Nürburgring
Nürburgring/Germany
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is located in the west of Germany in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate – in the heart of the beautiful Eifel region. Surrounded by numerous conurbations, such as the Ruhr area and the Rhine-Main region, the Ring can be reached quickly and easily via three motorways.
ADRESS
Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG
Otto-Flimm-Straße
53520 Nürburg / Eifel
RACE TRACKS
The legendary Nürburgring is one of the longest, most tradition-steeped, challenging and busiest race tracks in the world.
Both amateur and professional drivers from all racing series compete on two circuits: the Nordschleife, 20.832 km long and rich in tradition, and the modern 5.148 km Grand Prix Track.
NORDSCHLEIFE
THE LEGENDARY GREEN HELL
20.8 kilometres, 73 corners, 300 metres difference in elevation – these are figures that immediately make the hearts of racing drivers and motorsport fans beat faster. Unique thanks to its location at the heart of the Eifel region and its spectacular layout, the Nordschleife is not only the longest permanent race track in the world but also the most beautiful and notorious one.
Gradients of up to 18 percent going up to “Hohe Acht” and slopes of up to 11 percent at the “Fuchsröhre” section further shape the character of the “first mountain, race and test track” opened in 1927.
6:11,13 minutes – another impressive figure that is inextricably linked with the Nürburgring. The Record Drives on the Nordschleife, set by Stefan Bellof in 1983. It was Timo Bernhardt in his Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo who undercuts the record within a new fabulous time of 5:19,55 just 35 years later in 2018.
Technical Information
Official start of construction 27 September 1925
Official opening 18 / 19 June 1927
Costs Approx. 14 million Reichsmark
Employment during contruction phase Up to 2,500 people for two years
Man hours 12 million
Track length 1927 Total length: 28.265 km
Nordschleife: 22.810 km
Südschleife: 7.747 km
Track length today 20.832 km
Corners 73 (33 left, 40 right)
Gradients Max. 17 %
Slopes Max. 11 %
Highest & lowest point Between Hohenrein and Sabine Schmitz curve (height T13)
Breidscheid: 320 above sea level
Difference in elevation Approx. 300 m
GRAND PRIX TRACK
THE MODERN FORMULA 1 RACETRACK
In the 1980s the Nordschleife was classified as unsafe for Formula 1 – the most famous example is probably Niki Lauda’s accident in 1976. To attract the top class of motorsport back to the Eifel, the then 4.5 kilometer long Grand Prix Track was built between 1981 and 1984.
On 12 May 1984, the new Grand Prix Track at the Nürburgring was opened and was extended in 2003 by the "Mercedes-Arena" section, today "AMG Arena", to its present length of 5.148 kilometers.
Since 1984, the Nürburgring has one of the safest and most modern race tracks in the world. Wide run-off areas, grandstands like the AMG grandstand, the start/finish building and a modern infrastructure with medical and media centres characterise today’s Grand Prix Track.
With an original length of 4.542 kilometres, the track was later reconstructed and expanded to 5.148 kilometres and can be divided into sprint track and Müllenbach loop.
Its long version in combination with the Nordschleife makes for a total Nürburgring track length of about 25 kilometres.
Technical Information
Construction End of November 1982 until May 1984
Official opening 12 May 1984
Costs DM 81 million (approx. € 40 million)
Length Grand Prix Track (including AMG Arena and chicane): 5.148 km
Sprint track (including AMG Arena and chicane): 3.629 km
Müllenbach loop: 1.489 km
Corners Grand Prix Track (including AMG Arena: 17 (7 left, 10 right)
AMG Arena: 4 (2 left, 2 right)
Müllenbach loop: 8 (3 left, 5 right)
Heights (above sea level) Start/finish straight: 627.75 m above sea level (highest point of the track)
Start/finish straigth: 620.39 m above sea level
Turn No. 12 (start of right turn): 604.19 above sea level
Pit lane 16 m wide and 381.40 m long
Width of track 10 - 25 m
Asphalt Run-offs 28,400 m²
3-fold guard rail 2,580 m
FIA fence 760 m
AMG Arena Length: 710 m
Width: 14 - 25 m
Cross slope: 2,5 %
Height difference: 7,7 m
Average speed: 185 km/h
Visibility time: 17.4 sec.
