29.01.2026
Indoor venues at the Nürburgring are currently bustling with activity. In recent weeks, karate and cheerleading athletes, as well as visitors to trade fairs and B2B events, have been coming and going. Around 10,000 visitors flocked to the diverse indoor events in the Eifel region in January alone. While work is in full swing on the race track for the start of the season, the Nürburgring is once again proving its versatility as a year-round venue elsewhere. Indoor sporting events recently attracted thousands to the Ring. Two cheerleading events last weekend made a particular impression: around 7,000 participants and spectators turned the ring°arena into a madhouse on Saturday and Sunday. While 113 teams competed for qualification for the German Championships at the Regional Championships West, the STAGE Events West focused on creativity and entertainment for beginner and show teams. The “International Rhine Shiai” had already provided martial arts flair. More than 1,100 karateka from 26 nations – many from the Benelux countries and France – used the ring°arena as the stage for one of the largest round-robin competitions at the beginning of January. For many years now, athletes have been coming to the Ring during the cold season, underlining the importance of the location for international martial arts. Economic factor and industry meeting place In mid-January, the EUROTOI trade fair attracted around 38 international exhibitors and more than 700 trade visitors to the ring°boulevard. As Europe's most important meeting place for the mobile sanitation industry, the trade fair offered an overview of innovations in the industry across 4,500 square meters. The accompanying backstage tours behind the scenes and into the history of the track, as well as races on the neighboring ring°kartbahn, showed that the Nürburgring is more than just a trade fair location. This created an entertaining overall experience for visitors. A series of other B2B events – exclusive conferences with hundreds of participants and corporate events with several thousand guests – rounded off the event list in recent days. “10,000 event visitors in the first weeks of the year are a strong signal for our indoor locations. It's great to see how the ring°arena and the ring°boulevard are filled with life throughout the year – through top-class sports, specialized trade fairs, and large and small B2B events,” says Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. 5,000 seats, 4,000 square meters, 1,000 bedsThe fact that the Nürburgring can confidently handle such large numbers of visitors even in winter is due to the special infrastructure on site. The heart of the indoor activities is the ring°boulevard with the integrated ring°arena. With a capacity of up to 5,000 seats, the latter provides a large stage for exciting sports and show events, while the ring°boulevard, with an area of more than 4,000 square meters, offers generous space for trade fairs and exhibitions. All locations are weather-independent and can be combined in a variety of ways thanks to their direct connections. This enables a seamless transition between trade exhibitions, catering areas, and arena shows. This offering is complemented by high-quality accommodation: the Congress Hotel and the Motorsport Hotel, as well as the holiday park with a total of 1,000 beds, are located directly at the Nürburgring. Darts at the Ring – Ally Pally in the EifelThe positive trend of events attracting large audiences is continuing in the spring. The Darts at the Ring Gala on Saturday, March 28, is already shaping up to be a full house. With a top-class line-up led by world champion Luke Humphries and 2026 vice world champion Gian van Veen, the event promises a real Ally Pally atmosphere in the ring°arena. Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, and local hero Max Hopp will also be traveling to the Nürburgring that evening. Fans of flying darts need to be quick: there are only a few tickets left.
