Still buzzing. Only 374 days until the next one...
It was a fantastic event this year - I really enjoyed watching it, and ironically found it much more engrossing and easier to follow than when I was actually there in '24 and '25.
Every time the cars went through Metzgesfeld on camera, I had a look into the trees to see the encampment of the folks I met last year - I'm virtually certain they were in the exact same spot, and I also suspect that the same crowd I met in '24 were in their regular spot at Breidscheid as well. I'd
love to be part of such a crew - but I have no doubt it is hard work! Last year I stayed until about 12.30am and I was exhausted by the time I got back to my hotel, but I very much admire the tenacity and good spirits of the folks who stick it out for the whole week!!
My Mum was surprised to see so many people packing up and leaving before the race ended, and posited that they must have been disgruntled Verstappen fans 😅- but the chances are they weren't, and that they were just leaving early to beat the traffic... it sounds crazy to be there for an entire week and leave 2 hrs before the end, but I assume for many that the race result is not that important - and I can kind of see that. Compared to the spectacle of the race just happening at all, the result isn't all that important to me - indeed, I'd be delighted for anyone to win, and respect every driver, team and car equally.
I consider myself very fortunate to have enjoyed two amazing trips to the N24, and last year was extra special since it was back-to-back with the Spa 24h (which was also my 2nd time there). I didn't know it at the time, but the whole time I was away, I had a large cancerous tumour which would not be discovered until a few months later - and, alas, it might well prove to be that I don't make it back to another N24, let alone a back-to-back N24/Spa24h. It makes last year's trip even more special now - but I'm super grateful for the fact that I did it - and, that my illness didn't show itself until after I had had both of these amazing experiences.
I'm also quite proud of the fact that I did so much in both trips - seeing the entire track on foot, speaking to lots of people, meeting drivers and even shaking the hand of Kazunori Yamauchi, and all on a modest budget and using public transport...
Intense in an easily analysable and completely different manner too, I don’t remember watching an edition of the N24 where I was that excited about a car trying its damnedest to extend its gap to the rapidly-approaching car behind such that the gap’s above the post-race penalty.
especially that other grey one with cyan accents
Just kidding, congrats to the #80 Mercedes and its drivers. Tough luck to Verstappen and his teammates, but if anything, I’d be way more surprised at him winning it outright at his first go. I think the N24 always demands more than just speed, and you’d have to be really lucky to win it in your first try.
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