07.05.2024
Opened on May 12, 1984, the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Today, it is a diverse home for motorsport events, festivals and sporting events - it was created in response to pressing questions about safety in motorsport. The exciting history of its origins is accompanied by legendary names and still provides the basis for the most diverse Nürburgring of all time, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans from all over the world every year. A chronological journey through time - to which we add a new chapter every day: Safety discussions in the 1970s lead to the redesign of the NürburgringThe world of motorsport in the 1970s: race car technology was changing, and drivers and organizers were moving towards shorter race tracks that met the latest safety requirements - requirements that the 22-kilometer Nordschleife could no longer meet at the time. Hardly solvable safety problems and high organizational costs made the legendary track increasingly uneconomical for the racing series. After the prestigious Formula 1 also moved away in 1976, many questions arose about the future of the world-famous Nürburgring, which had formed the economic basis of an entire region since 1927. Various options were discussed - in the end, the only option was to build a new arena circuit that would offer drivers, organizers and spectators the best conditions. From a natural track to the most diverse Nürburgring of all timeIn the late 1970s, the world's leading experts in race track construction set about redesigning the Nürburgring. They quickly developed innovative designs for a modern and safe Grand Prix circuit that would coexist with the historic Nordschleife. An originally proposed track layout of almost seven kilometers with two pit lanes was rejected for cost reasons. The decision-makers finally agreed on a new construction costing around 80 million DM, which was built on the site of the previous start and finish area and the old south loop. The final design envisaged a 4.542-kilometer Grand Prix circuit that could be used both on its own and in combination with the Nordschleife. Several citizens' initiatives were formed to preserve this economically and culturally important track, including the "Yes to the Nürburgring" association, founded by Otto Flimm. This played a decisive role in securing funding for the construction project. The first spade was turned for a construction period of 30 monthsIn November 1981, Dr. Bernhard Vogel, the former Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, performed the groundbreaking ceremony, signaling the start of construction for the new circuit at the Nürburgring. Over the next 30 months, a modern track was built, meeting high standards of landscape and environmental protection from the outset. The Südschleife (South Loop) as well as the Start and Finish loops, integral parts of the Nürburgring from its inception, were replaced in favor of the new track. Despite extensive construction work, motorsport in the Eifel region remained vibrant. To continue hosting races, the Nordschleife (North Loop) was shortened and received its own pit lane at Tribune 13, along with additional facilities for race control.
03.05.2024
Classics, bikes and thrilling endurance motorsport: numerous events will be held at the Nürburgring in the coming weeks. At the end of May, the racing world will be looking to the Eifel for the prestigious ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (May 30 - June 2). The week before, the Nürburgring Classic (May 24 - 26) invites you to a three-day celebration of historic motorsport. Two-wheeler fans will get their money's worth with the motorcycle double-header of the ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 9 - 11) and the Cologne circuit (May 12). The “May highlights” will kick off with the race premiere of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (May 3 - 4), which will also be the teams' last test of strength before the 24-hour race. Further information is available online at nuerburgring.de. The events at a glance: ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (Thursday, May 30 - Sunday, June 02)The supreme discipline of endurance racing, held on the most demanding race track in the world. Year after year, the 24-hour race fascinates motorsport fans from near and far. The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring promises to be another highlight in 2024. For one day and one night, around 130 racing cars will engage in thrilling duels on the 25.3 kilometers of the Ring. They are cheered on by thousands of spectators. Many of them pitch their tents right next to the track and celebrate the biggest racing party of the year. It all starts on Corpus Christi Thursday (30 May) with qualifying sessions, races from other series and