AMG grandstand (T4a): approx. 5,000 spectators
Bilstein grandstand (T4): approx. 12,000 spectators
Total spectators: Capacity up to 30,000 spectators
General History
The story of a legend.
Almost 100 years of racing, legendary victories and historic dramas – that‘s the story of Nürburgring. Opened in 1927 in the shadow of the more than 800-year-old “Noureburg“, the Nordschleife remains to this day one of the most beautiful and challenging race tracks in the world. But the story of the “Ring” is also about people, legend and motors.
On 18 May 1925, the Adenau district council decided: Our race track will be built!
In 1925, big things are being planned in Adenau: At the suggestion of Hans Weidenbrück, the idea emerges to build a race track in the district – as a tourist magnet and economic driver for the region.
In January 1925, the Adenau Automobile Club is founded with District Administrator Dr. Otto Creutz at the helm, and talks with motor sport associations and important political bodies begin shortly afterwards. After the first small-scale work took place at the end of April, the breakthrough came on May 18, 1925: the Adenau district council unanimously decided to build a race track.
On August 13, 1925 – the construction of the Nürburgring was granted official status as a “major emergency project” by the Ministry of Welfare. This decision marked the decisive starting point for one of the most extraordinary infrastructure projects of the interwar period – and the beginning of a success story that continues to shape motorsport fans and the Eifel region to this day.
The contracts with the four construction companies that built the track, which was over 28 kilometers long at the time, within two years were signed the very next day. The work began with a tremendous effort: up to 2,300 people were employed at the same time, most of them previously unemployed in the region. For many, the construction of the Nürburgring was not only a source of income in difficult times, but also a chance to be part of something lasting – a race track that soon gained worldwide renown.
The naming
In 1925, a public competition was held to find a suitable name, and numerous suggestions were received.
The decisive idea came from the then Prussian district president, Dr. Francis Kruse: “Nürburg-Ring.”
ABOUT US
The Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG is the operating company of the Nürburgring. It has set itself the task of managing the Nürburgring successfully and sustainably. Its tasks include the economic and operational management, administration and marketing of the entire infrastructure. This includes the race tracks, the buildings and all associated indoor and outdoor areas.
The all-round management of the Nürburgring is carried out by around 200 permanent employees in various areas. These include common departments such as sales and marketing, but also extraordinary departments such as the Nürburgring Driving Academy, which makes the DNA of the Nürburgring tangible in the truest sense of the word. In addition, more than 1,000 temporary staff are employed at the Nürburgring. Here, the range of tasks extends from car park inspector to the so-called "marshal" at the tourist drives.
History
1925
How it all began.
In the summer of 1925 at the heart of the Eifel mountains, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for a race track that is beyond comparison in the world of motorsport. Construction cost 14 million Reichsmark and involved up to 2,500 workers at peak times. Only two years later, the then 28.265 km track hosted its first race.
1927
The legend celebrates its premiere.
The Eifel Race for motorbikes (18 June) and the subsequent car race that was won by Rudolf Caracciola on 19 June 1927 went down in history as the birth of the Nürburgring.
1934
The birth of the Silver Arrows.
Legend has it that the W25 Grand Prix racing car was still painted in the white German racing colour on the day before the big Eifelrennen – and was thus one kilogramme too heavy. The mechanics worked overnight, scraping off the paint in order to comply with the weight limit of 750 kg. The next day, 3 June, Manfred von Brauchitsch wins the race in a shiny silver Mercedes – a trademark is born.
1940
The engines stand still.
Because of World War II, racing came to a halt in 1940 – no races took place between 1940 and 1946.
During the war years, the sports hotel “Tribüne” was used as a military hospital and also served as division headquarters. In 1943, the wire fencing surrounding the Ring had to be taken down and handed over to the arms industry.
1947
New beginning.
