Nürburgring facts for kids
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Configuration for GP-Strecke (2002–present)
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Configuration for 24 Hours Circuit – Combined GP Circuit without Mercedes-Arena (2002–present)
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| Location | Nürburg, Germany |
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| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 50°20′08″N 6°56′51″E / 50.33556°N 6.94750°E |
| Capacity | 150,000 |
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| Major events |
Current:
Former:
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| GP-Strecke (2001–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.1480 km (3.199 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:28.139 ( Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16, 2020, F1) |
| Sprint Circuit (2002–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.629 km (2.255 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:19.322 ( Kimiya Sato, Lola B05/52, 2014, Auto GP) |
| Oldtimer Circuit (2002–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.569 km (2.839 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:36.325 ( Martin Stretton, Tyrrell 012, 2018, F1) |
| 24 Hours Circuit – Combined GP Circuit without Mercedes-Arena (2002–present) |
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| Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
| Length | 25.378 km (15.770 mi) |
| Turns | 170 |
| Race lap record | 8:08.006 ( Daniel Keilwitz, Ferrari 296 GT3, 2023, GT3) |
| Nordschleife (1983–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
| Length | 20.832 km (12.944 mi) |
| Turns | 154 |
| Race lap record | 6:25.91 ( Stefan Bellof, Porsche 956, 1983, Group C) |
| GP-Strecke with F1 Chicane (1995–2001) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.556 km (2.831 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:18.354 ( Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams FW23, 2001, F1) |
| GP-Strecke without F1 Chicane (1984–2001) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.542 km (2.822 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:21.533 ( Teo Fabi, Jaguar XJR-14, 1991, C1) |
| Nordschleife (1971–1982) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
| Length | 22.835 km (14.189 mi) |
| Turns | 160 |
| Race lap record | 7:06.4 ( Clay Regazzoni, Ferrari 312T, 1975, F1) |
| Nordschleife (1967–1970) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
| Length | 22.835 km (14.189 mi) |
| Turns | 160 |
| Race lap record | 7:40.800 ( Jacky Ickx, Brabham BT26A, 1969, F1) |
The Nürburgring is a famous race track in Nürburg, Germany. It can hold 150,000 people! The track has two main parts: a modern Grand Prix track built in 1984, and a much older, longer track called the Nordschleife (North Loop). The Nordschleife was built in the 1920s around the village and castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains.
The North Loop is about 20.8 kilometers (12.9 miles) long. It has many ups and downs, with over 300 meters (984 feet) of elevation change. Because it's so challenging, Scottish racing driver Jackie Stewart famously called it "the Green Hell".
Originally, the Nürburgring had four different track layouts. The longest was the Gesamtstrecke (Whole Course), which was about 28.2 kilometers (17.5 miles) long. This included the Nordschleife and a shorter Südschleife (South Loop). There was also a small warm-up loop.
Between 1982 and 1983, the old start and finish area was changed. A new track, the GP-Strecke (Grand Prix Course), was built for major international races. The shorter Nordschleife is still used for races, testing, and even for public driving.
Before World War II, the Nürburgring hosted many German Grand Prix races. In Formula One (F1), it has hosted 42 Grand Prix events. These include the German, European, Luxembourg, and Eifel Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher won five times here, more than any other driver. The 1976 German Grand Prix was the last F1 race on a track longer than 10 kilometers. Today, the Nürburgring hosts many exciting races, like the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
Contents
History of the Nürburgring
Building the "Nürburg-Ring" (1925–1939)
In the early 1900s, races were held on public roads. But around 1925, people wanted a special race track. They decided to build it near the old Nürburg castle. The idea was to show off German cars and racing talent. Construction started in September 1925.
The track was finished in the spring of 1927. The first races for motorcycles and cars happened in June 1927. After races, the track was open to the public as a one-way toll road. The full track had 174 bends and was about 8 to 9 meters wide. Famous drivers like Rudolf Caracciola raced here.
After 1929, major races mostly used only the Nordschleife. Smaller races and motorcycles used the shorter Südschleife.
The "Green Hell" Years (1947–1970)
After World War II, racing started again in 1947. The Nordschleife became the main place for the German Grand Prix in Formula One. Many new "Ringmasters" like Juan Manuel Fangio and Jim Clark became famous here.