27.01.2026
For decades, the Nürburgring has been the test and development platform of the international automotive industry. As part of the “Test and Development Drives,” manufacturers and suppliers use the Nordschleife to test and refine vehicles and components under real-world extreme conditions – on the most demanding racetrack in the world. In an interview, the Nürburgring CEO's Christian Stephani and Ingo Böder explain how testing, confidentiality, and global visibility come together at the Nürburgring: Many people have heard of the colloquially known “industry pool” at the Nürburgring – but only very few know what actually lies behind it…Ingo Böder: Officially, it is referred to as the “Nürburgring Test and Development Drives” – a collaboration between the Nürburgring and automotive manufacturers and suppliers who specifically test and further develop their vehicles and products here. Over the course of the year, we exclusively make the Nordschleife available for a total of 17 weeks for this purpose. This is not a marketing event, but genuine engineering work. Vehicles are tested, refined, and improved here – from suspension systems to software. You could say that the Nordschleife is the automotive industry’s longest open-air laboratory. Why is the Nürburgring still so important for vehicle development today?Christian Stephani: Because the Nordschleife offers everything a vehicle may encounter in everyday use and at the limit – only more concentrated. Our track provides the ideal foundation: around 21 kilometers, 73 corners, gradients of up to 18 percent, descents of up to 11 percent, varying asphalt surfaces, and changing weather conditions. One kilometer driven on the Nordschleife can place as much stress on a vehicle as up to twenty kilometers on public roads. Weak points are eliminated and potential is uncovered here before a car goes into production and ultimately reaches customers. A product that withstands the Nordschleife will withstand any other road. That is why almost every vehicle – or at least one of its installed components – has been tested on the Nordschleife. This is also where the guiding principle originates: “Everyone praises what has been Nürburgring-tested,” a slogan coined in the early days of our racetrack and still valid today. What do these test and development weeks look like in practice?Ingo Böder: During the test and development weeks, manufacturers arrive at the Nürburgring with their development vehicles and teams. Drivers, engineers, data specialists, and mechatronics technicians work hand in hand here. During this time, a small, highly specialized ecosystem emerges – along with an economic stimulus for the region. Many manufacturers have set up their own bases in the surrounding commercial areas, where vehicles are prepared and analyzed when they are not on track.The central hub of testing activities on the Nordschleife is the building known as “T13” and the operational area in front of this former grandstand, which has given the entire area its name to this day. Technical support, data analysis, setup work, and the start of test runs all converge here. This is where the teams are based who support the development work behind the scenes. That is why we will significantly upgrade this area over the winter. What does the upgrade of the “T13” involve?Christian Stephani: We want to provide an appropriate setting for the work carried out there. After all, a great deal comes together here – shielded from the outside world – from international engineering expertise to the mobility of the future, all of which defines the high-quality products of the automotive and supplier industries. The test and development drives were also one of the reasons why we raised safety to a new level through the complete digitalization of the Nordschleife. For our industry partners, this means greater safety, higher efficiency, and long-term stable conditions for test and development weeks on a track that is partly blind and extremely challenging.Now the “T13” is in focus: following the installation of photovoltaic systems on the former grandstand and the setup of fast-charging stations by our partner AVIA, we are taking the next steps in its further development. In the coming weeks, working conditions on site for company employees will be improved. To this end, the building’s interior will be completely stripped and modernized. In addition, the asphalt in the “T13” area will be renewed, and the external appearance will be adapted to reflect the theme in the future. What will this external appearance look like, and how does it align with the confidential development work carried out there?Ingo Böder: We want it to be visible from the outside what happens here – namely test and development work at the highest level. We tell the story of vehicle development on the Nordschleife, not the manufacturers’ secrets. Everyone knows that development and testing take place here – that is part of the Nürburgring’s DNA. We want to share this story as a sign of appreciation, without touching on trade secrets or violating confidentiality.This will also be reflected in the building’s visual design. Part of this includes a new naming: “Test & Performance Center | T13,” which will be prominently displayed. In doing so, we do justice to the topic without neglecting the historical past – the building’s roots as a former grandstand. The slogan “Everyone praises what has been Nürburgring-tested” will also find its place here. A fascinating balancing act: while the test drives take place behind the scenes, record runs on the Nordschleife are visible worldwide…Christian Stephani: Absolutely – and one is the foundation of the other. On the Nordschleife, you truly discover what your car is capable of. That is why every record lap is backed by intensive development work – often carried out right here during the test and development drives. These provide the basis for later presenting the vehicles on the global stage. A fast lap on the Nordschleife is the most visible quality promise a manufacturer can make. If a car succeeds here, it has proven itself – technically, emotionally, and communicatively. Has the increasingly international nature of communication also changed the test and development drives?Christian Stephani: The members of the test and development drives are more international than ever. In addition to the major German and European brands, manufacturers from Asia and America are now an integral part as well – often originating from the desire to set and communicate a fast lap on the Nordschleife. Without development work on the track, however, this is simply impossible. Ford, BYD, and Xiaomi are recent examples showing that the Nürburgring is a globally recognized seal of quality for successful development work and also an excellent communication platform. First testing and development, then an official record attempt – this sequence applies to everyone. So the foundation for global communication is laid at the Nürburgring. To conclude: from the Nürburgring’s perspective, what makes the test and development drives and the collaboration on site so special?Ingo Böder: The test and development drives represent the DNA of the Nürburgring – and vice versa. There is also a mutual fascination and respect: for the track and the Nürburgring’s work on one side, and for the manufacturer’s engineering expertise and product on the other. That is why the execution and framework conditions of the test and development drives are continuously being further developed – often hand in hand, to achieve greater efficiency, safety, and a positive working environment. And ultimately, something is created here on the 20.832 kilometers of the Nordschleife that millions of people around the world come into contact with and trust to simply work. That is what excites us.
