Automotive Meccas: The Nürburgring (Nordschleife)

The Nürburgring is often referred to as the world’s greatest living race track. This is not an understatement, it is not only fearsomely challenging with a history to match, but it is unique in its lack of molestation. The circuit wends its way around the medieval castle at Nürburg in the Eifel Mountains about 75 miles northwest of Frankfurt and dates back to the 1920’s.

In the early 1920’s the ADAC held races for automobiles, then in their relative infancy, on the public roads in the Eifel Mountains. This was not only impractical, but incredibly dangerous so a purpose built circuit was proposed. Danger and the Nürburgring would be inextricably linked for the following century as the circuit defies convention and retains the famous Nordschleife element.

The first German Grand Prix was held at the circuit shortly after the track’s completion in the spring of 1927, with Louis Chiron taking the fastest lap around its 174 corners which featured prior to its 1971 alterations. In 1976 the future of Grand Prix racing was condemned after Grand Prix drivers deemed the circuit too dangerous to race on and the organizers were unable to make the necessary alterations, in the main due to its near 14 mile length and the lack of space around the track imposed by the mountains.

The 1976 event will be recreated by the new film Rush which will depict Niki Lauda’s famous crash at the kink before the famous Bergwerk corner. Lauda, surviving terrible burns, would return to battle with James Hunt who finally took the title at the controversial Japanese Grand Prix.

In 1980 work began on a new circuit that would be able to support the increasingly rapid downforce assisted Formula 1 cars. But the new circuit lacks the mystique of the original and is not the mecca that is the point of this piece.

Stefan Bellof famously lapped the 1983 iteration of the Nordschleife in 6m11.13s in his Porsche 956-005Porsche 956Germany, 1982 > 19851 photo
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, a time which has, and never will be beaten. Bellof recorded the time in qualifying for the Group C race held at the circuit in May 1983. Jochen Mass qualified in second position with a time of 6m16.85s also in a Porsche 956-005. Propelling the monstrous Porsche 956 was a 635bhp turbocharged flat 6 with a displacement of only 2.65 litres. The time demands even more respect when you realize the amount of turbo-lag the drivers had to contend with and the 120mph average speed.

Porsche 956

© photo courtesy of: Porsche

What makes the Nordschleife so unique is that anyone can simply jump into their road car, drive to the Eifel Mountains and turn up, unannounced at the gate, pay a €26 fee and tackle the famous circuit.

Although the Nordschleife is technically a public road there is no speed limit and it is possible, if not encouraged, to measure one’s car and talent, or lack of, against the stopwatch. This is most commonly ‘bridge to gantry’ and cuts off a 200m section of the circuit where one passes through a ticket barrier and something akin to a pitlane. It is here that the hordes of BMW M3BMW M3 GTSGermany, 2010 > present5 photos
and Porsche 911 GT3Porsche 911 GT3Germany, 2009 > present5 photos
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drivers lurk, although, in my experience, it is often a diminutive Mk.1 GolfVolkswagen Golf Gen.1Germany, 1974 > 19849 versions
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driven by a handy local who puts many to shame. It takes a long time to learn the entire 12.9 mile circuit.

It can also be an expensive visit if you haven’t organized some special Nordschleife insurance as many insurers will not insure drivers testing themselves on the famous circuit, often putting special conditions within the policy. That is not to say you won’t see the odd hire car having a go!

The cost of ‘getting it wrong’ is pretty serious in reality. If you have an accident that the Nordschleife you are liable for the cost of closing the track and the cost of repairing the barriers that inevitably get damaged in the process.  Here is a breakdown of the costs involved:

All subject to 19% VAT apart from recovery truck

It is very clear that a large accident can be incredibly expensive for anyone involved so it is worth having a very careful look at insurance policies and bank balances before going anywhere near the Nordschleife.

However, none of this will stop people visiting the legendary circuit and for very good reason. My first experience of the Nürburgring came in 2005 shortly after passing my driving test. I was on my way back from Buchloe in an Alpina B5 (E60)Alpina BMW B5 Bi-Turbo Gen.1, 2009 > present2 versions
22 photos
and the idea of 500bhp and the legendary track was far too big an opportunity to miss out on, of course I was one of those who was passed by the aforementioned Golf GTI driver, but it was memorable all the same. It is one of the reasons why I have pledged to return for the 24 hour race at a point in the future, hopefully as a driver.

That brings me onto my next point, and a further reason why the track is so special. Every year motorsport fans make a pilgrimage to the Nürburgring for the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring or more simple the Nürburgring 24 hours. The Nürburgring 24 hours is a GT and touring car race aimed mainly at the amateur racing driver, although some professionals can take part. 230 cars are allowed to practice for the event and 210 take part in the race, which uses the northern loop of the Nürburgring measuring 15.5 miles, that means that in the race there are an average of over 13.5 cars on every mile of the track, action is guaranteed.

2011 ADAC 24-Hours at Nürburgring

© photo by icedsoul, licence: Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives

The race has had increasing media coverage in recent years as its spectacular nature has been realized by ever increasing numbers of fans, over 200,000 made the pilgrimage in 2011. The huge number of spectators and television coverage has meant that manufacturers have become more involved in recent years as they seek the best events to advertise their wares.

The race has become more like a festival in recent years, with huge amounts of beer being drunk and the event organizers putting on entertainment for the fans in the form of fairground rides, simulator machines and the new, and controversial, facilities that have been built by Lindner/Richter. On a positive note at least there are more hotel rooms available, even if most of them are empty for the rest of the year.

The Nürburgring remains an anomaly in modern motor racing, there have been attempts made to make the circuit safer but its character has remained intact. Today the 24 hour race does not host the very fastest LMP cars, nor can it boast a Grand Prix, but you can drive on the same circuit as Juan Manuel Fangio did in his W196 MercedesMercedes-Benz W196Germany, 0 > present2 versions
17 photos
in your road car and even race it if you are very lucky.

The ‘Ring is steeped in history, some of it gory, but it is like no other place on earth and I for one hope it stays that way.

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