage at 14:30. |
| 13:15 - 14:15 | Lunch Break (60 Minutes): No live speakers. Judging Continues: Roaming field judges continue paddock scoring uninterrupted. |
Track activities, museum, trade stands, and on-site restaurants remain fully active for lunch foot traffic. |
| 14:15 - 15:30 |
14:15: K-bart Presentation. 14:30: AbarthClub RM/odenwald Spotlight. 14:45 - 15:30: Show & Tell (Part 2) - 3 selected cars. |
|
| 15:30 - 16:15 |
15:30 | Judging & Racing Cut-Off: Roaming judging concludes; Voting ends. Sim Racing and Battlekarts competition leaderboards are locked. 15:30 - 16:15 | Stage Prep: Final scores are checked and the stage is prepared. (Room left here for a third speaker if needed). 15:45 | Winner round up: Marshals gather the competition winners and line them up at the stage. |
Competitive racing ends at 15:30. Non-competitive racing can continue after the 15:30 cut off. |
| 16:15 - 16:45 | The Grand Award Ceremony (30 Minutes): Trophy presentations on the Live Stage for all 8 official competitions. | Main crowd gathering at the Live Stage area. |
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Closing Remarks (15 Minutes): Final talk from the AEM Team to conclude the event, sponsor recognition, and group photos. | On-site restaurants and museum remain accessible for post-event departures. |
Important Logistics
- Show & Tell Logistics: Each block features exactly 3 cars at the same time. Selected vehicles MUST line up 15 minutes before their slot (12:15 for Part 1; 14:30 for Part 2).
- Kids' Coloring: Pickup at 11:00; hand in strictly before the 15:15 deadline at the ops tent.
- Dining: On-site restaurants are open and serving continuously (11:00 - 17:00+).
- Racing & Voting Cut-Off: Open 12:00 to 17:00. Official timed runs and field voting must be recorded/submitted strictly by 15:30.
Sunday · 26 July 2026: Scenic Drive & Nürburgring
Get ready for an epic day of driving! The route is approximately 120km and takes about 2.5 hours to drive. Please ensure you fuel up beforehand.
| Time Slot | Activity & Location |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Start Assembly: Gather at the parking of Motorworld (please keep in mind that a small parking fee could be charged). |
| 11:00 | Departure: First group leaves. For road safety, cars will be released in groups of 5 to 10. |
| 14:00 | Nürburgring Finish: The drive ends at the race track! Organizers will be at the main entrance for a chat. |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Track Prep: For those doing Touristenfahrten, arrive at in time to secure a spot. |
| 17:00 - 19:00 | Touristenfahrten (Track Time): The Ring is officially open for tourist drives! |
Route & Drive Information
- Navigation: The route will be available as a GPX File, Google Maps, TomTom, and MyRouteApp link.
- Safety First: The drive is at your own risk. It is not a race, so please respect local road rules.
- Lunch & Photos: There is no dedicated lunch spot, but visiting Adenau near the Ring is highly recommended. Action photographers will be stationed along the route to capture your cars in motion.
- Pre-registration
- * Note: Limited spaces available due to road safety. Application required. Keep an eye on our socials for information on when free tickets become available.