On 17 August, races for motorbikes with and without sidecars took place on that time’s Südschleife, watched by some 80,000 spectators. Admission included sausages and potato salad, rolls and wine.
1951
First Formula 1 race.
On 29 July, the Eifel welcomed the elite of motorsport. Alberto Ascari wins the Grand Prix of Germany in a Ferrari.
1953
Premiere of the 1,000 km race.
As part of the newly established World Sportscar Championship, the first 1,000 km race took place at the Nürburgring on 30 August.
1954
Enthusiasm for motorsport at the post-war debut of the Silver Arrows.
With team manager Alfred Neubauer at the helm, Mercedes-Benz celebrated its Formula 1 debut with the new W196 in 1954, watched by about 400,000 spectators. The team’s driver Juan Manuel Fangio won both the Grand Prix at the Nürburgring and the drivers‘ championship.
1957
Legendary race.
Following a spectacular catch-up race, Juan Manuel Fangio won the Grand Prix in his Maserati, crowning himself world champion for the fifth time. The Grand Prix of Germay 1957 was to down in the history oft he Nürburgring as one oft he greatest races the track has ever seen, since Fangio appeared tob e hopelessly behind but ultimately managed to overtake the leading Ferraris of Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn, thus clinching his third and final victory at the Nürburgring.
1961
Germany in a world championship frenzy.
Wofgang Graf Berghe von Trips was the new crowd puller, who competed for the Grand Prix of Germany in 1961. Era of the German Economic Miracle – during that time, motor sport symbolized the new self-confidence of an entire nation.
Followed by a huge media frenzy for that period of time, in 1961 over 100,000 spectators fevered with the gentleman racer during the race. Graf Berghe von Trips lost on this day against Stirling Moss, who seemed simply unbeatable.
1968
"The Green Hell".
This is what Jackie Stewart told his fellow driver Graham Hill as he looked down on the rainy Nürburgring from the plane on their way to the Grand Prix of Germany, thus coining the term still in use today "Green Hell".
On 4 August 1968, the Scotsman delivered a performance that was almost beyond belief, winning the race under the most adverse conditions, including raing and fog, with an incredible lead of four minutes ahead of his competitors.
"It's going to be the Green Hell this weekend."
Jackie Stewart
1969
Drivers became pop stars.
New popular drivers, such as the Belgium driver Jackie Ickx drew scores of visitors to the motor sports events. Automotive racing were more popular than ever before – the drivers were treated like pop stars. The highlight of the year was the Grand Prix of Germany, at which Jackie Ickx is the victor. On this day, no one could even imagine that the Nordschleife would be challenged as a Grand Prix circuit.
However, just one year later this was the case: After a series of severe accidents in GP sports, numerous drivers demanded major changes to be made to the Green Hell, as the circuit was named with reverence by the drivers.
1970
The beginning of a success story.
The first 24-Hour Race at the Nürburgring took place. “Striezel” Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz (BMW 2002) secured the historic debut win.
Today, the endurance classic is the most important race on the Eifel race track, attracting more than 200,000 spectators year after year.
1971
Crash barriers and run-off areas.
A series of tragic accidents and ever faster cars necessitated extensive modifications in the late 1960s. Extensive work was carried out in 1970/71 to modify the Nordschleife and make it safer. Safety fences, emergency lanes and crash barriers were installed at the track, which had previously been lined only by hedges. Despite DM 17 million spent on these measures, the Formula 1 race in 1976 was the last ever on the Nordschleife.
1976
The last F1 race on the Nordschleife.
For some time before the race, there has been concern about the safety and track length of the Nürburgring in connection with Formula 1. The Grand Prix of Germany on 1 August 1976 gained notoriety due to the tragic accident of Niki Lauda in the section between Ex-Mühle and Bergwerk. In his attempt to catch up with James Hunt, who had managed to pull away, Lauda lost control of his car in the fast left-hand corner just before the Bergwerk section. His Ferrari 312 hit a rock face on the right-hand side of the road, caught fire and skidded across the track, where it was hit by three other racing cars.
This incident marked the end of the Nordschleife as a Formula 1 race track.
1981
Groundbreaking for the future.
