Nürburgring, Racing Circuit

The Nürburgring sits among the rolling hills and forests of the Eifel mountains near Adenau in western Germany, and ranks among the most storied venues in all of motorsport. Construction began in 1925 to give German manufacturers a home test and racing track, and the giant Nordschleife, or North Loop, opened for racing in June 1927. Stretching roughly 20.8 kilometres through dozens of blind crests, jumps and tree-lined corners, the Nordschleife earned the nickname the 'Green Hell' from Jackie Stewart and built a fearsome reputation, hosting the German Grand Prix until Niki Lauda's near-fatal fiery crash in 1976 drove Formula One away. Famous sections such as the Flugplatz, the plunging Fuchsröhre, the steeply banked Caracciola Karussell and the fast Schwedenkreuz remain landmarks for drivers worldwide. Because the old loop was deemed too dangerous and too long to redevelop, a compact, modern Grand Prix circuit was built on part of the former Südschleife and inaugurated in May 1984, with a young Ayrton Senna winning the opening saloon-car race. The GP-Strecke was later revised by Hermann Tilke, who added the Mercedes Arena complex in 2002 and a reshaped F1 chicane the following year. Today the GP circuit is an FIA Grade 1 venue that hosts the DTM, GT Masters and the Oldtimer Grand Prix, while the Nordschleife is reserved for selected events such as the annual 24 Hours and the long-distance VLN and Langstrecken races. Outside competition the North Loop also opens to the public for Touristfahrten sessions, drawing enthusiasts from across the globe. The combined Gesamtstrecke layout, joining the Nordschleife to the modern GP loop, is used for the 24-hour race and totals around 25 kilometres.

Operated by: Capricorn Nürburgring GmbH