25.01.2026
The VLN is rescheduling the second round of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) 2026 to March 21. Moving the event forward by one week takes advantage of an existing gap in the Formula 1 calendar between the Chinese Grand Prix (March 15) and the Japanese Grand Prix (March 29), thus opening up the opportunity for drivers from the pinnacle of motorsport and other international racing series to take part. Mike Jäger: We are acting in the interests of motorsport “The decision to move a date that had been fixed at an early stage was made after intensive discussions with many stakeholders, carefully weighing all interests – in the interests of motorsport. We want to further expand the global visibility that the NLS achieved last year through Max Verstappen’s participation, for the benefit of all teams and competitors.” The VLN would like to extend special thanks to the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) as well as the circuit operator. The RCN season opener had originally been scheduled for March 21. However, the officials of the grassroots racing series selflessly agreed to swap dates with the NLS. The Nürburgring also approved the change. This cooperative show of unity underlines the strong sense of solidarity among the organizers at the Nürburgring. The 2026 season of the ADAC RAVENOL NLS gets underway one week earlier: the major season opener (NLS 1) will take place on March 14. Tickets for all races are already available in advance starting at €25.
16.01.2026
Where engines roar and lap times count, it will soon be time to say: All ten! Just in time for the Easter holidays, a new bowling center called ring°bowling will open on March 27, 2026, in the ring°carré at the Nürburgring. The completely renovated building of the former event location “Eifelstadl” will thus become another highlight in the extensive range of leisure and adventure activities on offer. The facility will be operated by Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG – as a clear component of the Nürburgring's strategic orientation as a year-round event, leisure, and B2B destination. The new bowling center offers space for up to 64 players at the same time on eight modern lanes (up to eight people per lane). Various game modes ensure variety – whether for a bowling evening with friends, family outings, children's birthday parties, or company celebrations. Online booking will be available via the Nürburgring website from the opening date. More than just bowling: darts, billiards, sports broadcasts, and snacksIn addition to bowling, visitors can enjoy other games such as billiards and darts. Live sports events are also broadcast regularly, including soccer, NFL, and, of course, motorsports. Comfortable seating areas invite guests to linger, and drinks and snacks are available directly at the lanes. For those with a bigger appetite, the Bitburger Gasthaus and the Italian restaurant Lucia are located in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the Nürburgring eSports Bar, not far from ring°bowling, continues to offer digital racing in high-quality full-motion simulators at ring°carré. With the bowling center, ring°carré is continuing to develop into a leisure and recreation area – for motorsport fans and leisure visitors alike. “A high-quality experience for the entire region”“The new bowling center was designed with a clear focus on quality and an attractive visitor experience,” explains Ingo Böder. "With Brunswick Bowling, we have the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of bowling equipment at our side. The whole thing is complemented by classic leisure games such as darts and billiards – this allows us to create a high-quality, versatile offering for people from the region, visitors to the Nürburgring, and corporate events." The new ring°bowling Center took around a year to plan and build – and on March 27, 2026, it will finally be time to say: Strike!