a large supporting program next to the track. The 24-hour race starts on Saturday (June 01) at 4 pm. Tickets for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring are available online (orderable until May 17) or on site from as little as 34 euros. Nürburgring Classic (May 24 - 26)100 years of motorsport history will take to the track at the Nürburgring Classic from May 24 to 26. Fans can look forward to historic formula cars, pre-war racing cars and DTM touring cars from the 80s and 90s. Hundreds of these rare garage treasures are expected at the Nürburgring Classic, which takes place partly on the Nordschleife and mostly on the Grand Prix circuit. The drivers put the pedal to the metal in the 20 or so races, despite the often advanced age of the vehicles. A visit is also worthwhile because of the atmosphere next to the track. The ticket - from just 18 euros - always includes entry to the paddock. There, a Ferris wheel, live music and racing legends are waiting to be discovered. ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 09 - 11) & Cologne circuit (May 12)Two motorcycle events in one go: with the ADAC DMC Race Weekend (May 9 to 11) and the Cologne circuit (May 12), the Grand Prix circuit will be dominated by sleek two-wheelers for one weekend. While modern machines conquer the Eifel circuit at the Race Weekend, racing motorcycles from past eras take to the track at the Cologne circuit. Large starting fields and challenging endurance races alternate with entertaining program items at the ADAC DMC Race Weekend. In the Scooter Cup, for example, iconic scooters do their laps on the Ring at two and four engine speeds. The sidecar teams at the Cologne circuit are also very popular. In addition to the acrobatic two-man motorcycles, spectators can look forward to many other historic racing machines on that Sunday. Day tickets (including paddock) cost 15 euros for the ADAC DMC Race Weekend and 10 euros for the Cologne circuit. Those wishing to attend both events are advised to purchase a discounted combined ticket. Events in May 2024: May 03 & 04: Nürburgring Endurance Series 2 May 09 - 11: ADAC DMC Race Weekend May 12: Cologne circuit May 24 - 26: Nürburgring Classic May 25: GLP regularity test May 30 - June 02: ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (and RCN) Further information:www.nuerburgring.de
02.05.2024
Preparations for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring from May 30th to June 2nd are in full swing. After the prologue at the 24h Qualifiers, the teams now have just under a month left to get their cars ready for the race of the year. There can be no talk of "great silence". Numerous top drivers are on the road in the coming weeks to chase points in the DTM, Intercontinental GT Challenge and other top series. At the end of May, they will all come together again at the Nürburgring to determine the best in the longest race of the year on the longest race track in the world. The benchmark seems to be the Porsche teams: after a dominant performance in the four Nordschleife races completed so far as part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and 24h Qualifiers, they have assumed the role of favorites. The exciting hunt for the nine-eleven is therefore on - and fans can experience it live on site: Tickets for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring are available from 34 euros (day tickets Thu / Fri / Sun) in advance here on the official homepage! The current balance of power on the Nordschleife is also reflected in the joint manufacturers' classification for the NLS and the 24h Nürburgring. This is where the GT3 manufacturers collect points. After two NLS races and two 24h Qualifiers races, Porsche is clearly ahead of Audi and Mercedes-AMG. The nine-eleven cars of the Falken and Manthey teams have shared the victories so far, while all other makes have had to line up behind them. "A positive weekend with two podium finishes," was how Manthey driver Ayhancan Güven summed up the qualifiers, only to add with a lot of understatement: "I think the preparation is going well for us. On Sunday we were even faster than on Saturday." In the Falken team, which alone accounted for three of the four victories, the mood is also excellent after the successful test phase: "We currently have a very good basis and have made a step forward compared to last year with the combination of tires, car and set-up," said Klaus Bachler, summing up the experience for the Japanese tire manufacturer's team. Keeping up with the Porsche's insane pace was still difficult for others at the start of the season because the decisive fractions of a second were missing. "We're not completely sorted yet," said Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel. "The new tires are playing into the hands of the competition at the moment. We have to analyze the data and draw the right conclusions." Others got off to a slightly better start, but were also still struggling: one of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo IIs has finished in the top three twice in the races so far. "Our car is well known and we have a similar speed to last year," explained veteran Frank Stippler (Scherer Sport PHX). "Not much has happened in terms of development. The competitors have made more progress in terms of development. We still have to find something somehow, because otherwise we're a tad too slow." By the 24h Nürburgring - that much is certain - not only Stippler's team is likely to have thoroughly checked and optimized the race car once again. 24h Qualifiers impressed with class diversityA large part of the show on the Nordschleife is provided not only by the mighty GT3 cars, but also by the many production and special race cars. At the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers in April, the more than 120 participants were divided into almost 20 different vehicle classes. Here, too, every meter and every second is at stake. And those who classify this "colorful league" as a "popular sport" are only partly right: quite a few of the vehicles are used or at least financed by car manufacturers or companies from the supplier industry. Subaru, for example, started in the SP4T class, and Hyundai has just announced the biggest entry in its history for the 24h Nürburgring endurance classic: The Koreans are sending three works cars into the battle for the crown in the TCR class, which is also attracting a lot of international attention. They will be joined by several tire manufacturers, who will not only be promoting their own cause with some very prominent entries, but will also gain important motorsport knowledge that will later be incorporated into the development of road tires. Interim manufacturers' standings after 4 races POS MANUFACTURERS POINTS 1 Porsche 86 2 Audi 65 3 Mercedes-AMG 60 4 Lamborghini 56 5 Glickenhaus 41 6 Aston Martin 31 7 BMW 30 8 Ferrari 15
02.05.2024
In order to improve traffic flow and optimize the experience for all tourist drivers, the Nürburgring is introducing new access and exit regulations for tourist drives. From now on, accessing the Nordschleife area is exclusively for direct access to the Nordschleife track. This means that anyone turning from the L93 roundabout towards the Nordschleife will be directed to the barrier and will need a lap ticket or sufficient credit. Simply turning towards the parking lots in this area during approach is no longer permitted. Only drivers who have completed a lap of the Nordschleife can subsequently use the designated parking areas in the access area. This change aims to prevent cross traffic and entrance traffic that previously only served parking search purposes. These changes are intended to optimize traffic flow at the Nordschleife access and thus improve the driving experience for all visitors. Drivers who have completed a lap of the Nordschleife now have the following options: Direct exit to the L93 roundabout. Exit to the large parking lot at the Nordschleife access. Direct passage for another lap - depending on operation, either through the mobile barrier at Döttinger Höhe or through direct passage to the barrier system. These new measures are intended to significantly facilitate and streamline outgoing traffic. The goal is to reduce congestion and thereby improve the user experience for all visitors. Parking for restaurant visitors and site guests: Visitors who wish to access the access area or the Devil's Diner restaurant will find ample parking directly opposite the access on the other side of the roundabout. Pitstop Area remains part of tourist drives: The new regulation is another step after the introduction of a 'Pitstop Area' for tourist drives last year. This means that tourist drivers can take a break or refuel between their laps on the Nordschleife in the area at T13. Then it's straight back onto the track. Around 100 vehicles can be accommodated here simultaneously. To ensure orderly operation, two marshals regulate the traffic. About tourist drives: The rules for a drive as part of the tourist drives are very simple: Basically, anyone with a driver's license and a licensed, roadworthy car or motorcycle can drive on the Grand Prix track or Nordschleife. The rules of the road traffic regulations apply, including the right-hand traffic rule.
30.04.2024