In 1961, Phil Hill was the first to drive a lap of the Nordschleife in under 9 minutes. Even today, it's hard for fast cars to beat 8 minutes without a very skilled driver.
By the late 1960s, the Nordschleife was becoming too dangerous for the new, faster F1 cars. In 1967, a new bend called Hohenrain was added to slow cars down. But it wasn't enough. After winning in a rainstorm and fog in 1968, Jackie Stewart gave the track its famous nickname: "The Green Hell." In 1970, F1 drivers decided not to race there until big safety changes were made.
Making the Track Safer (1971–1983)
To make the track safer, the Nordschleife was rebuilt. Bumps were removed, jumps were smoothed out, and safety barriers were installed. The track became straighter in some places. The German Grand Prix returned for six more years, from 1971 to 1976.
More safety improvements were made, like slowing down the dangerous Kallenhard corner. But the track was still very long (over 22 kilometers) and hard to make completely safe. It also needed many more safety workers than other F1 tracks.
In 1976, Niki Lauda, the world champion, suggested that drivers boycott the race because of safety concerns and bad weather. The other drivers disagreed, and the race went on. Lauda crashed his Ferrari and was badly burned. This accident showed that the track was too long for quick emergency help. After this, F1 races never returned to the old Nürburgring.
Because the old Nordschleife was so hard to make safe, a new, shorter track was planned. In 1981, work began on a new 4.5-kilometer circuit near the old pit area. While this was being built, the Nordschleife was shortened to 20.8 kilometers and still used for some races. In 1983, Stefan Bellof set an amazing lap record of 6:11.13 on this shorter Nordschleife in his Porsche 956. This record stood for 35 years!
The New Grand Prix Track (1984)
The new track, called GP-Strecke, was finished in 1984. It was built with the highest safety standards. Some fans felt it wasn't as exciting as the old track. But drivers like Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton have said they enjoy its classic feel.
To celebrate its opening, a special race was held on May 12, 1984. Many famous drivers, including Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda, raced identical Mercedes cars. Senna won the race.
The Nürburgring hosted F1 races again in 1984 and 1985. Later, with the success of Michael Schumacher, it hosted a second German F1 race from 1995 to 2006. This was called the European Grand Prix or the Luxembourg Grand Prix.
In 2002, the track was changed to create more chances for cars to overtake. This made the GP track longer, from 4.5 kilometers to 5.1 kilometers.
For a while, the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring took turns hosting the German Grand Prix. However, due to financial issues, the Nürburgring could not host the German Grand Prix in 2015 and 2017.
Formula One Returns (2020)
In October 2020, Formula One returned to the Nürburgring after seven years. This race was called the Eifel Grand Prix, named after the nearby mountains. Lewis Hamilton won this race, matching Michael Schumacher's record for F1 wins.
Safety at the Track
The Nürburgring is a challenging track. While serious accidents are rare during official races, safety is always a top priority. The track is sometimes closed for repairs or medical help to keep everyone safe. Drivers who cause damage are responsible for the repair costs. This helps ensure that all visitors have a safe experience.
Racing Today
Nordschleife Racing Today
Many touring car races still happen on the Nordschleife. Some use a shorter 20.8-kilometer version, while others use a combined 25.3-kilometer track that includes part of the modern F1 circuit.
The biggest event each year is the 24 Hours Nürburgring race, usually in mid-May. It features 220 cars, from small 100-horsepower cars to powerful 700-horsepower race cars. Over 700 drivers, both amateur and professional, compete, and up to 290,000 spectators come to watch.
In 2007, BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld made history by driving a modern Formula One car on the Nordschleife. This was the first time in over 30 years an F1 car had done so.
Public Access to the Track
Driving the Nordschleife
Since 1927, the Nordschleife has been open to the public for "Touristenfahrten" (tourist drives). Anyone with a road-legal car or motorcycle can drive on it. It's open most days from mid-March to mid-November, except when races are happening or during bad weather.
The Nürburgring is very popular with driving fans from all over the world. They love its history and the challenge it offers. There's no oncoming traffic or intersections, and often no speed limit, which makes it unique.
