A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, 30 October 2026, marked the official start of construction on the new Johanniter air rescue station at the Nürburgring. Johanniter is investing in a modern operational facility featuring a helicopter hangar as well as working and accommodation areas for the crews. The project also includes a new landing pad designed to accommodate take-offs and landings both during the day and at night. Completion is scheduled for spring 2027. The new building builds on the long-standing partnership with the Nürburgring, the continuation of which was contractually secured for a further 30 years in June 2024.
The Johanniter Luftrettung has been based at the Nürburgring for more than ten years and is now an integral part of its medical infrastructure. Working closely with the Nürburgring Medical Center and other emergency services organisations, it helps ensure medical cover for daily circuit operations and the many major events held at the venue. At the same time, the Nürburgring has developed into an important medical hub for the entire region, thanks to its air rescue service and Medical Center. The air rescue service based here supplements existing emergency response structures, particularly when other emergency resources are already deployed or operating at full capacity. This makes an important contribution to emergency medical care well beyond the Eifel region, especially in rural areas with long distances and extended journey times.
At the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony, representatives of the Nürburgring, Johanniter Luftrettung and the region highlighted the importance of the location and the opportunities the new building will create for the future, each from their own perspective:
Ingo Böder, CEO Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG
“Safety is one of the fundamental requirements for operating the Nürburgring in all its many forms. Whether during international motorsport events, major festivals or day-to-day operations, we need a high-performing medical infrastructure and partners we can rely on at all times. Our cooperation with Johanniter is therefore not only essential, but something we actively want. Together with the Nürburgring Medical Center and other emergency services organisations, we have built up a medical infrastructure here over many years that extends far beyond providing medical cover for our events. The Nürburgring therefore also plays an important role in the medical care of the entire region. We are very pleased that Johanniter is making a long-term commitment to this location. We have supported this development from the very beginning and will continue to work closely with the team throughout the construction of the new facility.”
Frank Zabell, Member of the Management Board of Johanniter Luftrettung
“When we extended our cooperation with the Nürburgring by a further 30 years two years ago, we jointly established a long-term perspective for the future. Investing in a new air rescue station at the heart of this race track is the logical next step. With a modern operational facility, a permanent helicopter hangar and contemporary working and accommodation areas, we are investing in infrastructure that meets the demands of air rescue operations. For us, this is also an expression of appreciation for our medical and flight crews, who take on great responsibility here every day and do outstanding work. The new landing pad, designed to accommodate take-offs and landings both during the day and at night, also opens up important opportunities for the further development of this location. We are firmly rooted in the region and look forward to continuing to develop this site together with our partners.”
Horst Gies, First Deputy District Administrator of Ahrweiler District
“Emergency medical care must also work reliably in areas where distances are long and the nearest hospitals are far away. This is why air rescue is such an important part of the medical infrastructure, particularly in the Eifel and the neighbouring low mountain ranges. From the Nürburgring, the operational area extends as far as the Westerwald, Hunsrück and Taunus regions. Medical assistance does not stop at district or state borders. This gives the location significance that extends far beyond Ahrweiler District. Johanniter’s long-term investment here strengthens an infrastructure that people across a large part of our region can rely on.”
Guido Nisius, Mayor of the Adenau Association of Municipalities
“The closure of the hospital in Adenau around two and a half years ago once again made it very clear to us just how challenging medical care in rural areas has become. The distances to the nearest hospitals are considerable. When an ambulance or emergency doctor has to travel for an extended period, those emergency resources are tied up accordingly. In situations like these, air rescue is an enormously important addition to the existing services. Together with the Nürburgring Medical Center, a medical infrastructure has been established here that is invaluable to our Association of Municipalities. That is why I am very grateful to Johanniter for operating this station for more than ten years and for sending a clear signal about its future with the construction of the new facility.”