Located in the town of Nürburg, the Nürburgring is a famous motorsports complex that features a Grand Prix race track and a longer “North Loop” track that weaves around the town and its medieval castle. It has a capacity for 150,000 spectators on race days but it’s the Nürburgring's open-for-all Touristenfahrten that attracts many auto enthusiasts.
Test your skills on the Nordschleife “North Loop”, which extends for 22.810 kil-ometers (14.173 miles) and is often open to the public, with the Grand Prix cir-cuit also opened on rare occasions. This so-called Touristenfahrten allows any-one with a road-legal vehicle to take to the track and experience race car-style driving without any oncoming traffic, intersections or speed limits.
The Nordschleife was constructed between 1925 and 1927 and has a reputation for being both terrifying and merciless. Three-time world champion Formula 1 pilot Sir John Young Jackie Stewart gave it the nickname of “Green Hell” and it’s always been a highly prized win for racing drivers due to its demands. Treacher-ous crests combine with difficult corners and steep gradients, requiring great skill from the drivers and their vehicles. If you want to see the professionals in action, coincide your visit with the ADAC Zurich 24-hour race, which is held on both the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit.
Keep in mind that driving on the Touristenfahrten is done at the driver’s own risk and most insurance coverages are voided when on the Nürburgring. Drivers who crash into the safety barriers or cause damage to the track are also required to pay for the repairs and their associated costs.