Three beefy GT3 racing cars from Aston Martin, plus a BMW and a Hyundai - Walkenhorst Motorsport will be competing in the four-hour Nürburgring Endurance Series (NES) race on May 4 with a large contingent of five racing cars. “For us, this race is the ideal opportunity to prepare for the 24-hour race,” says Team Principal Niclas Königbauer. After all, NES.02 not only includes qualifying and the race (start: 12:00 noon) on Saturday, but also nine hours of testing on Friday. The team from Melle near Osnabrück, which is managed by Henry Walkenhorst, Niclas Königbauer and Jörg Breuer, is one of the most high-profile German racing teams with national and international successes, including many victories on the demanding Nordschleife. Brand mix: three Aston Martin, one BMW and one Hyundai Many things are different for Walkenhorst Motorsport this season. As the new entry team for the glorious British sports car brand Aston Martin, Walkenhorst is fielding three new Aston Martin Vantage GT3s and will be racing them both at NES.02 on the first weekend in May and four weeks later at the 24-hour race. The team is also fielding a BMW M4 GT4 with mainly up-and-coming young racing drivers and a Hyundai i30. The Hyundai is a so-called “permit car” with slightly less power, with which Nordschleife rookies can acquire the two-stage “DMSB Permit Nordschleife”, effectively the “full throttle license” for the Green Hell. Walkenhorst Motorsport was already involved in the NES.01 test and set-up runs at the end of March. “That was the first time we had driven an Aston Martin on the Nordschleife,” reports Königbauer. “We got into a good rhythm and were able to work specifically on the set-up. Overall, we haven't done that many kilometers with the GT3 yet. Yokohama is also new to us as a tire partner, so we are happy about every opportunity to use them.” “For us, this race is the ideal opportunity to prepare for the 24-hour race” Niclas Königbauer, Team Principal Walkenhorst Motorsport International driver line-up - sights set on further Nordschleife outings“A new partnership is always exciting,” says Königbauer about the collaboration with Aston Martin. “The further developed Vantage has the best prerequisites for fast lap times and maximum reliability, the package works well.” Walkenhorst Motorsport's Pro program, which is run in coordination with Aston Martin, ends with the 24-hour race in 2024. “But even after that, we want to contest more races on the Nordschleife,” says the team boss. “Our initial focus will be on NES.02, then the 24-hour race, and then we'll look further.” As far as the driver line-up is concerned, the Pro car will probably be driven by works driver Nicki Thiim (DEN) and the two Nordschleife experts Christian Krognes (NOR) and Kuba Giermaziak (POL). For the other two Aston Martin cars, team principal Henry Walkenhorst and fellow Germans Stefan Aust, Christian Bollrath and Anders Buchardt can be counted on in one Vantage, with US driver Chandler Hull and Germans Patrick Assenheimer, Benjamin Mazatis and Mike David Ortmann in the other. “It is not yet clear whether all of them will drive in NES.02. Some have already had enough driving time, so we will probably have three drivers in each of the three cars,” says Königbauer. More information about the Nürburgring Endurance Series can be found on the official website www.nes.de.
28.04.2024
For a quarter of a century, motorcyclists have been meeting at the "Anlassen" motorcycle service at the Nürburgring for their traditional season opener. Just in time for the 25th anniversary, there was a record number of visitors. Over 45,000 bikers came from all over Germany and neighboring countries. To ensure that there was room for everyone, this time not only the Grand Prix paddock was opened up as a parking area, but also the start and finish straight of the Grand Prix circuit. So there was plenty of room for the motorcycles and small talk among enthusiasts. The emotional highlight was the joint parade around the Nordschleife - another well-established tradition. Once again this year, thousands of bikers rode along the world's most famous 20.832 kilometers at the end of the event, creating impressive images. Shortly beforehand, they had received a blessing at the ecumenical church service. But the day was also dedicated to motorcycling. While younger visitors were able to try out small motorcycles in the children's area of the POLO motorcycle brand, adults had the opportunity to test their bikes on the test stand. At the same time, the ADAC Driving Safety Center at the Nürburgring, the Rhineland-Palatinate state police and the German Red Cross offered exciting presentations and demonstrations. Not far away, the Medical Center attracted numerous visitors, where director Armin Link provided fascinating insights behind the scenes of the race track hospital. After "Anlassen", further motorcycle events await at the Ring this year. With the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM), from 30.08. to 01.09., the ADAC/DMC Race Weekend, from 10 to 11.05. and the "Kölner Kurs" (12.05.), a series of further two-wheel highlights are scheduled at the Nürburgring this year.
