Nurburgring 745

Nurburgring

The old ‘Ring is the greatest road racing circuit in the world.

The old ‘Ring is the greatest road racing circuit in the world.

With 14 miles and 176 corners, the Nordschleife is a never-ending succession of evocative turns and changing gradient. After the start, which is dominated by a castle overlooking Nurburg village, the cars race out into the mountains, to Flugplatz, Adenau Bridge, Karussel, Wippermann, Pflanzgarten, Tiergarten and so on.

The design was led by architect Gustav Eichler, inspired by the Targa Florio to create a track that would enable the greatest drivers and cars to shine, Construction began in 1925 and the track was opened on June 18, 1927 with the ADAC Eifelrennen, a motorcycle race won by Toni Ulmen. A day later, Rudolf Caracciola became the first on four wheels to win at the new circuit.

From the archive

The Nürburgring’s organisers tried to keep it up to date over the years – resurfacing the track in 1957 and completely rebuilding large parts of it in 1970. But after Niki Lauda’s near-fatal accident at Bergwerk in 1976, the CSI ruled that the circuit was no longer safe for Formula 1.

Instead, government investment helped build a modern Grand Prix track at the old start/finish area. The result was an uninspiring “designed-by-computer” venue that suffers in comparison with the original. The old pits were replaced with a new complex, and a modern hotel now overlooks the startline. The circuit length was increased in 2002 by the introduction of a new infield loop after Turn One.

Thankfully for enthusiasts, the old circuit is still used for the annual, gruelling Nürburgring 24 Hours, as well as a number of other series: the World Touring Car Cup uses the Nordschleife for its German round and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS, formerly VLN) holds regular races.

Sprint Circuit

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.255 (Miles)

New Grand Prix Circuit

Select a year

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.199 (Miles)

Change

New infield section built after Turn 1

Fastest Race Lap

Max Verstappen (Red Bull RB16-Honda), 1m28.139, 130.662 mph, F1, 2020

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Benz F1 W11 EQ Performance), 1m25.269, 135.060 mph, F1, 2020

Nordschleife

Type

Permanent road course

Length

15.769 (Miles)

Change

Modified Grand Prix Circuit (without Arena) plus Nordschleife

New Grand Prix Circuit Without Arena

Select a year

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.845 (Miles)

Change

New Grand Prix Circuit without Arena, using F1 chicane

Betonschleife

1973 - 1982

Type

Permanent road course

Length

1.424 (Miles)

Original Full Circuit

1927

Type

Permanent road course

Length

17.563 (Miles)

Change

Original full circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Louis Chiron (Bugatti T35C), 15m06.0, 69.787 mph, Sports Cars, 1929

Sudschleife

1926 - 1982

Type

Permanent road course

Length

4.814 (Miles)

Change

Original Sudschleife

Latest Races

3,429

Championships

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19,677

Results

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25,541

Drivers

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14,622

Teams

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923

Circuits

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