The Nürburgring supervisory board decided that a new, shorter and more modern race track was to be built. Following tough negotiations, Bernhard Vogel, prime minister of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate at the time, was able to break ground on 30 November 1981. The Südschleife (southern loop) was abandoned as part of the reconstruction and the Nordschleife was shortened to today’s length of 20.832 km. It took three years to build the 4.5 kilometre long track that set new standards in terms of safety – thanks to wide run-off areas, safety fences and an extensive network of emergency roads.
1983
6:11.13 – an eternal record.
During the final practice of the 1,000 km race, Stefan Bellof completed the fastest lap ever clocked on the Nordschleife in 6:11,13 minutes, driving a Porsche 956.
To mark the 30th anniversary of Stefan Bellof’s lap record on 10 August, a section of the legendary Nordschleife was named after him – the Stefan Bellof S.
1984
Opening of the new Grand Prix track.
Designed in line with up-to-date safety requirements, the new Grand Prix Track as well as the new motorsport museum were opened on 12 May 1984, after three years of construction. The occasion was celebrated with a varied show and motorsport programme, and with an event that was broadcast live on German television. The first race at the “new” Nürburgring saw a competition of 20 identical Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 touring cars, driven, among others, by nine former Formula 1 world champions. The race was won by Ayrton Senna, who was still relatively unknown at the time.
Formula 1 returned to the Nürburgring on 7 October 1984. Alain Prost won the race driving a McLaren.
1985
The first "Rock am Ring".
U2, Joe Cocker, Marius Müller-Westernhagen and more wow the crowds at the debut of Rock am Ring on 25 to 26 May 1985. 75,000 visitors celebrate the first music festival at the Nürburgring.
1986
XXL motorsport.
The first Truck Grand Prix is a hit with spectators and has been a fixture in the annual programme ever since.
1995
Germany in a Formula 1 frenzy.
Formula 1 returned to the Nürburgring on 1 October 1995, and with it came the first German driver who managed to win a Formula 1 race at the Nürburgring and clinch the world championship title: Michael Schumacher.
In the slipstream of people’s new motorsport enthusiasm, the Nürburgring once more attracted the crowd – which was also reflected in the construction of modern grandstands, VIP lounges and the innovative medical centre from the mid-1990s.
2000
DTM is back.
Despite the fact that the German Touring Car Championship had been immensely popular between 1984 and 1996, some manufacturers had withdrawn from the series. It returned in 2000 as the German Touring Car Masters and has been racing in the Eifel ever since under the name DTM.
2001
The new millenium continued the full speed course.
The old start/finish house, the old pit building and the Conti tower were torn down in 2000. By the time of the European Grand Prix in 2001, three additional super VIP lounges were created instead and a state of the art start/finish house. The new Media Center with ultramodern technology offers journalists and photographers the perfect work environment in a space more than 1,650 sqm.
These modernisations and the new Mercedes Arena finally made the now 5.148-kilometre-long Grand Prix circuit one of the most modern race tracks in Europe.
2006
The Ring Champion.
Michael Schumacher celebrated his last victory at the Nürburgring at the Grand Prix of Europe in 2006. All in all, Schumacher finished on top of the podium as many as five times in his home race: in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006.
On 22 July 2007, the left-right turn combination after the Dunlop chicane was renamed in honour of the German Formula 1 record world champion and is now called Michael-Schumacher-S.
2007
Full speed ahead into the future.
The start of construction works on 28 November 2007, designed to turn the Nürburgring into a multifunctional business- and event location with varied experience and accommodation options, marked another step towards the future. Weather-independent presentation and event areas, additional leisure facilities for fans and tourists as well as accommodation capacities in the immediate vicinity of the race track were the central elements of the project.
2009
Setting the course for the future.
As part of the Grand Prix of Germany, the new multi-purpose motorsport, event and business location Nürburgring was opened on 12 July.