15.12.2025
The track is calling – the new calendar has been finalized. The Nürburgring has published the dates for tourist drivies in 2026. Next year, fans will once again have the opportunity to experience the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit up close and drive their own cars or motorcycles on the famous asphalt. Highlights such as the Easter weekend and the Green Hell Driving Days are included, as are numerous weekend dates and the almost daily evening opening hours during the week. From Saturday, March 7, the track will be open again for tourist drivers next year – until November 15, according to current plans. During this period, anyone can drive on the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit during opening hours. Prices for the experience remain stable. A lap of the Nordschleife still costs €30 from Monday to Thursday and €35 on weekends and public holidays. The 15-minute stint on the Grand Prix circuit is still available for €35, regardless of the day of the week. You can already secure credit and manage it conveniently via a personal profile on the Nürburgring website. All opening hours are also clearly listed there. Highlights in the calendar once again include the Easter weekend from April 3 to 6 and the popular Green Hell Driving Days. These will take place in spring from May 1 to 3 and in fall from October 2 to 4. On these dates, the tracks are open all day for several days in a row. This attracts not only many tourist drivers to the track, but also many visitors to the legendary Nordschleife. This is where the community meets, talks about cars, and watches the other participants do laps. New emergency number replaces the previous 0800 numberAn important change concerns availability during tourist drives: the previous 0800 number has been replaced by a new central telephone number. From now on, the Nordschleife headquarters can be reached during tourist drives on +49 2691 302 9111. This number is available to all participants for queries and in case of need. Season ticket promises unlimited driving pleasure on both tracksThose who regularly drive on the track can once again benefit from numerous advantages with the 2026 season card. Advance sales have started and will end on January 15 at 12:00 noon. Until then, the season card is available at a special price of €2,750. (Tourist drivers who already held a season card this year can purchase the 2026 season pass during the pre-sale period for as little as €2,500.) In addition to driving pleasure on the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit, season ticket holders benefit from numerous additional services included in the price. These include an exclusive backstage tour, participation in a track walk on the Nordschleife, a voucher for the ring°fanshop, and attractive discounts—including on offers from the Nürburgring Driving Academy, in the Nürburgring eSports Bar, on overnight stays at the Nürburgring Hotels & Ferienpark, and in the on-site restaurants. A complete overview of all benefits is available online here. For tourist drivers, the announcement of the dates marks the start of the countdown to the first barrier opening – and with it the anticipation of the driving experience on what is probably the most beautiful and demanding track in the world. At the beginning of next year, the Nürburgring will publish further dates relating to driving yourself. This will be followed by the opening times for the popular After Work Classics, where classic car owners can drive on the Grand Prix circuit.
11.12.2025
Fourteen official lap times in eleven vehicle categories – from electric prototypes to near-series touring station wagons. At the official record attempts in 2025, a wide variety of manufacturers and vehicles once again took on the challenge of the Nordschleife. The fastest lap of the year went to China, the most extraordinary to the USA – and the all-time record remains in Germany. Every year, the official Nürburgring record drives demonstrate the performance capabilities of a wide variety of vehicles at the Nürburgring. The terrain: the legendary Nordschleife. With a length of 20.832 kilometers, over 300 meters of elevation difference, and 73 turns per lap, it is considered one of the toughest tests in the automotive world. It is the relentless yardstick for every vehicle – whether prototype, production model, combustion engine or electric. Here, performance means not only speed, but absolute resilience under extreme conditions. The record attempts take place under specified conditions. With calibrated measurement technology, under the supervision of TÜV Rheinland and a notary, and sorted according to the vehicle segments of the Federal Motor Transport Authority. 