By akademiotoelektronik, 06/12/2022

How to ride on the Nürburgring?

You are in possession of a sports car, a supercar, a motorhome, a van, a motorcycle, a scooter, a city car, a SUV or even D'An electric car?You can absolutely all drive on one of the most demanding routes in the world: the Nürburgring.

Through this practical guide, we will explain to you how to go to the Nürburgring, what are the things to know, what are the things to do (and not to do), but also what you can do there.Because, beyond the simple fact of doing the circuit, it is a whole eco-system that revolves around this mythical track, and it would be a shame not to benefit from it.

What is Nürburgring?

Nürburgring is a circuit located in Nürburg and in the surrounding villages in the Ahrweiler region, Germany in Germany.It is one of the largest mechanical sports centers in the world, both by its history and by its multiple routes.Because yes, contrary to what one might think, the Nürburgring is not a single circuit.

What interests us today is the northern loop, in other words the famous "Nordschleife" in German, the one open to the public with more than 20 kilometers of track.The north loop is mythical in more ways than one, by the complexity of its route in particular.She notably hosted a Grand Prix of the World Formula 1 championship until 1976.

Nordschleife is now 20,832 kilometers long and has no less than 73 "official" turns, 33 left and 40 rights.There are 16 % climbs and 11 % descents.The highest point of the circuit is located at 620 meters above sea level on the straight line of the stands, the lowest point being 320 meters, in Breidscheid.

The absolute record of the Tour has been held since June 29, 2018 by Timo Bernhard behind the wheel of a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo prototype, based on a Porsche 919 Hybrid with a 5 -minute 19 seconds and 546 hundredth shine.

Many manufacturers try to regularly break records in the Tour, depending on the category of the vehicle concerned.Even if there is no official settlement concerning these records, the manufacturers wage a merciless battle to win the best time, thus guaranteeing, in the majority of cases, the commercial success of the model in question.

The Nürburgring, you also see it regularly in our columns when it comes to spy photos.These prototypes, still heavily camouflaged, regularly roll on this demanding traced, for the simple reason that it reflects almost all the situations that the car could meet during its lifespan.Obviously, it is above all the sportsmen who are tested on the Nürburgring, but it sometimes happens that more conventional models make some test sessions there.

When to go to the Nürburgring?

If you want to drive on the Nürburgring, you have to look at the "Tourirenfahrten" or "Tourist Rides", namely the days open to all.This is rarely a full day during the week, but rather a niche where the circuit opens its doors.These "Tourirenfahrten" are generally open every day, spring and summer, from 5.15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends.Some sessions are also open in autumn.

Do not hesitate to consult the calendar of the circuit to read the dates and opening hours.Some days can be completely reserved by a manufacturer, a club or for a race, and in this case there is no "tourism wrinkles".If you can, for obvious reasons of influx, prefer to come the week and not on weekends.You will also save some savings, but we will come back to it below.

Please note, the track can be closed at any time for unpredictable reasons (for example due to an accident or bad weather conditions).This can result in a postponement of opening hours or additional waiting times.

How to get there ?

Comment rouler sur le Nürburgring ?

If you live in the Paris region, it will take approximately 500 kilometers to reach the Nürburgring, about 5 hours of road if the traffic is on your side.On Google Maps or Via Waze, the route will make you pass through Luxembourg, where you will have to make a full to benefit from the best prices.At a time when we write these lines, the liter of Sans-Plomb 98 is currently 1.449 euros including tax in Luxembourg on average, against 1.654 euros in France.

Once Luxembourg behind you, you will usually take the direction of the Autobahn A1 with a few sections where the speed is unlimited.Be careful however, they are quite short and there are generally a lot of work.If you therefore fall when the section is under construction, there will be a speed limit.And beware, the police regularly watch over these areas.For a journey from Paris to Nürburg, it will take around 26 euros in tolls through the A4 motorway.

How much does it cost ?

At the Nürburgring, it works in sessions, everyone buys a ticket for a tour on site.The cost amounts to 30 euros for a weekend round and 25 euros on weekdays.A seasonal card allows unlimited access to the year for the modest sum of 2,200 euros.A small shop near the circuit will allow you to pick up your ticket (s).They will give you a card in credit card format that you can keep in memory.

Obviously comes the thorny question of insurance.Often, and for anyone, your basic insurance does not take into account circuit damage.And do not expect to take out insurance on site, it does not exist.So be careful, because the costs requested in the event of an accident can reach summits.Here is a small idea of the prices charged in the event of an accident, because obviously, if you damage a rail or an element of the circuit, it will be at your expense.In addition to the damage inflicted on your vehicle of course.So do not hesitate to consult your insurer to find out if it can cover you in this specific context.

And always in the cost section, know that there are photographers present by the track during these "Tourirenfahrten".They immortalize your exploits throughout the session.Their photos are then to be found on the dedicated website which brings together all the accredited photographers.