With ring°boulevard and Event-Center, presentation and event space that can be used regardless of weather conditions has been available since the opening in 2009. In addition, the ring°arena offers sufficient space to hold trade fairs, congresses, product presentations and show events. At the interactive motorsport museum ring°werk, visitors can get closer to the legend of the “Green Hell”. In combination with comfortable hotels and the family-friendly holiday park, all of this makes today’s Nürburgring a tourist and holiday destination as well as a modern business location in the midst of the unique atmosphere created by over nine decades of motorsport history.
2017
Rock am Ring returned to its place of foundation.
After an absence of two years, Germany's most popular open-air festival took place again at the Nürburgring from 2 to 4 June 2017.
Suiting the 90th anniversary of the race track, the Rock am Ring veterans "Die Toten Hosen" returned to "their living room" as headliners, together with "Rammstein", "System of A Down" and many other bands.
2018
New record on the Nordschleife.
Timo Bernhard completes a lap on the Nordschleife in a sensational 5:19,55 minutes, driving a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo.
Bellof’s lap time remains the fastest ever clocked as part of a race.
2020
Challenges & Solutions.
The worldwide Corona pandemic also forced the Nürburgring into lockdown in March. The concepts developed with energy and heart and soul enabled the opening of various offers soon afterwards: With the "contactless" tourist drives and driving trainings, the Ring was able to pick up speed again in early summer. Shortly afterwards, the green light was given for the first public events and the Nürburgring was the first location in Germany to welcome spectators back to the grandstands.
After seven years and only a few weeks of preparation, even the top class of motorsport returned to the "Green Hell" on 11 October. At the "Grand Prix of the Eifel", 13,500 spectators experienced a great motorsport festival despite difficult corona conditions.
Contact
+49 2691 / 302-630.
Media hotline: +49 (0) 2691 302-6666
E-mail: media@nuerburgring.de
Calendar
Januar
09/11.01.2026 Internationales Rhein Shiai Karate
24.01.2026 Cheerleading Regionalmeisterschaft West
25.01.2026 Cheerleading SC Regionals & STAGE Events West
März
14.03.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
21.03.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
28.03.2026 RCN / GLP
28.03.2026 Darts am Ring Gala
April
11.04.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
17.04.2026 ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers mit DHLM
24/26.04.2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup
25.04.2026 RCN / GLP
26.04.2026 Motorrad-Gottesdienst „Anlassen“
Mai
09.05.2026 lowscty PS Arena
14/17.05.2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring mit RCN und DHLM
22/24.05.2026 ADAC / DMC Race Weekend
29/31.05.2026 DMV Goodyear Racing Days
30.05.2026 RCN / GLP
Juni
05/07.06.2026 Rock am Ring
12/14.06.2026 Nürburgring Classic
13.06.2026 GLP
20.06.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
20.06.2026 Cheerleading Stage Championship Nationals
21.06.2026 GRIP - das Motorevent
26.-28.06.2026 ADAC Racing Weekend (mit Porsche Sports Cup)
Juli
03/05.07.2026 MICHELIN 12h Nürburgring
03/05.07.2026 DLMM
10/12.07.2026 Int. ADAC Truck-Grand-Prix
18.07.2026 RCN
24/26.07.2026 Rad am Ring
31.07/02.08.2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup
August
01.08.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (6h-Rennen)
07/09.08.2026 53. BELMOT Oldtimer-Grand-Prix
14/16.08.2026 DTM
22/23.08.2026 Kölner Kurs
28.-30.08.2026 GT World Challenge powered by AWS
September
04/06.09.2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup
05.-06.09.2026 EURO MOTO
05.09.2026 RCN / GLP
12.-13.09.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
18/20.09.2026 ADAC 1.000km Rennen
26.09.2026 RCN / GLP
Oktober
02/04.10.2026 ADAC RGB Saisonfinale
10.10.2026 ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie
11.10.2026 European TimeAttack Masters
16/18.10.2026 ADAC Westfalen Trophy (Finale ADAC Racing Weekend)
23.10.2026 GLP
24.10.2026 RCN (3h-Rennen)
25.10.2026 Nürburgring Familientag
November
21.11.2026 Cheerleading RLP Landesmeisterschaft
13/14.11.2026 Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler