NURBURGRING

Overview

For the 2007 season the European GP has been dropped and the German Grand Prix is back at the Ring. It is proposed to alternate the venue for Germany with Hockenheim (last year's circuit) every other year.

This modern circuit has a mix of high and low-speed corners with limited overtaking possibilities, putting a premium on qualifying and fast pit stops. In 2002 the Mercedes Arena was added and it extended the circuit by almost half a kilometre.

Only the shorter, modern 1980s version called GP-Strecke is nowadays used by major and international racing events. Yet, the the older, much longer version of the Ring called Nordschleife, built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nurburg in the Eifel mountains, is widely considered the toughest and most demanding purposed-built race track in the world, nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart.

The Nordschleife has remained a one-way public toll-road for over 70 years. At a slightly reduced length of 20.8 km (13 miles), bypassing the modern GP-Strecke, the Nordschleife is frequently closed off for testing purposes, training lessons and touring car endurance racing, but at other times it is open to anyone with a road legal car or motorcycle. This Nurburgring is a popular attraction for many driving and riding enthusiasts from all over the world, because of its history and the considerable challenge it still provides.

Because of its demanding layout, the Nordschleife is used by many auto manufacturers as a proving ground for car prototypes. Some of the most notable corporate "Ring Rats" are BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi,Nissan,and General Motors. 
 

Specifications:

• Starting time: 14:00 CET
• Local time: CET
• First GP: 1951
• Circuit length: 5.148 km
• Race laps: 60 laps
• Total distance: 305,252 km
• Winner 2006: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari (European GP) 
• Fastest lap: Michael Schumacher - 2004, Ferrari, 1:29.468 
   

History:

The track was opened on 18 June 1927, after building work began in 1925, involving 3000 workers.

The Nürburgring hosted this same year the Motorbike Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix for Race Cars. The new track was soon regarded as the German Race Cours that had no equal any where in the world, and in 1938 it hosts over 200,000 spectators.

But the Second World War put a stop to all motor sporting activities. In 1950, the first year of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the "Ring" became international again, and the 1st August 1954 the Nürburgring hosted more than 400,000 spectators for the European Grand Prix.

A new group of Ringmeisters arose to dominate the race - Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and Jacky Ickx.

On August 5, 1961, during practise for the 1961 German Grand Prix, Phil Hill became the first person to complete a lap of the Nordschleife in under 9 minutes, with a stunning lap of 8m 55.2s (95.3mph) in the Ferrari 156 "Sharknose" Formula 1 car. Even 40 years later, the highest performing road cars have difficulty breaking 8 minutes without a professional racing driver or one very familiarised with the track.

By the late 1960s, the Nordschleife and many other tracks were becoming increasingly dangerous for the latest generation of F1 cars. In 1967, a chicane was added before the start/finish straight, called Hohenrain, in order to reduce speeds at the pitlane entry. In 1970, after the fatal crash of Piers Courage at Zandvoort, the F1 drivers decided at the French Grand Prix to boycott the Ring unless major changes were made, like they did at Spa the year before. The changes were not possible on short notice, and the German GP was moved to the Hockenheimring which already had been modified.

In 1971 the track was rebuilt, safer but faster. After Niki Lauda´s accident in 1976, the Nürburgring was refused authorisation for Formula 1 races. A new and shorter course with 4.542 m long was opened on 12 May 1984 hosting the European Grand Prix, and in 1985 German Formula 1 was back on the "Ring".

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