20 record slots – 14 officially communicated times20 so-called record slots – time slots exclusively rented by companies for record attempts lasting up to a whole day – are documented for 2025. In the end, 14 vehicles and times made it into the communication – from electric super sports cars to powerful station wagons to spectacular prototypes. The latter also account for most of the officially measured and communicated times in the overall overview of the year. In 2025, seven vehicles were able to have their performance certified by a notary in the prototype/pre-production model category. Prototype from China with the fastest time of the year – all-time record remains unchangedThe annual ranking of record-breaking drives is led by the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype, which was driven around the Nordschleife by David Pittard in 6:22.091 minutes on April 1 of this year. This means that the fastest time in 2025 goes to the Chinese electric car. The second-fastest time also comes from the same category. The vehicle itself was probably the most unusual sight of the year: the Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. The all-electric vehicle from the Ford Performance Demonstrator program, with Romain Dumas at the wheel, took just 6:43.482 minutes to complete a lap in August of this year. Drew Cattell was only six seconds slower in June with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X (6:49.275 minutes). However, the fastest lap measured in an official record attempt remains unbroken in 2025 and has now stood for seven years. The fabulous time of 5:19.546 minutes set in 2018 by Timo Bernhard in the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo on the asphalt of the Nordschleife. Three times under seven minutes in the sports car categoryIn the sports car (combustion engine) category, three models remained below the magical seven-minute mark in 2025, demonstrating their high performance and dynamic precision. The fastest here in 2025 was the Ford Mustang GTD, which was driven across the finish line by Dirk Müller in 6:52.072 minutes on April 9, 2025. Just a few tenths behind was the Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) with Manthey Performance Kit, driven by the newly crowned DTM champion Ayhancan Güven, with a measured time of 6:52.981 minutes. The trio is completed by the Porsche 911 GT3, driven by Jörg Bergmeister, who achieved a time of 6:56.294 minutes on April 8, 2025. The fastest vehicle in the category remains the Porsche 991 GT2 RS with Manthey Performance Kit, with which Lars Kern took just 6:43.300 minutes for a lap in 2021. And the fastest road car of all time also remains on its throne: the Mercedes-AMG ONE (6:29.090 | Supercar category (combustion engine) | Driver Maro Engel | driven in 2024). Fastest station wagon and fastest compact car of all time from BMWBMW entered the official Nürburgring record books in two combustion engine categories in 2025. With Jörg Weidinger at the wheel, the BMW M2 CS first took the top spot in the compact class with a time of 7:25.534 minutes, followed by the BMW M3 CS Touring in the mid-size car rankings. The latter became the fastest “station wagon” on the legendary Nordschleife across all classes. Two other production vehicles secured their places among the electric-powered cars. The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra with Track Package (driver: Vincent Radermecker) took the top spot in the luxury class (electric) with a time of 7:04.957 minutes. The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme – category: super sports car (electric) – with Moritz Kranz at the wheel broke the 7-minute barrier and crossed the official finish line after exactly 6:59.157 minutes. Record-breaking drives as a globally visible result of intensive development“The official record-breaking drives are much more than just a media-effective format: they are the culmination of a long technical development process and showcase the engineering achievements and performance capabilities of modern vehicles,” explains Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. “Many companies have been developing their vehicles and components on the Nordschleife for years – often far away from the public eye. The record-breaking laps are the highly visible result of this intensive work. The diversity of the officially measured lap times in 2025 impressively demonstrates the role the Nordschleife plays for manufacturers worldwide – as a stage, a testing ground, and a development ➡️ Click here to see all records.
