Grand-Prix-Track

Information about the Grand Prix circuit and the Nürburgring endurance circuit:

At the end of the 1970s, Formula 1 moved with the Grand Prix from Germany to the much more modern and safer Hockenheim. Several other racing series also threatened to leave the insecure and dangerous Nürburgring.

In 1983 and 1984 the Südschleife of the Nürburgring was dismantled and partly converted into public streets. In return, a completely new racetrack was created with the GP track. It now offered large pit facilities and grand stages and, especially with large run-out zones, met the required current safety standards. The GP track was originally only about 4.5 km long. It consisted of the sections start and finish straight, YOKOHAMA-S, Ford curve, Dunlop curve, Shell S curve, RTL curve, WARSTEINER curve, ADVAN curve, NGK chicane and the Coca-Cola curve. In 2002 the race course was extended to a total of about 5.1 km by the construction of the Mercedes Arena. In 2007 the Shell-S curve was renamed Michael-Schumacher-S.

This Grand Prix circuit will be used again by Formula 1 today. Truck races, classic cars and DTM races, as well as several one-make cups are also held here. Motorcycle races at the Nürburgring will also take place again with the run to the Superbike World Championship.

The course of the GP course can be varied by a few branches. Depending on the requirements of a race, the Omega of the Mercedes Arena can be omitted or the NGK chicane defused. The two southern straights around the Dunlop bend (also known as the Müllenbach loop) can also be connected to form an independent high-speed circuit (Circuit 3) by means of a cross-connection. Accordingly, the remaining part can also be closed with a connecting piece to an independent circuit (circuit 2).

The operation of the GP line is largely independent of what is happening on the Nordschleife. For the VLN long-distance races and the 24-hour race, however, the GP circuit is connected to the Nordschleife via two connections. With this track variant the connection is driven at the YOKOHAMA-S and the Mercedes Arena is left out. In addition, the NGK chicane will only be used on the defused route.

The connection of the Nordschleife and the GP circuit of the Nürburgring results in the world’s longest permanent racetrack with about 25.9 km.

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