Amazing adventures in The Green Hell

Former F1-world champion Niki Lauda wears every day, the memories from the racetrack, the Nürburgring Nordschleife in his face. At the time the young German was disfigured in an accident on the track in 1976, when the defending verdensmesters Ferrari caught fire.

Lauda survived only barely, and shortly after stopped to run the Formula 1 race on the track. It was too dangerous. There was never more than a few metres to the metalbarrieren, most of the turns were blind, and the line's size and location in the eifel mountains near the border between Germany and Belgium meant that there could be the sun on one part of the track and rain on another.

Nürnburgring is today the guarantor of some of the coolest experiences you can have as a car enthusiast. Photo: Mikkel Ryrsø

still today. But while it was too dangerous for Formula 1, is the guarantor of some of the coolest experiences you can have as a car enthusiast. In the world! And it, whether you will sit behind the wheel and experience the course on your own body, or you are more to look at. Run namely also plenty of world-class races on the 20,8 km long runway, an hour's drive south of Cologne.

The most unique thing about the track is, however, their Touristenfahrten, where you with a regular gadebil can run up to the boom as by the great belt Bridge, scan a card and run off on a lap of the course. Here is no requirement for the car in addition, there should be number plates on. And then there's of course no speed limit!

This unique opportunity has created probably the world's most exciting and vibrant community of people going up in cars. On the days of Touristenfahrten is that everything from the old VW Polo from 1986, modified for a six-figure sum, to the latest Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari and McLaren – and everyone is talking with everyone.

during the weekend so busy on the field, that there is often a queue to get out. In contrast, there is a high flow, and therefore there is rarely any significant wait time to get on the field. Photo: Mikkel Ryrsø

the big racerambitioner, which, as mentioned, also ample opportunity to witness some of the world's most exciting races. Here is everything from the 24-hour race in the German DTM-class to the iconic old timer grand prix, where the 90,000 spectators show up and camp around the track.

It is divided into a Nordschleife of 20.8 kilometers and a Grand Prix course at 4.5 kilometres, there is a more modern race track, where once in a while to run Formula 1. The magic you will find special on the 20.8 kilometers out in the woods, where the asphalt like a snake eats its way through the hilly landscape covered in fir trees.

At the Touristenfahrten it is most often only the Nordschleife part of the track, which is open, but a few days, you can also sample the Grand Prix circuit as Touristenfarhten. All the opening hours stated in the Nürburgring Nordschleifes website.

to run, it can clearly be recommended to see some video from the track and try to memorize it, so you are not completely blank, when you run through the gate. It is raining, so grab a cup of coffee and wait for the dry weather: the Field is quiet, so you don't get much value for your euro.

Good ride!

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How come you even run out

car Enthusiasts come to the small German city from all over Europe. Particularly britons are happy for the track, and every now and then looking also a the past in a McLaren or Ferrari. The rumors say that they most often go home without a car. Photo: Mikkel Ryrsø

’the Nürburgring is a cruel bastard. But it's not out to kill you,’ has Mads Christensen said about the track. And it is true. In the beginning, the complex and daunting, but once you have become a little familiar with the track, it's a fantastic experience to put the fast, liquid svingkombinationer together and notice how the body and the suspension compressed all the way down in the asphalt with 200 km/h down through the ’Fuchsröhe’section.

While you can run in your own car on the track, which is fine, if you just want to have a feel for the track, so it is a significantly larger load on the equipment than the tulle down the E45 motorway with a 110 km/h. Do you want to give it a little more gas, it can be recommended to get upgraded the car's brakes with the brake pads and discs, which are made to run trackdays.

Are you næn on your car, or are you running on a daily basis in a Citroën Berlingo, it will probably be more enjoyable for both you and your car, if you rent a vehicle close to the track.

Here are plenty of companies that rent small, well-run cars like the Suzuki Swift, which is optimized for banebrug. Even for the experienced there are plenty of goodies in such a small car with around 150 horsepower, and they can be rented for around 3000 dollars all inclusive for four laps.

It can sound like a short time on the pitch, but a game takes a then easily about 15 minutes, so you'll get a part of course time in a race car.

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Here you can stay

because of the line's special status as a pilgrimage for car enthusiasts, there is a big undergrowth of cheap B&B nearby. Here you can often rent a room for two or even a smaller holiday apartment for 300-500 kr. per night.

You should go for to stay in the vicinity of the towns of Nürburg or Adenau. In both cities, there is road access to the track, like they both have options to end the day with a schnitzel and a cold Bitburger. These kinds of deals is that most of the in Adenau, while you should run on the track at the Nürburg.

the Track is obviously the same regardless of the tilkørselssted, but the entrance) is the main entrance, why there are more cars and thus more to lurk in between his laps. It is also around Nürburg, that several car manufacturers have their testing centers – for example, BMW's M-division.

you Have the option for it, it's clear that recommend to visit the ’Ring’ in the weekdays. First, it is a little cheaper, but it is mainly because of the bustle. On weekends, there are many cars on the track, and many are running strong.

So especially if you do not have so many laps under the belt, you should go for that run during the week and then possibly finish the trip at the weekend to inspect the fine vogntøjer and look at some of the iconic turn.

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Here you can rent cars

Priseksemplerne is calculated from a comparable, less-certified cars as well as the four turn to the Touristenfahrten all-inclusive.

389 euro

324 euro

549 euro

440 euro eksl. Petrol.

329 euro

There are even several companies who rent cars out by ‘the Ring’, and most can be found on Google. Remember to put yourself in the insurance conditions of the individual companies, before you run away – many have hefty selvrisikoer.

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Check your insurance

you Will drive your own car, it costs 25 euros per. place on weekdays and € 30 on Friday-Sunday. Remember the home to check when the track is open for Touristenfahrten, so you don't come down to a closed runway! And so, you must remember that you must have money up pocket, if you do damage on the track, if your car must be towed out – or worse yet, if they have to shut the track down because of you.

Lastly, it is recommended to get confirmed from your insurance company in Denmark, that your insurance covers when driving on the track. The road is registered as a public toll road, where there is the free speed, as there are many places in Germany, why your insurance should cover.

As mentioned you can check out the runway opening times for Touristenfahrten on the website: www.nuerburgring.de

the Track is open most days of the week from april through to november, but check anyway, opening hours, before you plan.

Nürburgring Classic (classic racing cars, but newer than the Old Hours): 24-26. may ADAC 24-hour race: 20-23 June Old Timer Grand Prix: 9-11. august