Nürburgring, Motorsport racing track in Adenau, Germany
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex in Adenau, Germany, composed of several track configurations spread across the Eifel countryside. The site includes the 21-kilometer Nordschleife with its many corners and elevation changes, plus a modern Grand Prix circuit used for international race series.
Construction started in 1925 based on plans by Gustav Eichler, with the track opening in 1927 as a major European racing venue. After several serious accidents in the 1970s, Formula One left the Nordschleife, prompting the addition of a separate Grand Prix layout.
Motorsport fans travel from around the world to drive the track themselves or watch from the trackside during public sessions and racing weekends. Local campsites fill up with tents where enthusiasts gather each evening to swap stories over food and drinks while engines roar in the distance.
Tourist driving sessions on the Nordschleife run from March through November, letting visitors take their own vehicles onto the track. Anyone planning to drive should book tickets ahead and check the weather forecast, as fog often rolls in and interrupts sessions.
Jackie Stewart called the track the Green Hell in 1968 because of its danger and difficulty. Enthusiasts maintain an informal leaderboard tracking lap times of different road cars, which manufacturers reference worldwide in their marketing and product launches.
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