The photos are published with an omnipresent watermark, for the simple reason that you will have to pay in order to have access to the full photo gallery of your car.It takes about 12 euros (the price depends on photographers) to download a photo without watermark.The file is complete and allows, among other things, to enlarge and exhibit your car on the Nürburgring in your living room.

What are the safety rules?

If you forgot to take your helmet and your gloves, it does not matter, the Nürburgring does not impose these equipment.Nevertheless, faced with a route more than 20 kilometers long with blind turns, reliefs and sometimes impressive compressions, safety equipment is not necessarily too much.

Traffic is sometimes dense, especially on weekends, remember to look in your mirrors well, because some adopt a very sustained pace.If you are about to be doubled, do not hesitate to put your indicator and put yourself on the right side of the track to let the fastest model pass.In addition, Nordschleife is considered a toll road and not as a circuit.There is no speed limit, certainly (except near the paddocks), the overruns by the right are therefore prohibited there.

This may seem basic, but the maintenance of your car is essential, as oil, petrol or coolant leaks to the circuit can prohibit you access to the track.As stated above, the Nürburgring is a great route, with altitudes that are led to vary.So, you can go to a dry post and, a few kilometers further, arrive on a still wet portion.

As on each circuit, there are panels to tell you, for example, a danger zone.The yellow flag will tell you to slow down in the areas where a - small - accident happened.The panels are unfortunately all in German, but if you are used to the circuit outings, there is nothing well rocket science.

What vehicles can drive?

Everything, or almost.As stated at the top of our file, even motorcycles, motorhomes and buses can go there.Small cars can also sometimes take the track, which gives us rise to sometimes surreal videos and duels which are just as much.Attention, however, the modified exhaust pots, there is a noise limit fixed at 95 decibels.It is also necessary that the vehicle remains approved for the road, without slick tires and temporary plates.

And if you do not want to get there with your own vehicle, rental models are also available.You can book them in advance via several rental agencies.For example, the rental of a Volkswagen Golf VII GTI for two towers costs around 200 euros.Renting a BMW E36 325i will cost around 149 euros for two rounds.

If you want to go to a level above, some agencies offer high-end models, such as a Porsche 981 Cayman GT4 where you will have to pay around 1,400 euros for four laps at its edge (petrol and access pass to the circuit included).And if you want to go to the top level, there are also Porsche 911 (991.1) GT3 RS where it will be necessary, for example, pay 4,500 euros for ten laps.Obviously, there are sureties and an age limit to be respected, but everything will depend on the rental agency.

Le fameux "péages" avant de prendre la piste.

Is it necessary to prepare before?

Obviously, having done a little circuit before going to the Nürburgring, it will not be luxury.It may make you smile, but video games are a great way to prepare for an outing on the Nürb ', since the route is modeled in almost all titles, from Assetto Corsa, via RaceRoom Racing Experience oriracing, or the famous sagas of forza and other gran turismo.

Personally, I have already experienced this technique and, indeed, it helps a lot, but the track seems less wide compared to video games.Even if, at the beginning, we manage to anticipate the first curves, we quickly find ourselves "lost" after a dozen turns.But what does it matter, the essential is to have fun, and it is not in two or three laps that you will be able to remember each turn.

Some say that it takes a hundred laps to start knowing "by heart" the circuit, and doubles it to remember the right trajectories and areas to avoid.Because yes, some vibrators are tracking, and it is not necessarily the highest which are the most dangerous.In addition, watch some on -board videos is also a good way to prepare.

Un petit souvenir de notre essai de la Honda Civic Type R sur le Nürburgring.

What can we do around?

Do you think Nüburgring is a real cash machine?Today perhaps, with an economic activity which has been perpetuated, in particular thanks to the manufacturers who, for some, have built research and development centers near the track in order to have privileged access when theywish.

In the past, the Nürburgring has tried to diversify with the construction of an amusement park and a shopping center, but success was not frankly there and pushed the circuit towards bankruptcy.Today, there are no more rides and the shops are rarer than before.It is nevertheless possible to buy derivative products quite easily, including the famous sticker that materializes the track and which is well known to aficionados.Among the remaining equipment, we find a small automotive museum, fairly realistic steering simulators and a track to do electric karting.

And finally, let's go back to the circuit with the ring taxi which, as its name suggests, allows you to take place in the official "taxis" of the Nürburgring.In other words, a professional pilot takes you aboard a sportswoman (small tips: take a BMW M3 or M5 to embark with others and divide the cost by two or three) and allows you to offer you absolutely incredible sensations,in addition to doublely double everyone on the track.

Because yes, the prices for a baptism in the Ring Taxi are very high, it takes 299 euros for a Tour in BMW M5 (Divisible cost because three places are available), almost the same price for a Tumped Drum Beating in Porsche911 (992) GT3, in 991 GT3 RS or other 992 Turbo and 349 euros for a Tour in McLaren 720S.

Source & photos : Nürburgring