Drivers on tourist days don't drive the full 20.8-kilometer Nordschleife. They have to slow down and go through a "pit lane" section with toll gates. It's important to remember that racing or trying to set speed records is not allowed. If you crash, your car insurance might not cover the damage, and you'd have to pay for repairs to the track.
Starting in 2025, motorcycles are no longer allowed during public tourist laps.
The Old Südschleife
The entire Nürburgring track used to be open to the public. The Südschleife had toll points where drivers could start or end their drive. Today, most of the Südschleife is gone or has become a normal public road.
Other Activities at the Nürburgring
Testing New Cars
Car companies and magazines have used the Nordschleife for many years to test how fast and well new cars perform. A car's lap time here is a big way to show how good it is. Special test drivers, who know the track very well, drive these cars.
Some people think that testing cars so much on the Nordschleife makes them less comfortable for everyday driving. Others worry that these test times aren't always fair because the cars might be specially prepared.
TV Shows and Video Games
The TV show Top Gear often used the Nordschleife for its challenges. The first corner of the Nordschleife was even renamed "Sabine-Schmitz-Kurve" in honor of famous driver Sabine Schmitz.
The Nürburgring is also featured in many popular video games, like the Gran Turismo series and the Forza Motorsport series.
Fun Events and Entertainment
Besides racing, the Nürburgring hosts other fun events. Rock am Ring is one of Germany's biggest rock music festivals, attracting nearly 100,000 fans each year. There are also running and bicycling events.
In 2009, new attractions opened, including a hotel and a shopping mall. A roller coaster called "ring°racer" opened in 2013 but closed shortly after due to technical problems.
Who Owns the Track?
In 2012, the Nürburgring faced financial problems and almost went bankrupt. The government helped, and in 2014, a company called Capricorn Development bought the track. Later that year, Russian billionaire Viktor Kharitonin bought a majority share.
Track Layouts
The Nordschleife Layout
The Nordschleife track goes clockwise. It's known for its many sharp hills and dips, which can make cars briefly lift off the ground!
Flugplatz (Airfield)
Flugplatz is a famous section named after a small airfield that used to be nearby. The track goes sharply uphill, then slightly downhill, followed by two very fast right turns. This section was updated in 2016 after an accident to improve safety. After Flugplatz, drivers speed downhill into Schwedenkreuz (Swedish Cross), one of the fastest parts of the track.
Fuchsröhre (Fox Hole)
After a fast downhill section, you reach Fuchsröhre. The road plunges downhill, twisting left and right at very high speeds through a forest. It's a tight and dangerous part of the track. Then, the road climbs sharply uphill, leading to the Adenauer Forst turns.
Bergwerk (Mine)
Bergwerk is a tight right-hand corner that comes after a long, fast section. It's known for being a tricky spot. This corner, along with the Breidscheid and Adenauer Bridge corners, is important for a good lap time because a long uphill section called Kesselchen (Little Valley) follows it.
Caracciola Karussell (Carousel)
The Karussell is one of the most famous corners on the Nordschleife. It's a banked, concrete corner that's shaped like a carousel. Cars drop into the banking and are held in the corner for a long turn. It's tough on a driver's hands because of the bumps. This corner is named after Rudolf Caracciola, a famous pre-WWII racer.
Brünnchen (Small Well)
Brünnchen is a popular spot for spectators. It has two right-hand corners and a short straight. The first corner goes downhill, and the next goes slightly uphill. Accidents sometimes happen here on public days, especially at the blind uphill corner.
Pflanzgarten (Planting Garden) and Stefan Bellof S
Pflanzgarten is one of the fastest and trickiest sections. It has many jumps, including two big ones. Getting this section right is key to a good lap time. The road drops away suddenly, causing cars to go airborne. This leads into the Stefan Bellof S, named after racer Stefan Bellof. This part is very fast and challenging, with quick left and right turns.
Schwalbenschwanz (Swallow's Tail) and Kleines Karussell (Little Carousel)
Schwalbenschwanz is a series of very fast sweeping turns. After a short straight, there's a fast right turn that goes uphill, then a blind left turn. This leads to the Kleines Karussell, which is like a smaller, faster version of the main Karussell. After these, drivers are almost at the end of the lap, with just two more corners before the long Döttinger Höhe straight.