26.04.2024
This weekend, the Nürburgring offers a variety of events and activities for enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Whether it's the “Hotfoot Run” obstacle course on Saturday, the “Anlassen” motorcycle service on Sunday or the tourist rides throughout the weekend - there's something for everyone. The info°center, the ring°werk and the ring°kart track are open throughout the weekend. The ring°cinema will be showing films such as “KUNG FU PANDA 4” and “CHANTAL IM MÄRCHENLAND”. The Bitburger Gasthaus and Devil's Diner will be serving food and drink, along with other gastronomic offerings. All opening hours and offers at a glance: Tourist Drives Nordschleife Friday, 26.04: 17:00 to 19:30 Saturday, 27.04: 18:00 to 19:00 (no motorcycles) Sunday, 28.04: 10:00 am to 15:30 pm info°center Friday, 26.04: 09:00 to 17:00 Saturday, 27.04: 08:00 to 17:00 Sunday, 28.04: 08:00 to 17:00 ring°werk Friday, 26.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, 27.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, 28.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm ring°kart track Friday, 26.04: 13:00 to 20:00 Saturday, 27.04: 18:00 to 20:00 Sunday, 28.04: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Nürburgring eSports Bar Friday, 26.04: 16:00 to 22:00 Saturday, 27.04: 12:00 to 22:00 Sunday, 28.04: 12:00 to 18:00 ring°fanshop Friday, 26.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, 27.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, 28.04: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Bitburger Gasthaus Friday, 26.04: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Saturday, 27.04: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Sunday, 28.04: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Devil's Diner Friday, 26.04: 08:00 to 17:00 Saturday, 27.04: closed Sunday, 28.04: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm LUCIA Friday, 26.04: 17:00 to 22:00 Saturday, 27.04: 11:00 to 22:00 Sunday, 28.04: 11:00 to 22:00
25.04.2024
"Javaland" celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Nürburgring with a spectacular anniversary edition. From the ring°arena to the ring°kart track, the large IT conference made use of the legendary race track's diverse conference facilities and hands-on activities for an attractive program. For three days, 1,440 participants experienced an unforgettable event. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the legendary race track, the event offered a unique opportunity for Java enthusiasts to meet, learn and be inspired. On the ring°boulevard, in the ring°arena and in various conference rooms of the Nürburgring, participants had the opportunity to find out about the latest developments in the Java world and experience the unique atmosphere of the legendary event location. The mixture of specialist knowledge and motorsport enthusiasm gave the event a special dynamic. In addition to the technical presentations, the visitors immersed themselves in the Nürburgring world during the supporting program: In the ring°werk motorsport experience museum, there were exhibitions to admire and numerous hands-on activities, such as the Pit Stop Challenge. Here, participants were able to try out a real Formula 1 car during a pit stop. Meanwhile, the fast e-karts of the ring°kart track proved to be real crowd-pullers and provided plenty of excitement on the winding track. Another highlight were the track walks, where participants were led by a guide over the legendary asphalt of the Nordschleife - the so-called Green Hell - and given exciting information. On the grandstand of the start and finish straight, participants were even able to marvel at test drives of real racing cars. On the evening of the first day of the conference, Jean-Pierre Derinbay & Friends thrilled the crowd with live music in the Eifel Stadl. Together with Vanessa Iraci and Juan Daniél, he fired up the audience and got everyone dancing to rock and pop music. For the participants who needed a nearby place to stay after the exciting days, the surrounding Nürburgring hotels and the Nürburgring Ferienpark managed by Lindner offered a variety of options for staying overnight in the immediate vicinity and fully enjoying the ambience. All information on the conference offers for companies can be found here.
23.04.2024
The countdown is on: On May 4th, the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NES) will host its first four-hour race on the world-famous Nordschleife. The organizing team of around 500 people, from the sports marshals around the circuit to the race director, is well prepared for this premiere. The race will take place on the Nürburgring's challenging 24.358-kilometer track combination, consisting of the Nordschleife and the shortened Grand Prix circuit. At 12 noon on Saturday, May 4, the red lights on the starting grid will go out and the field of GT sports cars and touring cars will tackle the four-hour endurance race. “Safety is the top priority in motorsport! That's why manning the entire race track with trained and experienced marshals is our top priority,” explain Oliver Damas and Vincent Simon from the NES marshal coordination team in unison. “We would like to thank all the stewards who are available for this demanding task and the German Motorsport Association (DMSB) for their support.” Dress rehearsal for the 24-hour classic: NES.02 with plenty of track time For the teams and their racing drivers, NES. 02 on May 3 and 4 is the final opportunity to prepare for the 24-hour classic, which takes place four weeks later, under competitive conditions. To this end, NES.02 offers plenty of “track time”, i.e. driving time on the demanding uphill and downhill track in the middle of the Eifel. On Friday, the race track will be open for test drives from 9:00 to 18:00, during which so-called race taxi drives can also be carried out. There will also be the opportunity to complete the DMSB Permit Nordschleife course, the full-throttle license for the Green Hell, so to speak. On Saturday morning between 08:30 and 10:00, the starting positions will be allocated in qualifying. The start of the four-hour race will finally take place at 12:00, so that the chequered flag will fall at 16:00. > Tickets are available here.