10.12.2025
This year, we had the honor of recognizing 19 employees for their long-standing dedication to the Nürburgring – from 5 to an impressive 30 years of service. Every individual story, every commitment, and every shared experience helps make our Ring the special place it is. A big thank you to our entire team for your hard work, passion, and loyalty. 💚
08.12.2025
Even before the turn of the year, the organizers of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring published the schedule for the endurance racing highlight from May 14 to 17, 2026. This allows participants, fans, and teams to start planning for the coming year early on. The program ranges from historic endurance racing to the high-tech GT3 cars in the 24-hour starting field, once again making the weekend a superlative racing festival on the legendary Nordschleife. The detailed schedule for the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers from April 17 to 19, 2026, has also been finalized. The prologue weekend one month before the race of the year offers two four-hour races, which, in addition to preparing for the highlight of the season, also count as the fourth and fifth rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). The program is enhanced by the second round of the new German Historic Endurance Championship (DHLM). The schedules are now available on our website. The actual 24-hour race will kick off the four-day event in 2026 with the RCN, whose performance test will be held on Thursday morning for the first time on the entire circuit, including the Nordschleife and Grand Prix course. Immediately afterwards, training for the 24-hour race will begin with the first qualifying session in the afternoon. In the evening, the focus will be on the long night qualifying session, which will run until 11:30 p.m. and allow many teams to complete crucial laps in the dark. When the headlights cut through the Eifel night at 8:00 p.m., the fans' campfires will flicker around the Nordschleife – endurance racing romance in perfection. On Friday, the focus will be on the new German Historic Endurance Championship (DHLM): after qualifying on Thursday, it will contest a three-hour race on the full circuit in the afternoon. The legacy of the ADAC 24h Classic, which has been popular for many years, is thus being taken up by an official DMSB championship, whose four races of the season will be held on the entire Nürburgring circuit. It not only continues the tradition of the 24h Classic, but also further enhances the status of historic endurance racing at the Ring. The program on all three days will be complemented by the touring car legends, who will bridge the gap to the touring car era, in which many fans collected their first 24h memories, with qualifying and two races on the Grand Prix circuit. Top qualifying will be even more exciting and transparentFriday morning will be dedicated to the fastest teams in the 24-hour starting field chasing times. The format has been revised for the vehicles in starting group 1, which includes the SP9, SP-X, SP-Pro, and SP11 classes. In the three-stage top qualifying, only the fastest in each session will advance to the next top qualifying. The first two rounds will take place on Friday morning, with the final Top Qualifying 3 session in the early afternoon. It is only in this session that pole position will be awarded. The tried-and-tested multi-stage format will be further refined for 2026 based on previous experience and designed to make it even easier for fans and participants to follow. Details are still being fine-tuned and will be announced separately at a later date. Before pole position is awarded, however, fans can still look forward to the “normal” Qualifying 3, which puts the other teams in the spotlight: the top qualifying cars are not eligible to start in this session. This allows the remaining teams to battle it out for their positions on the starting grid in the second and third starting groups without interference. On Saturday morning, the warm-up on the entire track will take place before the touring car legends kick off the final sporting event with their second race. This will be followed by the starting grid for the 24-hour race, with the formation lap starting at 2:40 p.m. for the race start at 3:00 p.m. ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers with NLS classification and DHLM debutThe ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers will be upgraded in April. Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday morning will open the two race days. The first four-hour race is scheduled for Saturday evening, followed by the second four-hour race on Sunday after top qualifying and the starting grid. Both races will again count towards the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), which will start its 50th season in 2026. The newly integrated DHLM race adds an extra highlight: qualifying on Friday afternoon will be followed on Saturday by the season opener with a three-hour classic race. And the youngest motorsport enthusiasts will once again have a platform: eKart slalom races for young drivers aged 8 and above will take place in the paddock throughout the weekend.
05.12.2025
On November 7, 2025, reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven completed the 20.8 kilometers of the Nordschleife in impressive 6:52.981 minutes at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 with Manthey kit under difficult conditions. All record drives and further information Onboard through the Green HellThe record lap of the Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) Manthey Kit is now available on the Nürburgring YouTube channel. The onboard footage from the cockpit of the vehicle offers the opportunity to relive this fantastic lap. Information about the official “Nürburgring record laps”The following principle applies to all drives: one track, one complete lap, one time – according to uniform standards. In addition to timekeeping with calibrated measuring technology, official record attempts and attempts to achieve a lap time are always accompanied by a notary. In addition to monitoring the timekeeping, the vehicle is also inspected. TÜV Rheinland checks for standard conformity and documents this. The exact length of the track and the start and finish lines are precisely defined. A full lap of the Nordschleife is driven and measured with a flying start (20.8 kilometers). The vehicle categories for record drives and official lap times at the Nürburgring are divided into different segments by the Federal Motor Transport Authority and specially defined special classes.