The Südschleife Layout
The Nürburgring Südschleife
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| Location | Nürburg, Germany |
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| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Opened | 1927 |
| Closed | 1982 |
The Nürburgring Südschleife (South Loop) was built in 1927, at the same time as the Nordschleife. Both loops could be joined together to make one very long track, over 28.2 kilometers (17.5 miles).
The Südschleife was used for races until 1931, and then for smaller events until 1982. It was mostly destroyed when the modern Grand Prix circuit was built in the early 1980s. Today, only small parts of the original track remain.
The Südschleife was known for its tight corners and fast downhill sections, winding through heavily wooded areas. Trees and hedges grew very close to the track, meaning there were almost no run-off areas for safety.
Current Track Configurations
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Grand Prix Strecke (2002–present)
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Grand Prix Strecke without F1 Chicane (2002–present)
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Sprint Circuit (2002–present)
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Müllenbach Circuit (2002–present)
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Combined Grand Prix Strecke with Mercedes-Arena (2002–present)
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24 Hours Circuit (Combined Grand Prix Strecke without Mercedes-Arena) (2002–present)
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Combined Sprint Circuit with Mercedes-Arena (2002–present)
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Nordschleife (1983–present)
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Rallycross Circuit (2021–present)
Previous Track Configurations
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Nordschleife (1927–1966)
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Gesamtstrecke (1927–1966)
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Südschleife (1927–1973)
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Nordschleife (1967–1982)
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Gesamtstrecke (1967–1973)
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Südschleife (1973–1982)
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Betonschleife/Zielschleife (1927–1982)
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Grand Prix Circuit (1984–1994)
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Comparison between Nordschleife and Grand Prix Circuit (1984–1994)
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Grand Prix Strecke with F1 Chicane (1995–2001)
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Comparison between Nordschleife and Grand Prix Strecke (1995–2001)
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Karting Circuit (1995–2001)
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24 Hours Circuit (1984–2001)
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Rallycross Circuit (1991–1997)
Lap Records
The Nürburgring has seen many incredible lap records set over the years. Drivers push their cars to the limit on its challenging turns and straights. For example, Max Verstappen holds the Formula One record on the GP-Strecke with a time of 1:28.139, set in 2020. On the legendary Nordschleife, Stefan Bellof set a record of 6:25.91 in a Porsche 956 in 1983. These times show just how fast and exciting racing at the Nürburgring can be!
Competitions Held at Nürburgring
The Nürburgring hosts a wide variety of races and events.
- Formula Racing:
- Formula One (including German, European, Luxembourg, and Eifel Grand Prix)
- ADAC Formula 4
- European Formula Two Championship
- International Formula 3000
- GP2 Series and GP3 Series
- Sports Car Racing:
- 24 Hours Nürburgring (a very famous endurance race)
- 6 Hours of Nürburgring / 1000 km Nürburgring
- ADAC GT Masters
- FIA World Endurance Championship
- GT World Challenge Europe
- Porsche Supercup
- Touring Car Racing:
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM)
- World Touring Car Cup
- Truck Racing:
- European Truck Racing Championship
- Motorcycle Racing:
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing (German motorcycle Grand Prix)
- Superbike World Championship
- Rallycross Racing:
- FIA World Rallycross Championship
- Cycling:
- Rad am Ring (a major cycling event)
Current Events (2025)
The Nürburgring is always busy with exciting events throughout the year. Here are some of the main ones for 2025:
- Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie races (many dates from March to October)
- Rock am Ring music festival (June 6–8)
- Nürburgring 24 Hours (June 19–22)
- FIA European Truck Racing Championship (July 10–13)
- ADAC GT Masters (July 10–13, August 8–10)
- Rad am Ring (July 18–20)
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (August 8–10)
- GT World Challenge Europe (August 29–31)
- IDM Superbike Championship (September 5–7)
Weather at Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is known for its quickly changing weather. It can be sunny in one part of the track and raining in another! This makes races even more challenging. For example, the 2007 European Grand Prix had heavy rain early on, causing many cars to crash.
The Nürburgring is located in the Eifel Mountains, which means it has cooler weather all year round compared to lower areas. The track's many ups and downs also mean the weather can be different from one end to the other.
See also
In Spanish: Nürburgring para niños
