Anoraks’ ahoy! A few facts and figures about the Nurburgring (aka the Ring)
1) It’s no wonder the Nurburgring is so hard to learn. It’s one of the world’s longest circuits, at 12.7 miles and 73 bends. The number of corners is in fact disputed, so wiggly is the Nordschleife.
2) The Ring was built in 1925. At a stroke, it helped alleviate local unemployment and served as a testing facility for the burgeoning German motor industry.
3) The old Ring comprised of two circuits which could be used either together (producing a total of 172 corners!) or as separate entities. The Nordschleife (North Loop) measured 14.2 miles and the Sudschleife (South Loop) a ‘mere’ 4.8 miles. The pits and paddock were located at the intersection of the two layouts.
4) The Nordschleife is still used today for a bonkers 24-hour touring car event, which regularly attracts 150 entrants.
5) Jackie Stewart scored perhaps his most famous victory in the 1968 German Grand Prix, winning by over four minutes in driving rain and thick fog.
6) A new track was built in 1984 and was christened with a race for Formula 1 drivers of various eras in identical Mercedes 190s. A young rookie by the name of Ayrton Senna upstaged a star-studded line-up that included Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, Alan Jones, James Hunt, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme and Jack Brabham.
Top 10 fastest Nurburgring laps
|
|
CAR
|
Time
|
Date
|
Driver
|
1
|
Radical SR8
|
6min 55sec
|
September 2005
|
Micheal Vergers
|
2
|
Dodge SRT-10
|
7min 22.1sec
|
August 2008
|
Tom Coronel
|
3
|
Maserati MC12
|
7min 24.3sec
|
August 2008
|
Mark Basseng
|
4
|
Pagani Zonda F Clubsport
|
7min 24.7sec
|
August 2008
|
Mark Basseng
|
5
|
Ferrari Enzo
|
7min 25.3sec
|
August 2008
|
Mark Basseng
|
6
|
Corvette ZR1
|
7min 26.4sec
|
June 2008
|
Jim Mero
|
7
|
Nissan GT-R
|
7min 27.5sec
|
April 2009
|
Toshio Suzuki
|
8
|
Porsche Carerra GT
|
7min 28sec
|
July 2004
|
Walter Rohrl
|
9
|
Porsche 911 GT2
|
7min 32sec
|
2007
|
Walter Rohrl
|
10
|
Koenigsegg CCX
|
7min 33.6sec
|
August 2008
|
Mark Basseng
|
For more lap times click here
Useful Nurburgring websites
Official Nurburgring site: http://www.nuerburgring.de/
Ben Lovejoy’s fan site: http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/
Ring Web Guides
Northloop – http://www.northloop.co.uk/
Racecar rental: http://www.rsrnurburg.com/
Prices: http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/prices.html
Calender of events: http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?option=com_events&Itemid=72
Places to stay
www.pension-diana.com
www.dorint.com
www.hotel-an-der-nordschleife.de